We welcome new clients and the expansion of free zone business. In our one-stop-shop the account executives will guide you through the admission process to quickly set up your business. The admission procedure consist of services steps, described below.

The Aruban Free Zone offers many benefits; however, there are some basic rules that apply. With a few exceptions, we welcome all internationally operating companies to join the Free Zone of Aruba.

Before you continue with the admission of your business to the Free Zone of Aruba, please be informed of the following regulations:

• Transparency concerning the Ultimate Beneficial Owners
• The free zone company must be operational (inactivity for a period longer than three months may lead to revocation of the admissions license)
• Free zone companies must adhere to certain operating requirements, mainly geared toward transparency in recordkeeping and KYC-principles
• Special rules and regulations apply for cash payments above certain amounts
• Even though free zone companies are exempt from the Nuisance Act, strict rules are enforced to ensure minimal environmental impact

1. First contact Free Zone Aruba (FZA)

We advise anyone interested in establishing a company in the Free Zone of Aruba to contact us first. This makes it easier to help and guide you through the process, to completion. We will take a look whether your business fits within the free zone concept and how we can meet your needs for particular facilities (such as location, public utilities and
operational support).

During the first contact your account executive will make a preliminary assessment of the type of business activities that you wish to export from the Free Zone.

2. Sign a pre-admissions agreement

If you decide to go ahead with the application, a pre-admissions agreement between us and your company will be signed. This document regulates the information flow necessary to complete the admissions.

3. Submit business information and legal documents

A business plan and personal data is needed to assess the legal establishment of your corporation or limited liability company in the Free Zone.

The following business information is needed to continue with the admission:

• A business plan, to gain understanding of your proposed export activities. It is important to indicate how we can meet the demands of your free zone company.
• Information for background checks. Your company should submit personal information on all the managing directors, shareholders and those who will represent the free zone company. We will send this data to the official authorities,
  who will conduct a background check.

As soon as we have received the business plan and information for background checks we can continue with the admission. In order to complete the admission we request the following documents:

• A source of funds declaration that states the source of the initial investment for the incorporation and startup of the free zone activities.
• A proof of income statement will be requested from the bank or a certified public accountant, substantiating the capital that will used to start up the company.
• A formal admissions request. In consultation with your account executive, you can submit a formal request for admission to the managing director of Free Zone Aruba. By law, the decision to admit a company to the Free Zone will take place within three (3) months after receiving the request. However, because of our one-stop shop approach we have already obtained the necessary information and the procedure can be completed in a much shorter period of time.

In order to complete to formal admission to the Free Zone, the following legal documents need to be provided:

• The articles of incorporation are drawn up by the notary in the Dutch or English language. The language depends on the chosen legal form of the free zone company. By law, the articles of incorporation must comply with certain conditions, such as being a corporation or limited liability company that operates exclusively in the Free Zone. Our account executives are working closely with local notaries and are able to help you by making a draft of the articles of incorporation.
• The certificate of no objection for founding a corporation or limited liability company. This declaration is issued by the Minister of Justice based on the drafted articles of incorporation. The notary will take care of this.
• The shareholders’ register (notary) must contain the complete names and full addresses of individual shareholders. If a shareholder is a legal entity, further information must be supplied concerning the natural persons behind this entity.
• The certificate of registration of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Aruba. The client has to register the free zone company at the Chamber of Commerce and at Industry of Aruba, where the certificate of registration can be obtained.

4. Formal admission

When all the documents have been submitted, reviewed and approved your free zone company is formally admitted to the Free Zone. It will receive an admissions license and contract.

These documents define which activities may be performed and the subsequent operating requirements. Your account executive can further elaborate on the operating and location requirements, depending on the proposed activities stated by the individual client.

Local Representation

When the managing director is a non-resident, a local representative needs to be appointed.

Local representation can be done by any person legally residing on Aruba (in possession of a work permit, if applicable) or organization incorporated under Aruban law. In the case of an organization, no more than two persons may be appointed as local representative.

In the case your company would like to appoint a local representative, please contact an account executive for more specific information.