Working on Bonaire
The island of Bonaire has a small but vibrant economy. The majority of employment is associated with tourism while a small segment relies on the salt or oil trans-shipment industry. Work permits must be obtained for foreigners. Licenses, for those who wish to engage in businesses, are also required.
Dive operations, accommodations and restaurants are among Bonaire’s largest employers. If job seeking, it is best to contact DEZA for particulars and required documentation. The procedure is sometimes lengthy; once a job has been promised the individual must be off island until the papers are completed.
Bonaire also has a limited opportunity for professional and technical careers. However, most employers require multilingual staff with Dutch and English as the primary languages. Papiamentu and Spanish are helpful for jobs in the tourism sector.