Bonaire Tourist Tax 2026: Rates and Payment Guide

The Bonaire tourist tax 2026 works with a fixed amount per visit instead of a daily rate. Since July 1, 2022, you pay a one-time Visitor Entry Tax of $75 per person upon arrival, regardless of how long you stay. Children up to 12 years pay a reduced rate of $10. You can pay online in advance or upon arrival at Flamingo Airport.

The system replaces the old tourist tax ($5.50 per night) and car rental tax ($4 per day). This new arrangement is simpler and prevents you from having additional costs every night during your stay on the island.

Bonaire Tourist Tax Rates 2026

The tourist tax rates have remained unchanged since July 2022. The Public Entity Bonaire has indicated that there are currently no plans for rate changes in 2026.

Standard rates per age group

For persons 13 years and older, the Bonaire tourist tax 2026 is a fixed amount of $75 per visit. This rate applies regardless of the duration of your stay - if you stay three days or three weeks. Children up to and including 12 years pay only $10 per person per visit.

The age criterion is determined on the day of arrival. A child who turns 13 during the visit does not need to pay additional tax. Upon inspection, you must show a valid identity document to prove age.

These rates apply to all visitors arriving via Flamingo Airport or by boat. The tax is a one-time payment per visit, not per day or week as in some other Caribbean destinations.

Exception rates and exemptions

Residents of the former Netherlands Antilles qualify for the reduced rate of $10 per person. This applies to residents of Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius. You must be able to show a valid sedula (identity card) from one of these islands.

Island children - persons born on Bonaire - are completely exempt from tourist tax. However, you must be able to provide proof of your birth on Bonaire by means of an extract from the population register.

Bonaire students who study full-time abroad and receive financial support through WUB (BES Student Finance Act) are also exempt. Upon return, they must show valid study proof and WUB declaration. Part-time students do not fall under this exemption.

Bonaire students visiting family during holidays have long complained about paying tourist tax on their own island. After much discussion, full-time students with WUB financing are now exempt, but the arrangement does not apply to all students.

How and where to pay the tourist tax

You can pay the Visitor Entry Tax in two ways: online in advance (strongly recommended) or upon arrival at the airport. Both options accept only electronic payment - cash is not accepted anywhere.

Online advance payment (recommended)

The official website for paying the tourist tax is tourismtax.bonairegov.com. This is the ONLY official website - all other sites are fake websites that charge extra fees. You can pay online from seven days before your departure to Bonaire.

The website accepts credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) and for Dutch visitors also iDeal. After successful payment, you immediately receive a QR code via email. Also download this to your phone as backup. If you have problems receiving it, you can re-download the QR code via the website.

Paying online saves time upon arrival because you can go directly to passport control. Especially during busy periods (December-March), this can save a lot of waiting time. Make sure you enter the correct name - the QR code must match your passport.

Make sure you have the QR code digitally or printed with you during travel. Without valid proof of payment, you cannot enter the island.

Payment upon arrival at Flamingo Airport

Upon arrival in Bonaire, you can pay the tourist tax at special payment machines at the airport. These are set up before passport control. The machines accept Dutch and international bank cards (Maestro, Visa, Mastercard).

Cash payments are not accepted - not even in dollars. If your bank card doesn't work, you can go to the counter, but they only accept credit cards. So make sure you have at least a working bank card or credit card with you.

Paying upon arrival can lead to delays, especially during busy flights. In the morning between 10:00 and 12:00, when most flights from the Netherlands arrive, there can be long lines at the payment machines.

QR code validity and island hopping

Your QR code for the tourist tax is valid for 30 days from the moment of first use on Bonaire. This means you can leave the island and return within that month without having to pay again.

30-day validity period

The 30-day validity period begins the moment your QR code is first scanned upon entry to Bonaire. If you arrive on January 15th, for example, you can leave the island and return until February 14th without new payment.

This is especially useful for island hoppers who also want to visit Curacao or Aruba during their vacation. You can go to another island mid-week and then return to Bonaire without paying $75 again.

Note: the 30 days count from the first scan, not from the date of online payment. If you pay online a week before departure but only arrive after a week, the 30-day period only starts upon arrival.

Proof documents for re-entry

When returning to Bonaire within the 30-day period, you must show the same QR code and a valid identity document. The QR code is linked to your name as stated in the original payment.

Make sure the name on your QR code exactly matches your passport. Differences in spelling or use of middle names can lead to problems during inspection. If you lose your QR code, you can re-download it from the official website with your payment reference.

Sedula arrangement for sister island residents

Residents of the other former Netherlands Antilles can benefit from the reduced rate of $10 instead of $75. This arrangement recognizes the historical ties between the islands and promotes mutual visits.

Which islands qualify

The sedula arrangement applies to residents of Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius. You must have a valid sedula (identity card) from one of these islands to qualify for the reduced rate.

Note that a Dutch passport with residence on one of these islands is not sufficient. You specifically need the local sedula as proof of residency.

Required documents

For the reduced rate, you must show a valid sedula when paying or upon arrival. The sedula may not be expired - even a sedula that is one day expired will not be accepted.

In some cases, a recent extract from the population register may also be requested as additional proof. This especially applies when there is doubt about the validity of documents. Make sure your sedula is valid for at least one month before the planned travel date.

When paying online, you can select the sedula option, but you must show the document upon arrival. If you cannot show the document, you still have to pay the full amount of $75 - refund is then not possible.

STINAPA Nature Fee: separate payment for nature parks

In addition to the tourist tax, there is a separate system for access to Bonaire's nature parks: the STINAPA Nature Fee. Many visitors think this is included in the tourist tax, but that is not the case.

Difference with tourist tax

The Visitor Entry Tax gives you access to the island of Bonaire. The STINAPA Nature Fee gives access to the Bonaire Marine Park and Washington Slagbaai National Park. These are two completely separate taxes with different purposes.

The Nature Fee costs $40 per person per year and is mandatory for all activities in the protected marine areas. Without a valid Nature Tag, you may not dive or snorkel in the Marine Park.

Children under 12 are exempt from the Nature Fee. Residents of Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten are also exempt, unless they scuba dive - then they must pay.

When you need to pay STINAPA

You need a Nature Tag as soon as you enter the water for diving or snorkeling. Also for a visit to Washington Slagbaai National Park, you must have paid the Nature Fee. It doesn't matter if you dive with a professional dive center or bring your own equipment.

Just swimming from the beach without snorkel equipment does not require a Nature Fee. However, as soon as you use a mask and snorkel, you are required to have paid the fee. Dive centers on Bonaire always check if you have a valid Nature Tag.

The fee is valid for a full calendar year (January-December). If you pay in November, it is therefore only valid for two months. You can buy the Nature Tag online via the STINAPA website or upon arrival on the island at various sales points.

Special arrangements and exceptions

In addition to standard rates, the tourist tax has various exceptions for specific groups of visitors. It's important to know which documents you need to use these arrangements.

Cruise passengers

Cruise ship passengers pay a reduced rate of $10 per person. This payment is automatically arranged by the cruise line and is included in your cruise costs. As a cruise passenger, you don't need to pay anything separately upon arrival at the port.

The cruise arrangement only applies to passengers who depart with the ship again. If you decide to stay longer on Bonaire and leave by plane later, you still have to pay the full tourist tax of $75.

Island children definition

Persons born on Bonaire are considered 'island children' and are completely exempt from tourist tax. This applies regardless of if you currently live on Bonaire or not.

As proof, you must show an extract from the population register showing that you were born on Bonaire. A Dutch passport with birthplace Bonaire is usually sufficient, but in doubtful cases additional documentation may be requested.

Student exemptions

Full-time students from Bonaire studying abroad and receiving WUB student finance are exempt from tourist tax. You must be able to prove that you:

• Study full-time at a recognized educational institution
• Receive WUB student finance from the Dutch government
• Have your main residence outside Bonaire due to your studies

Part-time students, students without WUB financing, and students studying on Bonaire itself do not fall under this exemption. Upon arrival, you must be able to show valid proof documents: enrollment certificate from your educational institution and a recent WUB decision.

This arrangement was introduced after much criticism from students who had to pay tourist tax to visit their own family during holidays.

Warning about fraud sites and wrong websites

There are various fake websites active that pretend to be official websites for the Bonaire tourist tax. These sites often charge higher rates or extra service fees.

Recognizing the official website

The only official website for paying the Visitor Entry Tax is tourismtax.bonairegov.com. This website ends with '.bonairegov.com' - this is the domain of the Bonaire government.

All other websites claiming to be able to collect the tourist tax are fraudulent. Examples of fake domains are sites ending in .com, .org, or .net without 'bonairegov' in them. Never pay via websites that charge extra service fees or 'administration costs'.

The official website asks exactly $75 for adults and $10 for children/sedula holders. Any website asking different amounts is unreliable.

Surcharge scammers

Fraudulent websites often charge $85-$95 instead of $75, claiming these are 'service costs' or 'processing fees'. These costs are completely unnecessary - the official website charges no extra costs.

Some sites claim you can buy a 'fast service' to get through customs faster. This is completely false - there is no fast service available and all QR codes are treated equally.

If you accidentally paid through a fraudulent website, you usually cannot get a refund and still have to pay through the official website. Therefore, always check the URL before entering payment details.

History: from room tax to Visitor Entry Tax

The current Visitor Entry Tax system was introduced to replace the complex system of separate taxes that was in effect until July 2022.

The old system until July 2022

Before July 1, 2022, Bonaire visitors had to pay two separate taxes: a tourist tax (room tax) of $5.50 per person per night and a car rental tax of $4 per day for rental cars.

This system led to much confusion because rates depended on your length of stay and if you rented a car. A family staying a week paid $38.50 per person for room tax ($5.50 x 7 nights) plus $28 for a rental car ($4 x 7 days).

Collection of these taxes was done through accommodations and car rental companies, which led to inconsistencies. Some companies forgot to charge the tax or did not fully remit it to the government.

Why the new system

The Public Entity Bonaire decided on reform because the old system was too complex and not all tax was collected. Many visitors complained about unclear rates and unexpected costs when checking out.

The new system of a fixed Visitor Entry Tax of $75 is more transparent and easier to enforce. Visitors know exactly what they pay, regardless of their length of stay or travel behavior. For the government, the system is more efficient because collection is centralized.

For many visitors, the transition also meant cost savings. A stay of more than 14 nights was more expensive under the old system than the current $75 flat rate.

Where does the tourist tax money go

The revenues from the Visitor Entry Tax are used by the Public Entity Bonaire for various purposes that benefit both residents and visitors.

Spending by Public Entity Bonaire

The largest part of tourist tax revenues goes to education and infrastructure. This means investments in schools, roads, sewerage, and other facilities that also benefit tourists.

Another important part is spent on maintenance and improvement of tourist facilities such as beaches, walking trails, and public spaces. Security and enforcement around tourist activities are also financed from these funds.

Tax revenues also help preserve Bonaire's natural environment. Although this differs from the STINAPA Nature Fee, the tourist tax contributes to general environmental protection and sustainability projects.

Contribution to island development

By paying the tourist tax, you contribute to the development of Bonaire as a sustainable tourist destination. The money is used to monitor the balance between tourism and nature.

Concrete projects financed from the tourist tax include maintenance of public beaches, improving signage for tourists, and investments in waste management to keep the island clean.

The Public Entity Bonaire annually publishes an overview of how tourist tax revenues have been spent, providing transparency about the use of these funds.