What Are the Mandatory Travel Documents for Aruba?
To enter Aruba, you need a valid passport and a completed Embarkation and Disembarkation (ED) Card. US, Canadian, and EU citizens don’t need a visa for stays up to 30 days (extendable to 180 days/year). Your passport must be valid for your entire stay with at least one blank page for the entry stamp.
Passport Validity and Blank Page Rules
Your passport must be valid for the entire duration of your stay in Aruba—no six-month validity rule applies here. You need at least one blank page for the immigration stamp. Damaged passports or those lacking space for stamps will result in entry refusal.
Do You Need a Visa to Enter Aruba?
Visa requirements depend on your nationality. Tourists from 130+ countries enter visa-free for up to 30 days. Nationals from certain African, Asian, and Middle Eastern countries must apply for a visitor visa at a Kingdom of the Netherlands embassy before travel. Verify your status through official Aruba immigration resources or DIMAS guidelines.
Visa Exemptions for US, Canadian, and EU Citizens
US, Canadian, and EU citizens receive automatic tourist visa exemption for stays up to 30 days, extendable to 180 days per year. You must hold a valid passport and return ticket to qualify.
Requirements for the Embarkation and Disembarkation (ED) Card
Every passenger—including infants—must complete the mandatory online ED Card before boarding. This digital form replaces paper cards and generates your „Qualified to Board” status. Without it, airlines will deny boarding.
How to Complete the Online Aruba ED Card
Complete the ED Card Aruba 7 days to 72 hours before departure at edcardaruba.aw. The process takes 5-10 minutes and includes paying the $20 sustainability fee. You’ll receive email confirmation required for boarding.
When Should You Submit the Online ED Card?
Submit the ED Card between 7 days and 72 hours before departure. The system blocks submissions earlier than 7 days. Complete it at least 72 hours prior to ensure processing time and avoid last-minute technical issues.
What Is the Aruba Sustainability Fee?
The $20 sustainability fee (paid via credit/debit card during ED Card submission) funds sewage treatment plant upgrades and environmental projects. This mandatory fee applies to all air arrivals except children under 8 and Aruba residents.
Who Is Exempt from the Sustainability Fee?
Children under 8 years old and Aruba residents with proof of residency are exempt from the $20 fee. Some repeat visitors within the same calendar year may qualify for exemption—check current policy during application.
Steps to Receive Boarding Pass Access
To board your flight:
- complete all ED Card sections accurately,
- pay the $20 sustainability fee,
- receive „Qualified to Board” email confirmation,
- present confirmation to airline agent at check-in for boarding pass.
What Are the Financial and Accommodation Entry Requirements?
Immigration requires proof of accommodation (hotel booking, rental confirmation, or property ownership), a confirmed return/onward ticket, and sufficient funds (credit cards, cash, or traveler’s checks). Standby tickets are not accepted.
Proof of Accommodation and Reservation Details
Provide a valid accommodation address:
- hotel booking confirmation,
- vacation rental reservation,
- private residence address (if staying with family/friends),
- property ownership proof.
Documentation must cover your full intended stay.
Valid Return or Onward Ticket Requirements
You must present a confirmed return or onward ticket proving you’ll leave before your authorized stay expires. Standby tickets are rejected. Missing this document is the most common reason for entry denial.
Proof of Sufficient Funds for Your Stay
Demonstrate financial means through valid credit cards with sufficient limits, cash in convertible currency, or traveler’s checks. While no specific daily amount is mandated, show you can cover accommodation, food, and activities without seeking employment.
What Are the Health and Vaccination Requirements?
Yellow Fever vaccination is mandatory only if arriving from or transiting 12+ hours through endemic countries (parts of South America and Africa)—present your ICVP „yellow card.” Travelers from US, Canada, and Europe face no general vaccination requirements. CDC recommends routine vaccines: Hepatitis A/B, MMR, Tetanus, and Typhoid.
Is the Yellow Fever Vaccination Mandatory?
Yellow Fever vaccination is required only for travelers from or transiting 12+ hours through endemic areas in South America and Africa. Present a valid International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP). Direct flights from US, Canada, or Europe without recent endemic area visits are exempt.
Recommended Vaccinations for Travelers (CDC Guidelines)
CDC recommends these routine vaccines for Aruba travel:
- Hepatitis A and B,
- Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR),
- Tetanus,
- Typhoid.
While not mandatory for entry, these protect against common travel-related illnesses.
Regulations for Bringing Prescription Drugs
Keep prescription medications in original labeled containers. Carry a copy of your doctor’s prescription or medical letter, especially for controlled substances, to avoid customs issues and drug possession enforcement complications.
Zika, Dengue, and Chikungunya Prevention Tips
Use DEET-based or EPA-registered insect repellent to prevent mosquito-borne diseases (Zika, Dengue, Chikungunya). Wear long sleeves and pants during peak mosquito hours (early morning and late afternoon) to reduce bite risk by 60-80%.
Should You Purchase Travel Insurance for Aruba?
Travel insurance is not mandatory but strongly recommended. Medical evacuation costs exceed $50,000, and US health insurance rarely covers international care. Comprehensive policies protect against medical emergencies, trip cancellation, and baggage loss.
Benefits of Medical Evacuation and Repatriation Coverage
Medical evacuation coverage is critical—air ambulance costs exceed $50,000 for severe emergencies requiring transport home or to major medical centers. Insurance eliminates these potentially devastating expenses.
Coverage for Trip Cancellation and Baggage Delay
Travel insurance reimburses non-refundable expenses if you cancel due to illness or covered reasons. Baggage loss and delay coverage provides funds (typically $500-1,500) to purchase essentials if luggage goes missing or arrives late.
Understanding Local Medical Care Accessibility
Dr. Horacio E. Oduber Hospital provides advanced medical services but requires upfront payment or insurance proof for tourists. Medical coverage travel insurance ensures immediate access without significant out-of-pocket expenses.
What Are the Customs and Import Regulations?
Declare currency exceeding $11,000 USD to avoid confiscation and legal penalties. Removing natural souvenirs (coral, conch shells, white sand) results in heavy fines. Prohibited items include firearms, ammunition, and illegal narcotics.
Currency Declaration Limits upon Arrival
Declare any currency or monetary instruments exceeding $11,000 USD (or equivalent) to prevent money laundering. Failure to declare results in fund confiscation and legal penalties.
Restrictions on Natural Souvenirs and Prohibited Items
Removing coral, conch shells, or white sand from beaches is strictly prohibited with heavy fines enforced. Other banned items:
- firearms,
- ammunition,
- illegal narcotics.
Requirements for Traveling with Pets from the US
Pets require a rabies vaccination certificate issued 30+ days before arrival and a veterinary health certificate issued within 14 days of travel. Present both documents to customs upon arrival.
How to Streamline Arrival and Departure for US Travelers
Aruba’s US Customs & Border Protection pre-clearance facility lets you complete US immigration and customs before departure—you arrive in the US as a domestic passenger, bypassing immigration lines. Global Entry members use kiosks for faster processing. Note: passport cards are invalid for air travel; you must have a passport book.
Using the US Customs & Border Protection Pre-clearance
Complete US immigration and customs at Aruba airport before departure through the CBP pre-clearance facility. You land in the US as a domestic passenger, skipping immigration lines. Arrive at the airport 30-60 minutes earlier to allow time for this process.
Benefits of the Global Entry Program in Aruba
Global Entry members use dedicated kiosks in Aruba’s CBP facility to scan passports and fingerprints, reducing pre-clearance wait times by 50-70% compared to standard processing.
Passport Card vs. Passport Book Restrictions
US passport cards are valid only for land and sea travel (cruises)—not international air travel. Flying to/from Aruba requires a valid passport book. Airlines will deny boarding if you only have a passport card.
Entry Requirements for Minors and Families
Minors traveling with one parent need a notarized parental consent letter from the absent parent and the child’s unabridged birth certificate. Sole custody cases require legal documentation. For family safety: use high-SPF sunscreen, maintain hydration, follow traffic laws, and enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) for emergency contact.
Documentation for Children Traveling with One Parent
Minors with one parent must carry a notarized parental consent letter from the absent parent and the child’s unabridged birth certificate proving parental relationship. Sole custody cases require legal documentation to prevent border delays.
Health and Safety Tips for Family Travel
Use high-SPF sunscreen (the Aruban sun is intense), keep children hydrated, and follow road safety and traffic laws when renting cars. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) so the US embassy can contact you during emergencies.
