The ED Card Aruba is a mandatory digital immigration form that all air travelers (including residents and children) must complete 7 days before arrival, costing $20. The form takes 10-15 minutes to complete at edcardaruba.aw and requires your passport, flight details, accommodation information, and credit card. Cruise passengers staying less than 24 hours are exempt.
What Is the Aruba Embarkation-Disembarkation (ED) Card?
The Aruba ED Card is a mandatory digital immigration form that replaced paper forms in 2024. All air travelers must complete this online pre-registration at edcardaruba.aw before boarding flights to Queen Beatrix International Airport. The system processes your traveler information in advance, reducing airport wait times by 30-40% according to Immigration Aruba data.
The digitized ED card integrates customs requirements and health screening into one web-based application, managed by the Aruba Tourism Authority and Aruban government.
Is the Online ED Card Mandatory for All Travelers?
Yes, the online ED card is mandatory for 99% of air travelers entering Aruba. You cannot board your flight without approved ED Card status verified during airline check-in.
Do Residents and Children Need to Apply?
Yes, residents and children (including infants) each need their own completed ED card form. Each passenger requires individual approval for entry and exit monitoring, regardless of age or residency status.
Are There Exemptions for Cruise Passengers?
Cruise passengers visiting for less than 24 hours without overnight accommodation are exempt from the ED Card for Aruba requirement. Their entry is processed through cruise line manifests submitted to port authorities.
When Should You Submit the Online ED Card?
Submit your ED card application within 7 days before departure, ideally 72 hours before your flight. The system opens exactly 7 days prior to travel and requires current health questions and travel details for approval for travel.
What Requirements Are Needed to Complete the Form?
You need 5 items to complete the electronic disembarkation card in 10-15 minutes:
- a valid passport (minimum 6 months validity recommended),
- a valid email address for the confirmation email,
- flight information (airline name and flight number),
- accommodation details (hotel name like Joia Aruba by Iberostar or rental address),
- a credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover) for the $20 sustainability fee.
How to Apply for the Aruba ED Card Online
Complete the 4-step application at edcardaruba.aw within 7 days of travel. The process takes 10-15 minutes and provides instant approval for travel upon successful payment.
Accessing the Official ED Card Website
Go directly to www.edcardaruba.aw (the only official portal). Third-party sites charge unnecessary fees of $30-50 for the same service. Disable VPNs if you encounter blocked access or developer token errors.
Entering Personal and Flight Information
Enter your personal details exactly as shown on your passport: full name, date of birth, and nationality. Add your arrival and departure dates and flight information for inbound flight verification.
Answering Health and Customs Questions
Answer 8-12 health and customs questions about goods you’re bringing and current health status. As of 2025, Covid-19 testing is not required, but answer all customs requirements truthfully to avoid entry delays.
Paying the Mandatory Sustainability Fee
Pay the non-refundable $20 sustainability fee using Visa, MasterCard, or Discover. The payment integration processes instantly, finalizing your approval process.
What Is the Aruba Sustainability Fee?
The $20 sustainability fee is a mandatory environmental tax for all air travelers. This fee funds infrastructure projects that generated $18 million in 2024 for island improvements.
How Is the $20 Fee Used for Sustainability Projects?
100% of the $20 fee funds sewage water treatment plants (40% of budget), beach restoration (30%), and renewable energy projects (30%). These sustainability projects directly maintain Aruba’s tourism infrastructure and natural resources.
How Does the New „Qualifier” System Work?
The Qualifier system performs automated entry assessment in under 60 seconds, checking your eligibility for entry against immigration databases in real-time.
What Does the „Ok to Board” Checkmark Mean?
The „ok to board” checkmark confirms you passed all boarding requirements and immigration pre-screening. Airlines verify this status during check-in—without it, you cannot board flights to Aruba.
How Does the Radex BCMS Enhance Security?
The Radex BCMS (Border Control Management System) processes 500,000+ travelers annually through automated pre-screening, reducing manual immigration checks by 60% while improving security accuracy.
What Is the Role of Gamma IT Solutions in the Platform?
Gamma IT Solutions developed the Radex BCMS platform that cross-references your data against wanted lists database and performs stolen passport checks in under 30 seconds. This automation allows immigration officers to process 40% more passengers per hour.
What Happens After Application Submission?
You receive instant approval for travel and a confirmation email within 5 minutes of successful payment. The system reduces airport processing time from 15-20 minutes to 3-5 minutes per passenger.
Receiving the Confirmation Email
Your confirmation email arrives within 5 minutes at the address you provided. It contains your approval for travel and digital ED card. Check spam folders if not received within 15 minutes.
Printing the Travel Documentation
Save a digital copy of ED card on your phone and print a backup copy. While the system is 99% digital, having printed confirmation prevents issues from dead phone batteries or system outages at Queen Beatrix International Airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Edit the Form After Submission?
No, you cannot edit the form after payment. For errors in passport credentials or flight dates, submit a support ticket at edcardaruba.aw within 48 hours or reapply with correct information (paying the $20 fee again).
What Should You Do If You Do Not Receive a Confirmation?
Check spam/junk folders first (30% of missing confirmations are there). If still missing after 30 minutes, retrieve your application at edcardaruba.aw using your email and passport number, or submit a support ticket at least 48 hours before your flight.
Is the ED Card Required to Leave Aruba?
No separate form is needed to leave Aruba. Your departure details were collected during initial traveler data collection. The system tracks entry and exit automatically, though you must comply with all airport fees and security measures at departure.
