Documents Required to Enter Aruba

What Are the Mandatory Documents Required to Enter Aruba?

To enter Aruba, you need 5 mandatory documents: a valid passport, an approved online ED Card (completed 7 days before travel), a return ticket, proof of $150 per day in funds, and accommodation confirmation. U.S., Canadian, and EU citizens need passports valid only for their stay duration; other nationalities require 6 months validity beyond entry.

The complete document checklist includes:

• a valid passport that meets the specific validity rules for your nationality,
• a completed and approved online Embarkation/Disembarkation (ED) Card,
• a valid return or onward ticket proving you will leave the island,
• proof of sufficient funds to cover your stay,
• proof of accommodation, such as a hotel reservation or property ownership documents.

What Are the Passport Requirements for Aruba?

Passport validity requirements vary by nationality: U.S., Canadian, and EU citizens need passports valid only through their departure date, while most other nationalities require 6 months validity from entry. All passports must have at least 1 blank page for the entry stamp (2 pages if you need a visa).

Passport Validity Rules for U.S., Canadian, and EU Citizens

U.S., Canadian, and EU passport holders need passports valid only until their departure date from Aruba. This is more lenient than the standard 6-month rule applied at many destinations.

Passport Validity Requirements for Other Nationalities

Travelers from countries outside the U.S., Canada, and EU must have passports valid for at least 6 months from their Aruba entry date. Check bilateral agreements between your country and the Kingdom of the Netherlands for specific requirements.

Requirements for Blank Visa Pages

You need at least 1 blank passport page for the entry stamp. If you require a visa, you need 2 blank pages minimum to accommodate the visa sticker plus entry and exit stamps.

Acceptance of Emergency Travel Documents and Temporary Passports

Aruba accepts emergency travel documents and temporary passports if they’re valid for entry and re-entry to your country of origin. Verify visa requirements separately, as standard passport exemptions may not apply to emergency documents.

Do You Need a Visa to Enter Aruba?

U.S., Canadian, UK, and Schengen Area citizens don’t need a visa for tourist stays up to 30 days (maximum 180 days per calendar year). If you’re from a non-exempt country but hold a valid multiple-entry Schengen, U.S., Canadian, UK, or Irish visa, you’re also exempt from the Aruba visa requirement.

Which Nationalities Are Exempt from Aruba Visas?

Citizens of the following countries don’t need a visa for tourist stays:

• 🇺🇸 United States,
• 🇨🇦 Canada,
• 🇬🇧 United Kingdom,
• Schengen Area countries,
• many South American and Caribbean nations.

Entry requires only a valid passport and approved ED Card for Aruba.

Visa Exemptions for Holders of Valid Schengen, U.S., or Canadian Visas

You’re exempt from the Aruba visa if you hold a valid multiple-entry visa for:

• the Schengen Area,
• the United States or Canada,
• the United Kingdom or Ireland.

How to Apply for a Caribbean Visa for the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Apply in person at a Kingdom of the Netherlands embassy or consulate in your country of residence. Submit a completed application form, passport photos, and proof of travel arrangements. This Caribbean Visa is separate from the standard Schengen visa.

What Is the Maximum Duration of Stay for Tourists?

The standard tourist stay is 30 days, with a maximum of 180 days per calendar year. The migration officer determines your exact permitted duration based on your documentation at arrival.

How to Extend Your Stay in Aruba

Apply for an extension at DIMAS (Directorate of Alien Integration, Policy and Admission). You need valid travel insurance, proof of $150 per day in funds, and confirmed accommodation to extend your stay up to the 180-day annual maximum.

How to Complete the Mandatory Aruba ED Card

Complete the online ED Card at edcardaruba.aw within 7 days before travel (recommended 24 hours before departure). The process takes 10-15 minutes and includes uploading your passport photo, answering health questions, and paying the $20 Sustainability Fee. You’ll receive a green checkmark confirmation required for airline check-in and immigration.

What Is the Online Embarkation/Disembarkation (ED) Card?

The online ED Card is a mandatory digital form collecting your personal details, travel information, and health declarations. Airlines may deny boarding without an “approved” status on your ED Card.

When Should You Fill Out the ED Card?

Complete the ED Card 7 days to 24 hours before departure. The 7-day advance window is the maximum; you cannot submit it earlier.

How to Use the Official ED Card Website (edcardaruba.aw)

At edcardaruba.aw, complete these steps:

1. enter travel dates and flight information,
2. upload your passport bio-page photo,
3. answer health and customs questions,
4. pay the Sustainability Fee (if applicable).

What Is the Aruba Sustainability Fee?

The $20 Sustainability Fee (effective July 1, 2024) applies to most air travelers and is paid via credit card (MasterCard, Visa, or Discover) during ED Card submission. Residents, children under 8, and repeat visitors within the same calendar year are exempt.

How to Receive and Use the ED Card Confirmation

Save the confirmation email with the green checkmark on your mobile device or print it. Show this confirmation to airline staff at check-in and to the immigration officer upon arrival in Aruba.

What Health and Medical Documents Are Required?

Yellow Fever vaccination certificates are mandatory for travelers from or transiting through Yellow Fever risk countries (valid 10 days before travel). Prescription medications must be in original packaging with pharmacy labels. Travel insurance is recommended but not mandatory for stays under 30 days. No COVID-19 testing or vaccination is currently required.

Is the Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate Mandatory?

Yes, if you’re arriving from or transiting through Yellow Fever risk countries (many in South America and Africa). The certificate must be valid at least 10 days before travel.

Requirements for Bringing Prescription Drugs to Aruba

Keep prescription medications in original packaging with visible pharmacy labels. Carry a doctor’s letter explaining your medical condition and medication necessity, especially for controlled substances.

Should You Have Travel Insurance for Aruba?

Travel insurance isn’t mandatory for stays under 30 days but is strongly recommended. Medical costs in Aruba are high for tourists; coverage should include medical evacuation, hospitalization, and liability.

Current COVID-19 Entry Restrictions and Health Requirements

No COVID-19 testing or vaccination requirements currently apply. The Aruba Health App and mandatory COVID-19 insurance are no longer required. Monitor official Aruba tourism authority updates for protocol changes.

What Proof of Travel and Accommodation Is Needed?

You need a return or onward ticket, proof of $150 per day in funds (credit cards, cash, or traveler’s checks), and accommodation confirmation (hotel reservation, rental booking, or property papers). Airlines verify return tickets before boarding; immigration officers may request all three documents at entry.

Requirements for Return or Onward Tickets

A valid return or onward ticket proving departure before your authorized stay expires is mandatory. Airlines check this before boarding.

How to Provide Proof of Sufficient Funds

Demonstrate $150 per day in available funds through:

• valid credit cards with sufficient limits,
• cash in convertible currency,
• traveler’s checks.

Documents Verifying Accommodation or Property Ownership

Provide a hotel reservation confirmation, vacation rental booking, property papers (if you own a home), or a letter of invitation/declaration of guarantee from your host if staying with friends or family.

What Are the Entry Requirements for Specific Travelers?

Minors need individual passports plus notarized consent letters from absent parents. Pets require a veterinary health certificate (issued within 14 days), microchip, and rabies vaccination (administered 30+ days before arrival). U.S. Global Entry members benefit from CBP Pre-clearance in Aruba. Diplomatic passport holders are often visa-exempt but should carry official invitations or mission orders.

What Documents Are Required for Minors and Infants?

Minors and infants need individual valid passports. If traveling with one parent or a guardian, carry a notarized consent letter from the absent parent(s) to prevent child trafficking check delays.

What Are the Import Requirements for Pets?

Dogs and cats need a veterinary health certificate issued within 14 days of travel, a microchip, and a rabies vaccination certificate (administered at least 30 days before arrival). Check with veterinary services for breed restrictions.

How Does the Global Entry Program Benefit U.S. Travelers?

Aruba has U.S. CBP Pre-clearance. While Global Entry doesn’t bypass Aruba immigration, you clear U.S. customs in Aruba and land in the U.S. as a domestic passenger, avoiding long customs lines at your home airport.

Requirements for Diplomatic and Service Passport Holders

Diplomatic or service passport holders are often exempt from standard visa requirements but should carry official invitations or mission orders to verify their visit purpose to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

What Customs Regulations Apply Upon Arrival?

Declare currency amounts exceeding $10,000 USD. Removing coral, seashells, or white sand from beaches is strictly prohibited and results in heavy fines. Carry prescription medications with medical prescriptions and doctor’s notes; illegal drug possession is a serious offense with strict enforcement.

Currency Declaration Restrictions

Declare amounts exceeding $10,000 USD (or equivalent) to combat money laundering. You may bring any amount of currency, but declaration is mandatory above this threshold.

Prohibited Items and Natural Souvenirs Restrictions

Removing coral, seashells, or white sand from beaches is strictly prohibited. Customs conducts thorough checks; violations result in heavy fines and confiscation.

Medication and Drug Possession Law Enforcement

Illegal drug possession is a serious offense. For strong painkillers or psychotropic medication, carry the medical prescription and a doctor’s note proving legal possession.