Do you need a passport to go to Aruba?
Yes, you need a passport to go to Aruba, valid for your whole stay. Every traveler also needs an approved online ED Card before boarding their flight.
Updated
Aruba uses the US dollar alongside its own florin and gets plenty of US visitors, so it's easy to assume it works like Puerto Rico. It doesn't. Aruba runs its own immigration, and a REAL ID or passport card won't get you on the plane.
What you need to enter Aruba
- A passport valid for your entire stay, with one blank page for the entry stamp.
- An approved ED Card. You get a qualifier with a QR code by email, and the airline checks it before you board.
- A return or onward ticket.
- Proof of enough funds for your stay and the address where you're staying. The ED Card asks for your hotel name and address, so have your trip1 booking confirmation open when you fill it in.
Do you need a visa for Aruba?
US citizens don't need a visa for stays of up to 30 days, and you can apply to extend your stay when you arrive. Canadian, UK and EU passport holders are also visa-free for short tourist visits. Other nationalities should check Aruba's official visa list before booking.
The online ED Card and sustainability fee
The ED Card is Aruba's mandatory online entry form, and every traveler needs their own, children included. You can only submit it within the 7 days before you arrive, so don't start it weeks ahead.
The form itself is free. Visitors aged 8 and over pay a 20 US dollar sustainability fee during the same process, once per calendar year. Use only the official government portal at edcardaruba.aw, because look-alike sites charge far more for the same form.
Important: Without an approved ED Card, most airlines won't let you board your flight to Aruba. Complete it 24 to 72 hours before you leave so you have time to fix any mistakes.
Traveling to Aruba with children
Each child needs their own passport and their own ED Card. If one parent is traveling without the other, bring a notarized consent letter from the absent parent or proof of sole custody.
Flying home to the US
Aruba's airport has US preclearance, so you go through US immigration and customs before you board. You'll need your passport again for that step, and you land in the US like a domestic arrival.
Do you need a passport to go to Aruba - FAQ
No. Aruba is not a US territory, so US citizens and all other visitors need a passport valid for their whole stay to fly there.
No. Aruba is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands with its own immigration rules, even though it uses the US dollar widely.
No. US citizens can stay up to 30 days without a visa, and you can apply to extend your stay when you arrive.
It's Aruba's mandatory online entry form. Every traveler completes one at edcardaruba.aw within 7 days of arrival, and airlines check it before boarding.
It's 20 US dollars per traveler aged 8 and over. You pay it once per calendar year as part of the online ED Card process.