What Is an ED Card? Everything You Need to Know About Aruba’s Entry Requirement
by Briana Bonfiglio
Photo: gomesphotos / Shutterstock.com
With several new resorts opening in Aruba this year, from Joia Aruba by Iberostar to Secrets Baby Beach Aruba to a brand new St. Regis in Palm Beach, U.S. travelers should be aware of the conditions to enter the country.
In 2020, the Caribbean Island launched an Embarkation & Disembarkation (ED) card that travelers must receive by filling out an online form prior to entry. This process will be new to those who have not visited Aruba since pre-pandemic days. Aruba also added in July 2024 a new sustainability fee for tourists that is paid through this platform. Both those programs are requirements for all inbound travelers.
To avoid problems when entering Aruba, here is all you need to know about Aruba’s ED card and the new visitor tax.
Who needs to fill out the form?
All airline passengers landing in Aruba must submit the ED card form within seven days of arrival, before checking into the airport. They will need to submit a new one each time they visit. Once completed, travelers will receive a digital copy of the card via email, and they can print it out if they choose, although it is not necessary. The airlines typically verify that all visitors boarding a flight to Aruba have completed it. The ED card does not, however, apply to cruise passengers.
What information is required?
When filling out Aruba’s ED card form, have the following information at the ready: passport credentials, travel details including arrival and departure dates, your contact details, and credit card information to pay the sustainability fee. The country notes that the ED card is not necessarily a visa and does not guarantee admission.
How much does it cost?
Though the ED card itself is free of charge, travelers now must pay a sustainability fee through this platform that costs $20. Each Aruba visitor, ages 8 and older and arriving by air, pays this tax once per calendar year even if visiting more than once in a year. The fees go toward improving Aruba’s infrastructure.
