Aruba ED Card: What It Is and How to Fill It Out

The Aruba ED Card (Embarkation/Disembarkation Card) is a mandatory online entry form that every visitor must complete before arriving in Aruba. It replaced the old paper card you used to fill out on the plane, and there is no paper option anymore. Everyone entering the island needs one, including children and infants, regardless of nationality.

The good news: it takes about five minutes to fill out, and the form itself is free. You just need your passport, your flight details, and your hotel address. Here is everything you need to know before you travel.

What Is the Aruba ED Card?

ED stands for Embarkation/Disembarkation. The form is Aruba's way of collecting immigration and health information from every visitor before they land. It was introduced as a digital system to replace the paper form that was previously handed out on flights and cruise ships.

Every traveler, whether arriving by air or by sea, must have a completed ED Card. That means every person in your group, including your kids, needs their own individual submission. There is no family form.

The Official ED Card Website

The only official website is edcardaruba.aw. This is run by the Aruban government. Be careful: there are many unofficial look-alike sites that charge $80 to $100 or more for processing. They are not scams in the legal sense, but they are unnecessary middlemen. The official site charges nothing for the form itself. Go directly to edcardaruba.aw and bookmark it.

Does the Aruba ED Card Cost Money?

The ED Card form is free to fill out. However, since July 1, 2024, a mandatory $20 Aruba Sustainability Fee applies to all non-resident travelers aged 8 and older. You pay this directly through the official portal as part of the ED Card process. The fee supports Aruba's environmental and tourism sustainability programs.

Children under 8 are exempt. Aruban residents are also exempt. Transit passengers spending less than 24 hours on the island are exempt. For everyone else, the $20 is collected once per trip, not per entry.

Accepted payment methods on the official portal: Visa, Mastercard, and Discover credit or debit cards.

When to Fill Out the Aruba ED Card

You can submit your ED Card no earlier than 7 days before your arrival date. If you try to fill it out earlier, the portal will reject the dates and you will need to start over. The recommended window is 24 to 72 hours before your departure flight.

Do not leave it until you are at the airport. Most airlines check for your ED Card qualifier at check-in. If you do not have it, you could be delayed or turned away. Completing it the evening before your flight is the safest approach.

What Information You Need to Fill It Out

Before you open the form, have these items ready:

• Your passport (full name as printed, passport number, issue date, expiry date, country of issue)
• Your flight number for the flight that actually lands in Aruba (not a connecting flight number or booking code)
• Your arrival date and departure date
• The full address of your hotel or accommodation in Aruba for your first night
• A Visa, Mastercard, or Discover card to pay the $20 Sustainability Fee (if applicable)

If you are traveling with children, have their passports ready before you start. Each person needs their own separate submission, so plan to go through the process once per traveler.

How to Fill Out the Aruba ED Card: Step by Step

The process is straightforward once you have your documents in front of you.

• Go to edcardaruba.aw and click to start a new application. Select "Visitor" (not Resident).
• Enter your personal details exactly as they appear on your passport. Name, date of birth, nationality, passport number, issue date, and expiry date.
• Enter your travel details: arrival date, departure date, and your direct flight number into Aruba.
• Enter your accommodation address in Aruba. This is your hotel or vacation rental for your first night.
• Answer the brief health declaration questions.
• Pay the $20 Sustainability Fee if applicable. Review your details and submit.
• Save or screenshot your qualifier confirmation. You may be asked to show it at airline check-in and at immigration in Aruba.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Most problems with the ED Card come from a handful of easily avoidable errors.

• Name mismatch: Enter your name exactly as it appears on your passport, including all given names, middle names, hyphens, and accents. Even small differences can cause issues at immigration.
• Wrong flight number: Use the flight number for the plane that actually lands in Aruba, not the leg from your home airport to a hub. If you have a connection, double-check which flight number is the Aruba arrival.
• Submitting too early: The portal only accepts submissions within 7 days of your arrival. Earlier attempts will fail and you will have to restart.
• Swapping day and month: Date formats can trip people up. Pay attention to the order the form asks for (day/month/year vs. month/day/year).
• Passport number typos: Type slowly and cross-check the first and last digits against your physical passport.
• Not saving your qualifier: Once you submit, save the confirmation page or screenshot it. You need it at check-in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Aruba ED Card the same as a visa?

No. The ED Card is a separate entry form, not a visa. Most nationalities (including US, Canadian, EU, and UK citizens) do not need a visa to enter Aruba. The ED Card is required in addition to your passport and, where applicable, your visa.

Do children need their own ED Card?

Yes. Every person entering Aruba needs their own individual ED Card, including infants and young children. Children under 8 are exempt from the $20 Sustainability Fee, but they still need a completed form.

What if I make a mistake on my ED Card?

Minor errors in accommodation details are generally lower risk. Errors in your name, passport number, or flight information are more serious and should be corrected by submitting a new application. The portal allows you to start a fresh submission before travel.

Do cruise ship passengers need an ED Card?

Yes. The ED Card applies to all visitors arriving by sea as well as air. However, if you are a transit passenger spending fewer than 24 hours in Aruba, you are exempt from the $20 Sustainability Fee (though the form itself is still required).

Is it safe to pay on the official site?

Yes. The official site at edcardaruba.aw is operated by the Aruba government and uses standard secure payment processing. The risk comes from third-party sites that look official but charge much higher fees. Always verify you are on edcardaruba.aw (the .aw domain is Aruba's country domain) before entering payment details.

Before You Land in Aruba

The ED Card is just one piece of trip prep. While you are getting organized in the days before your flight, it is also a good time to think through what to pack for Aruba and sort out how you will get around Aruba once you land. Both will save you headaches on arrival.

If you are still deciding when to book, the guide to the best time to visit Aruba covers weather patterns, crowd levels, and pricing by month so you can pick the window that fits your trip.

Fill out the ED Card a day or two before you fly, save your qualifier, and you are cleared to go. The form is quick. The part everyone actually looks forward to is the part that comes after.