Quick answer

Aruba's ED card (Embarkation and Disembarkation card) is a mandatory online form for everyone entering Aruba, children included. Complete it only on the official site, edcardaruba.aw, within the 7 days before you travel. The form is free, but air travelers pay Aruba's $20 sustainability fee through it, by credit card, before the card is approved. U.S. citizens don't need a visa for Aruba, but do need a passport book.

Pay no more than $20. Aruba's tourism authority says there are no authorized middlemen for the ED card. Websites charging extra aren't needed.

What Americans need to visit Aruba

No visa is needed for tourist visits. Check that your passport stays valid for your whole trip, since airlines can be stricter: Passport validity checker →

When to fill it out

Within the 7 days before your trip. Completing it earlier gives invalid dates. Ideally, do it as soon as you're inside that 7-day window, once your flight and hotel are confirmed.

The $20 sustainability fee

  • $20 per traveler arriving by air, paid by credit card on the ED card platform. Your ED card isn't approved until it's paid.
  • Paid once per calendar year per passport. If you renew your passport during the year, you pay again on your next visit.
  • Children under 8 are exempt, as are some other groups listed on the official site.

What you'll need

  • Each traveler's passport, with details entered exactly as printed;
  • Your flight details (arrival and departure);
  • Your address in Aruba (hotel or rental);
  • An email address and phone number;
  • A credit card for the $20 fee.

Step by step

  1. Go to the official site, edcardaruba.aw, within 7 days of your flight.
  2. Enter your passport details exactly as printed in your passport.
  3. Add your travel details: flights, and where you're staying.
  4. Answer the required questions.
  5. Pay the $20 sustainability fee by credit card.
  6. Submit, and watch for your approval email. Save it on your phone, and keep a printed copy just in case.
  7. Repeat for each traveler, children included.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Paying an unofficial website. The only official site is edcardaruba.aw, and the only charge is the $20 fee.
  • Filling it out too early. Wait until you're within 7 days of travel.
  • Typos. An ED card can't be edited after payment. If you make a mistake, you have to create a new one.
  • Forgetting the children. Every traveler needs their own ED card.
  • An expired or nearly expired passport. Check your passport before you book. If it needs renewing, we can expedite it as quickly as 4 business days from when your documents reach us.

Questions

Yes. Everyone entering Aruba needs an approved ED card, including children. Complete it online at edcardaruba.aw.