This is an independent guide and assisted-filing service, not the Aruban government. Below, you'll find everything you need to know about the ED Card, plus how we can help you complete it accurately and stress-free.
Start My ED CardIs This an Official Government Website?
The only official Aruba ED Card portal is edcardaruba.aw, run by Aruba's Immigration Department. If you'd rather file directly with the government at no extra cost, you're welcome to do so there.
We built this service to help travelers — especially families and groups juggling multiple passports and travel details — file accurately and avoid the common mistakes that lead to delays at the airport.
What Is the Aruba ED Card?
The ED Card (Embarkation-Disembarkation Card) is a mandatory digital registration required of everyone entering or leaving Aruba. It replaced the country's old paper landing card and is administered by Aruba's Immigration Department.
Important: the ED Card is not a visa. It doesn't determine whether you need a visa to enter Aruba, and completing it has no bearing on your visa status either way.
The "Qualifier": What Changed in October 2024
On October 30, 2024, Aruba relaunched the ED Card platform with a redesigned interface. The biggest change: successful submissions now produce a "qualifier" — a document with a QR code — instead of the older "OK to board" green checkmark. Airlines check this qualifier before boarding, and Aruban border control scans it again on arrival.
If you've traveled to Aruba before and remember the green checkmark, this is why the process looks a little different now.
Who Needs to Complete the ED Card?
Every individual traveler needs their own ED Card — there's no blanket family exemption. This includes infants, children, returning Aruba residents, non-resident homeowners, and passengers arriving by private aircraft or yacht.
Do Children and Infants Need Their Own ED Card?
Yes. There's no minimum-age exemption, and every child — including newborns — needs their own valid individual passport. A child cannot be added to a parent's passport for ED Card purposes.
Do Cruise Passengers Need an ED Card?
Usually not. Most cruise ship passengers don't need to complete an ED Card. It's only required for passengers on vessels that must go through Aruba Immigration. If you're arriving by cruise, check with your cruise line to confirm whether this applies to you.
Can Multiple Travelers Be Submitted Together?
Each traveler needs their own individual ED Card record — there's no single family or group application form. That said, some travelers flying together and sharing an address may be able to batch their Sustainability Fee payment for up to 10 people in one session. If you're traveling as a group, we recommend confirming this directly on the official portal, or letting us handle the coordination for you.
Is the Aruba ED Card Free?
Yes. The ED Card form itself is completely free. Separately, most air travelers age 8 and older pay a $20 USD Sustainability Fee as part of the same online session — this is a distinct government fee, not a processing charge.
The $20 Sustainability Fee
The Sustainability Fee funds upgrades to Aruba's sewage water treatment infrastructure. It applies to most air travelers aged 8 and up and is paid by credit card only — Visa, Mastercard, or Discover. Cash isn't accepted, either online or on arrival.
One detail worth knowing in advance: the charge will appear on your bank statement under the name "Aruba Wastewater," since the fee is administered by Aruba Wastewater Sustainable Solutions (AWSS). If you spot this unfamiliar name on your card statement, it's the legitimate charge — not fraud.
Who Is Exempt From the Sustainability Fee?
- Children under 8 years old
- Aruba residents registered with the Aruba Census
- Visitors returning to Aruba within the same calendar year who've already paid
- Visitors arriving and departing Aruba the same day
- Airline or ship crew entering on official duty
- Certain former Aruba residents studying abroad
- Non-resident homeowners (one exempt visit per calendar year)
Being exempt from the fee doesn't mean you're exempt from the ED Card itself — you still need to complete the form.
Beware of Third-Party Sites Overcharging
The only legitimate cost to complete your ED Card is the $20 government fee (or nothing, if you're exempt). We've seen third-party sites charge $80 to $100 or more to "process" the form — this is consistently and independently documented across multiple sources. Our assisted-filing service is transparent about this: you're paying us for accuracy review and help navigating the process, not for access to a form that's already free.
When Should You Submit the ED Card?
Let us handle the filing for you
About 7 minutes to fill in. A reviewer checks your details, then we submit on time — and retry if the portal fails.
Apply through TravelDeclaration.comYou can only submit your ED Card within 7 days of your arrival date — submitting earlier will result in invalid travel dates, and you'll need to start over. We recommend completing it 24 to 72 hours before departure, which gives you enough buffer to fix any errors without leaving it until the last minute.
Where Do You Submit the ED Card?
The only official portal is edcardaruba.aw. An older domain, "ariba.gov," is no longer active. If you'd like help making sure every field is filled out correctly the first time, that's exactly what our service is for.
What Information Do You Need?
Before you begin, gather the following details for every traveler.
Passport & Personal Information
Full legal name exactly as it appears on the passport, nationality, date of birth, and passport number. Every traveler — including infants — needs their own valid passport.
Travel Details
Airline name, flight number, departure city, and your arrival date in Aruba.
Accommodation Information
The name and address of your hotel, resort, or vacation rental. If you don't have the exact address, the hotel name and general area is generally sufficient.
Health & Customs Declaration
A short set of yes/no declaration questions covering standard health and customs disclosures.
How to Complete the ED Card (Step by Step)
Visit the official portal
At edcardaruba.aw.
Select your language
English, Dutch, Spanish, or Papiamento.
Enter personal details
Full name (matching your passport exactly), nationality, passport number, and date of birth. Have every traveler's passport in hand before you start.
Enter travel details
Airline, flight number, departure city, and arrival date.
Enter accommodation details
Your hotel, resort, or rental name and address.
Complete the health and customs declaration
Pay the $20 Sustainability Fee
If applicable, by Visa, Mastercard, or Discover.
Save your qualifier
It's emailed to you immediately as a QR-code document.
Traveling with kids? Complete each adult's ED Card first, then each child's one at a time, with every passport on hand. It's a small step that saves a lot of back-and-forth.
What Happens After You Submit?
You'll receive your qualifier — the QR-code document that replaced the old "OK to board" checkmark — by email right away. Airlines check it before boarding, and it's scanned again on arrival.
One honest caveat: a completed, approved ED Card doesn't guarantee entry. Aruban immigration officers still independently assess each traveler's eligibility on arrival.
Saving and Retrieving Your Qualifier
Don't rely on a single copy. Screenshot it, download it, and print it if you can. If you lose it, you can retrieve it again by logging back into edcardaruba.aw with the traveler's passport number.
Can You Edit the ED Card After Submitting?
No. If anything is wrong, or your itinerary changes, you'll need to submit a brand-new ED Card with the corrected details. If you already paid the $20 fee, the system should recognize your passport number and not charge you again — but keep your original payment receipt as proof, just in case.
What Happens If You Don't Complete the ED Card Before You Fly?
Airlines check for a valid qualifier before allowing boarding. Without one, you likely won't be permitted to board your flight to Aruba at all. Don't wait until check-in to find out — complete it in advance.
ED Card vs. Aruba Visa
| ED Card | Aruba Visa | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Mandatory entry/exit registration | Permission to enter, required only for certain nationalities |
| Who needs it | Every individual traveler, including infants | Only travelers whose nationality requires one |
| Cost | Free (plus the $20 Sustainability Fee for most air travelers) | Varies by nationality and visa type |
| Does one replace the other? | No — completing the ED Card has no bearing on visa requirements, and vice versa | — |
Other Aruba Entry Requirements to Know
Beyond the ED Card, keep the following in mind: every traveler needs a valid passport, with no exceptions for infants. Travel insurance isn't required, though it's worth confirming current guidance before you fly. The U.S. dollar is widely accepted throughout Aruba, so you're unlikely to need to exchange much currency.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Submitting more than 7 days before arrival (the portal will invalidate it)
The ED Card is only valid if you submit it within the 7 days immediately before you land — submit any earlier and the portal invalidates it.
Forgetting that each child needs their own individual passport
Every traveler, including infants, needs a valid individual passport and their own separately submitted ED Card — a parent's passport doesn't cover a child.
Entering a nickname instead of the exact name on the passport
Use the exact name printed on your passport's biographic page, not a nickname or shortened version — mismatches can cause delays at the border.
Paying $80–100+ to an unofficial third-party site
The official ED Card carries only a $20 government fee — sites charging significantly more aren't affiliated with Aruba's government.
Not saving your qualifier in more than one place
Save your confirmation both as a screenshot and a downloaded file — a single lost or dead phone shouldn't cost you your only copy.
Forgetting to resubmit after a flight or itinerary change
Your ED Card details need to match your actual arrival — if your flight or dates change, submit a fresh card rather than relying on the old one.
Assuming a completed ED Card guarantees entry into Aruba
The ED Card is an entry requirement, not a guarantee — immigration officers still make the final admissibility decision at the border.
How Travel Declaration Can Help
The ED Card form is free, and you're always welcome to complete it yourself directly at edcardaruba.aw. Where we come in is everything around the form: reviewing your entries for the mistakes above, coordinating multiple passports and travelers in one household, and making sure nothing gets missed before you're standing at the gate.
We know there are other assisted-filing services out there — what we're focused on is being the most accurate and transparent one, not the only one. You pay for our review and support, never for access to a form that's already free.
Get Started With Travel DeclarationFrequently Asked Questions
What is the Aruba ED Card?
It's a mandatory digital entry and exit registration required of everyone traveling to Aruba, administered by Aruba's Immigration Department.
Is the Aruba ED Card free?
Yes, the form itself is free. Most air travelers age 8 and up also pay a separate $20 Sustainability Fee in the same session.
How much does the Aruba ED Card cost?
$0 for the form, plus $20 for the Sustainability Fee if you're not exempt.
Do children and infants need their own ED Card?
Yes — every child, including infants, needs their own valid passport and their own ED Card.
Do cruise passengers need an ED Card?
Usually not, unless your vessel is required to go through Aruba Immigration. Check with your cruise line.
When should I complete the ED Card?
Within 7 days of arrival — ideally 24 to 72 hours before you fly.
Can I edit my ED Card after submitting?
No. You'll need to submit a new one with corrected details; you shouldn't be charged the $20 fee twice.
Do I need an ED Card to leave Aruba?
The ED Card covers both embarkation and disembarkation, so yes, it's part of your departure process as well as your arrival.
Is there an official Aruba ED Card app?
Not that we've confirmed — the ED Card is completed through the official web portal at edcardaruba.aw.
Is the ED Card the same as a visa?
No. The ED Card is a separate entry/exit registration and has no effect on your visa requirements either way.
Sources & Further Reading
- Official Aruba ED Card portal: edcardaruba.aw
- Aruba Tourism Authority: aruba.com
- Aruba Sustainability Fee information: aruba.com/us/sustainability-fee