Curaçao Digital Immigration Card (DI Card) for Colombian Citizens

The requirement isn't new, but it has evolved: the DI Card replaced Curaçao's paper ED Card on October 1, 2019, and completing it now also unlocks a fast-track eGate lane at the airport for eligible travelers. Below, Colombian Citizens will find exactly who needs to complete the DI Card, when the 7-day submission window opens, and how to avoid the submission errors that trip up travelers most often.

Did you know? Colombian Citizens are Curaçao's third-largest visitor group — and the fastest-growing of the top three by far: Colombian arrivals jumped 26% year-over-year in a recent month, more than double the growth rate of US visitors. — Curaçao's Top 3 Tourist Markets — eTurboNews

This is an independent guide, not an official government website. Below, you'll find everything Colombian citizens need to know about the Digital Immigration Card, plus how we can help you get it right.

What Is the Curaçao DI Card (and How It Relates to the Old ED Card)

If you've researched Curaçao entry requirements before, you may have seen two different names — DI Card and ED Card — and wondered if they're separate requirements. They're not. "DI Card" (Digital Immigration Card) is the current, official name for the form. "ED Card" (Embarkation-Disembarkation Card) is the legacy name, carried over from the paper form that used to be handed out on flights before the entire process moved online on October 1, 2019.

For Colombian Citizens, this means one thing: if a website, airline, or travel agent refers to the "ED Card," they're talking about the exact same digital requirement. There's no separate paper process to worry about, and there's no second form hiding behind a different name.

The DI Card itself is not a visa. It's a mandatory entry declaration — a way for Curaçao's immigration authorities to collect passport, flight, and accommodation details before a traveler arrives. It's completed for free at the official portal, dicardcuracao.com, and takes most travelers around 5–10 minutes.

Do Colombian Citizens Need a Visa for Curaçao?

Visa requirements and the DI Card requirement are two separate things, and it's worth keeping them distinct in your planning.

Depending on Colombian, Colombian passport holders may be able to enter Curaçao visa-free for tourism or business purposes, often for stays ranging up to 90 days (with some nationalities permitted longer, depending on bilateral agreements). If a visa is required for Colombian, it would need to be arranged separately through a Dutch embassy or consulate — the DI Card does not replace or substitute for that visa.

Here's the part that catches people off guard: even if Colombian Citizens are visa-free, the DI Card is still required. There is no nationality that gets a pass on this one. Whether you're arriving for a week at the beach or a work trip, the DI Card is a separate, non-negotiable step in your travel prep.

Who Must Complete the DI Card — and Who's Exempt

This is the single most misunderstood rule about the Curaçao DI Card, so it's worth stating clearly: the exemption is based on residency, not nationality.

That means:

• Every non-resident visitor must complete the DI Card — regardless of Colombian, age, or purpose of visit.
• Infants and children need their own individual DI Card. A parent or guardian can complete it on their behalf, but one form cannot cover an entire family.
• The only people exempt from the DI Card are legal residents of Curaçao.

This is where a common assumption trips people up: Dutch passport holders are not automatically exempt. Because Curaçao is part of the Dutch Caribbean, some travelers assume that holding a Dutch passport means skipping the DI Card altogether. It doesn't. Unless you are a registered resident of Curaçao itself, you'll need to complete the same DI Card as any other visitor — Dutch nationality alone does not grant an exemption.

For Colombian Citizens, the takeaway is simple: unless you live in Curaçao, plan to complete the DI Card, no exceptions.

That growth is easy to explain: Curaçao sits just off the coast of South America, making it one of the closer Caribbean destinations for Colombian Citizens — a short enough hop that weekend trips are increasingly common.

The 7-Day Submission Window for Colombian Citizens

The DI Card can be submitted starting exactly 7 days before your departure date — not 7 days before arrival, but before you leave. That window gives Colombian Citizens some flexibility, but it also means submitting too early can be a mistake if your flight details aren't finalized yet.

Here's the timing that works best in practice:

• Earliest submission: 7 days before departure.
• Recommended submission: 24–48 hours before departure, once your flight is confirmed and check-in is complete.
• Why not submit too early: if your flight number, airline, or arrival date changes after submission, you'll need to log back in and update your DI Card. Submitting closer to departure — after your travel details are locked in — reduces the chance you'll need to make a correction.

Once submitted, you'll receive a PDF confirmation by email almost immediately. Keep it accessible, since some airlines check for it at the departure gate before boarding — not just at immigration on arrival in Curaçao.

How to Fill Out the DI Card Correctly

The DI Card itself is straightforward, but a few fields cause more errors than others. Here's what Colombian Citizens should have ready before starting.

Personal & Passport Information

• Full legal name, exactly as it appears on your passport — no nicknames or shortened versions
• Date of birth
• Nationality
• Passport number, country of issue, and expiry date

Double-check your passport number character by character. A single transposed digit is one of the most common reasons travelers have to resubmit.

Travel & Accommodation Information

• Flight number and airline
• Date of arrival in Curaçao
• Full accommodation address — either the complete hotel name and street address, or, if staying with a host, their full name, address, and contact phone number
• Intended length of stay, in nights (minimum 1, maximum 90 per visit)
• A valid email address, since your confirmation PDF will be sent there

Because you'll need a working email address to receive your confirmation, it's worth double-checking that field before you submit — a typo there means your confirmation goes nowhere.

Common DI Card Mistakes Colombian Citizens Make

A handful of errors account for most of the submission problems travelers run into. Watch for these:

• Name mismatches. Entering a nickname, maiden name, or shortened version of your name instead of exactly what's printed on your passport.
• One form for the whole family. The DI Card is per-person, not per-booking. Each traveler — including infants — needs their own individual submission, even if you're all on the same flight and staying at the same address.
• Using unofficial, fee-charging websites. The DI Card is completely free at the official portal, dicardcuracao.com. A number of third-party sites charge unsuspecting travelers for a form that costs nothing through the correct channel. Always verify you're on the official site before entering any passport or payment information.
• Assuming a short flight means a simpler process. Curaçao's proximity to Colombia makes it an easy trip, but it doesn't change the requirement — Colombian Citizens still need an individually completed DI Card every time, regardless of how close or quick the flight is.

Avoiding these three mistakes covers the vast majority of DI Card issues Colombian Citizens run into.

The Curaçao Express Pass: Skipping the Immigration Line

Once your DI Card is submitted, you may be eligible for a meaningful upgrade to your arrival experience: the Curaçao Express Pass. This fast-track option lets eligible travelers move through eGates at the airport instead of waiting in the standard immigration line.

A few things to know:

• The Express Pass is accessed through the Airside app, separate from the DI Card portal itself.
• It's only available after your DI Card has been completed — you can't apply for the Express Pass on its own.
• Eligibility has its own rules, generally tied to age, passport type (including having an embedded chip), and how far in advance your DI Card was submitted.

If you're eligible, this is one of the easiest ways to shorten your time at the airport after a long flight — but it starts with getting your DI Card submitted correctly and early enough to qualify.

What to Bring at Immigration in Curaçao

Even with your DI Card confirmed, immigration officers will typically expect to see a few supporting documents on arrival:

• Your valid passport (the same one used to complete the DI Card)
• Your DI Card confirmation, printed or shown digitally
• A return or onward ticket
• Proof of accommodation in Curaçao
• Proof of sufficient funds for your stay

Having these ready before you reach the immigration desk will make for a much smoother arrival.

How TravelDeclaration.com Can Help Colombian Citizens

You're always welcome to complete the Digital Immigration Card yourself directly through the official channel. Where we come in is everything around the process: reviewing your entries for the mistakes covered 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.

More Curaçao DI Card Guides by Nationality

• Curaçao Digital Immigration Card (DI Card) for Dutch Citizens
• Curaçao Digital Immigration Card (DI Card) for US Citizens
• Curaçao Digital Immigration Card (DI Card) for Venezuelan Citizens

FAQ for Colombian Citizens

Sources & Further Reading

• Curaçao's Top 3 Tourist Markets — eTurboNews