Top Things To Do In Aruba
In this comprehensive Aruba Travel Guide, look at specific activities for all types of travelers, ensuring that everyone enjoys their trip to Aruba.
Mar 22, 2022
15 min read
The paradise island of Aruba is known for its beautiful white-sand beaches and incredible atmosphere. It is no wonder it is a top destination for travelers. But before traveling to Aruba, there are a few visa requirements that you need to be aware of. If you are unsure about the requirements and process, the experience can become stressful and difficult. In this guide we’ll talk about the different visas, their requirements, Aruba health regulations and procedures, and how to extend your stay in Aruba. After this guide, you will be equipped with everything you need to know before traveling to Aruba.
Aruba allows certain countries to travel to Aruba without the need of acquiring a specific travel visa. If you reside in such a country, you can enjoy visa-free travel for tourist purposes. These include vacation and relaxation, sport, health reasons, attending to family matters, studies, religious purposes, and completing business trips.
Note that if you are traveling as a tourist, you are not allowed to work in Aruba.
If you are the US or Canadian citizen, you enjoy the benefit of visa-free travel as long as you complete the ED Card registration process. You may stay in Aruba for a maximum of 90 days for a 180-day period. However, it is possible to extend your stay for up to 180 consecutive days. Later in this post, we will talk about how you can extend your stay in Aruba. If you are traveling to Aruba for purposes that do not include tourism, you will need to apply for a purpose-specific visa.
US Green Cardholders will be happy to know that they can visit Aruba without acquiring a visa. You only need to apply for an ED Card before traveling to Aruba. With your US Green Card you are able to stay in Aruba for a duration that does not exceed 90 days. It is also possible to extend your stay for up to 180 days.
If you are a citizen of a Schengen country other than the Netherlands, you are allowed to stay in Aruba for a maximum of 180 days in a 365-day period. Those who want to stay in Aruba for more than the initial 180 days will need to apply for a residence permit. In this post we will talk about how you can obtain your residence permit.
Unfortunately, not all countries enjoy the benefit of visa-free travel. Nationals from countries that are not exempt will need to apply for a specific visa in order to travel to Aruba. Later in this post, we will talk about the different visa types you can apply for.
Once you arrive in Aruba, you will need to present the following documents upon Entry:
Note that visitors traveling from Central America, Latin America, and Africa are required to prove that they have received the Yellow Fever Vaccination. It is mandatory for all travelers from these high-risk countries.
To ensure the safety of all visitors and locals, Aruba has implemented new requirements for entry to the country. One of the requirements is the Online Embarkation/Disembarkation Card (ED Card). The ED Card has 5 sections that verify that all of the necessary steps and procedures have been taken before boarding a flight to Aruba. If you do not have an ED Card you will not be able to travel to Aruba. In the first section of the ED Card registration process, you will need to fill out your personal information and answer a health questionnaire. It is crucial that you provide accurate and truthful answers. Next we will talk about the following sections of the ED Card.
If you wish to know more about applying for your ED Card, you can check our detailed guide that explains the process of applying for your ED Card.
Due to the Covid-19 global pandemic, all passengers are required to take a Molecular COVID-19 test 3 days before the intended departure date. Although it is not a requirement, it is possible to upload your test results on the Aruba Health App during the ED Card registration process. If you have uploaded your test results on the Aruba Health App and it has been pre-approved, you will be able to benefit from the faster Pre-Approved Health Lane at the airport.
To ensure that all visitors are properly insured for the risks of COVID-19, the government of Aruba has implemented a mandatory health insurance for all visitors of Aruba. This insurance is also known as the Aruba Visitors Insurance. The Aruba Visitors Insurance will cover the cost of all medical and non-medical expenses that may occur if a visitor tests positive for COVID-19 during their stay in Aruba.
At the end of the ED Card registration process, you will need to sign and give consent that you will abide by all rules and procedures as mandated by the Aruban Government.
This can include but is not limited to:
If you are unsure about how to complete your personal ED Card, you can follow our quick and simple guide.
Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, there are strict health regulations and procedures that ensure the safety of all travelers entering Aruba. If you wish to visit Aruba, you will need to comply with these safety precautions.
As discussed you will need to complete the online ED Card registration process. Furthermore, there are some other health regulations and procedures you need to know about before traveling to Aruba.
Once you arrive in Aruba, you will need to comply with the following mandatory requirements:
Once you are in Aruba, you will need to comply with the day-to-day regulations. The following will be required:
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries require you to present a negative covid test before you are allowed entry. Aruba offers many testing facilities that can be used by its visitors.
Pro tip: We recommend that you take your test 2 - 3 days before you plan your return to your home country. This will ensure that your test is valid until you arrive at your final destination.
As mentioned earlier, citizens from countries who do not enjoy visa-free travel will need to apply for a travel/tourist visa to visit Aruba. When applying for a visa to Aruba, you will apply for a Caribbean Visa.
With a Caribbean visa, you can travel between any of the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. These include Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, St Eustatius and St Maarten. Note that you are not allowed to travel to any Schengen country with this visa.
The Caribbean Visas can be divided into a Short-Stay Caribbean Visa and a Long Stay Caribbean Visa.
The Short-Stay Caribbean Visa will allow you multiple entries to the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Short-Stay Caribbean Visa is valid for 6 months, and it allows you to visit the Caribbean parts for up to 90 days in 180 days.
Countries that enjoy visa-free travel, like the United States, do not need to apply for a Caribbean visa to visit Aruba.
If you want to visit Aruba for a duration exceeding 180 days, you will need to apply for a residence permit. Once your application for your residence permit is successful, you will need to collect it.
Note that visitors who do not enjoy visa-free travel will need to apply for a residence permit if they wish to stay in Aruba for more than 90 days.
In some cases you will need to apply for a Long Stay Visa to collect your Residence Permit. Examples of these cases include a situation where you have already used the initial 90 days of your travel/tourist visa. Another example is a situation where you are not able or don’t have the correct documents to extend your stay in Aruba.
Tourists who enjoy visa-free travel will most likely not have to apply for a Long Stay Visa to collect their residence permit, unless they have exceeded their stay in Aruba.
If you want to apply for a Short Stay Caribbean Visa, you will need to do so at your nearest Aruban Embassy or Consulate. If there is no embassy or consulate in your country, you will need to apply at one closest to your location.
After you have collected all the required documents, you can go to your nearest Aruban Embassy to start your application process. At the embassy you will also need to provide your signature in the presence of an embassy official.
If you wish to extend your stay in Aruba , you will need to apply for a residence permit.
Unfortunately, you can not apply for a residence permit on your own. You will need a sponsor or guarantor who is a resident of Aruba to apply on your behalf. A sponsor can include a family member, your partner, or an employer as long as they reside in Aruba.
Note that your sponsor/guarantor will need to prove that they are able to provide for you during your stay. All related costs will be covered by your sponsor/guarantor. Your sponsor will need to provide supporting documents that show he/she has a gross income of at least Afl. 50 000 per year.
Once you have a sponsor/guarantor, they will need to apply to the local authorities in Aruba. Your sponsor will need to inform you of the documents required to apply for the permit. If required, you need to send copies of these documents to your sponsor/guarantor. They will attach the documents to your application form.
Once your application is successful, your sponsor will be informed by letter. Congratulations, now you need to collect your residence permit. As previously mentioned, there are some cases where you will need to apply for a Long Stay Visa to collect your residence permit.
Once you have successfully obtained your residence permit, you can apply for your Long Stay Visa. If you do not need to apply for a Long Stay Visa, you can book your flight to Aruba and collect your residence permit.
The first step you need to take is filling out the application form. After you have filled out and signed the form, be sure to print a copy of the application form as you may need it in the future.
After you have filled out the application form, you can start collecting all the required documents. These documents include:
Pro tip: The documents required can vary depending on the purpose of your trip. We recommend that you contact your local Aruba Embassy or Consulate to ensure that you collect the correct documents.
At the appointment you will have to submit all your supporting documents for your Long Stay Visa. Once you have done this, you will need to sign an official form in the presence of an embassy official. After completing and signing the form you can expect to wait up to 15 calendar days to receive feedback on your Long Stay Visa application.
Successful applicants can collect their visa at the Aruban embassy or consulate where they applied at.
It is possible for tourists to extend their stay in Aruba if they wish to stay a period that does not exceed 180 days. If you wish to extend your stay, you can head over to the office of DIMAS in Aruba to collect an application form, or you can simply download it.
Once you have filled out the form you will need to present the following documents at DIMAS:
Note that you will only be able to extend your stay for a period of 180 days. If you wish to stay in Aruba for a period that exceeds 180 days, you will need to apply for a residence permit.
PCR stands for a polymerase chain reaction and is used to detect the presence of Covid-19. This test is mandatory if you wish to visit Aruba.
No, you will need to provide a PCR test.
No. Unfortunately, you will have to stay in Aruba and quarantine until you have recovered.
You can expect to receive an electronic email with your Covid-19 test result within 24 hours.
You can expect to pay around USD 95 for your Short Stay Caribbean Visa.
No. Certain transit conditions don't require you to obtain a visa. These include:
You do not need a visa if the following applies to you:
When you are applying for a visa or planning to extend your stay, you can expect to wait 15 calendar days for feedback. In some cases, you may need to wait longer for feedback.
We recommend that you start applying for your visa as soon as possible. You can begin your application 3 months before the date you intend to travel.
No, you will not be able to travel to any Schengen Area/Schengen Territory with your Caribbean Visa. If you want to travel to one of the Schengen countries, you need to apply for a Schengen Visa.