| Question | Answer for a US passport |
|---|---|
| Visa | Visa-free; the Dutch government gives US nationals up to 180 consecutive days in any 365 days |
| ED card | Mandatory online form for each traveler, including children; not a visa |
| When | Within 7 days before arrival |
| Sustainability fee | US$20 for most visitors aged 8 and over, paid by card with the ED card |
| Passport | Valid for the whole stay and not issued more than 10 years ago |
| Insurance | Medical or travel insurance covering at least US$15,000 in medical expenses, hospital care, emergency treatment and repatriation |
| Onward travel | A valid return or onward ticket |
The ED card
The ED card is free to submit and is completed on the government portal edcardaruba.aw. Each traveler needs their own form, children included; the portal says children with child passports must apply too. The passport you present at the border must be the one you used on the form, and you submit one application per trip. Approval arrives by email as a QR code that your airline checks before boarding and immigration scans on arrival. If your flights change, or you miss or cancel a flight, you must apply again.
The sustainability fee
The fee is paid with the ED card by Visa, Mastercard or Discover (Aruba's tourism site gives US$20, read 7 November 2026). The fee authority exempts children under 8, transit passengers who stay under 24 hours, crew, residents and repeat travelers re-entering within one year; the exemptions follow your passport number, and a new passport means the system no longer recognizes an earlier payment. The fee is generally non-refundable. Most cruise passengers do not complete an ED card; check with your cruise line.
What the officer can ask
Admission is decided at the border. The Dutch government's list says you may be asked to show a hotel booking or other proof of the reason for your stay, and enough money to cover it: between US$150 and US$200 per person per day in a hotel, or US$100 per day with family. Even if you meet every requirement, the authorities can still refuse entry or allow a shorter stay. Keep your booking and return ticket on your phone; an Aruba eSIM keeps the ED confirmation and bookings reachable, and the airport transfer guide lists the fixed taxi fares from Queen Beatrix Airport.
Insurance and the offer on this page
Because the Dutch rule asks for insurance with at least US$15,000 of medical cover and repatriation, we show SafetyWing here: it sells health and evacuation cover, not trip cancellation. Check the policy's terms against the rule before relying on it. See also is Aruba safe and money in Aruba.
Mistakes to avoid
- Filling the ED card on a non-official site: the only official portal is edcardaruba.aw.
- Applying more than 7 days early: the dates will be rejected.
- Using a different passport at the border: it must match the ED card.
- Forgetting infants: every traveler, including infants, needs a form and a passport.
FAQ
Do Americans need a visa for Aruba?
Not for a tourist stay: the Dutch government's visa-free rules give US nationals up to 180 consecutive days in any 365-day period. The ED card is still compulsory.
Is the ED card free?
Submitting it is free. Most visitors pay the US$20 sustainability fee with it.
Is insurance required?
The Dutch government lists medical or travel insurance covering at least US$15,000 in medical expenses among the entry requirements.
Aruba Authority editorial team, 7 November 2026.
