← Part of the Aruba money guide
Arubachecked Jul 2026Do US citizens need a visa for Aruba?
Short answer: no visa, but there is a form you must do before you fly, and it now costs 20 dollars a person. Here is what it is, and how to avoid paying extra to a lookalike site.
At a glance
Visa
None, up to 90 days
Required
The ED Card, online before boarding
Fee
$20 per person sustainability fee
Where
edcardaruba.aw, the official site
No visa. US citizens can visit Aruba for tourism for up to 90 days without one. What is required is the ED Card (Embarkation and Disembarkation card), a mandatory online form every air traveler must complete before boarding, and since 2024 it includes a 20 dollar per-person sustainability fee (children under 8 exempt). Do it at the official site, edcardaruba.aw, within the window before arrival. You also need a passport valid for your stay and, if asked, a return ticket.
The official route
This is the only official site, and it collects the 20 dollar sustainability fee directly. Many lookalike sites charge an extra fee to file the same form, so go straight to edcardaruba.aw.
Official Aruba ED Card portal(opens in a new tab) we earn nothing
No visa, but a required form
For tourism, US citizens need no visa and can stay up to 90 days. You do need a passport valid for the length of your stay, and immigration may ask for a return or onward ticket and proof of where you are staying.
The catch that surprises people is the ED Card. It replaced the old paper immigration card and is now a digital form that every air traveler must complete before departure, regardless of nationality or age. Airlines check it, and you cannot fill it in at the airport.
The 20 dollar sustainability fee
Since July 2024, the ED Card also collects a 20 dollar per-person sustainability fee for visitors arriving by air, paid by card as you complete the form. Children under 8 are exempt. It funds island infrastructure and environmental programs.
Complete the form in the window your instructions give (generally within a few days before arrival, and not at the airport), and save the confirmation with its QR code as a screenshot or printout to show at check-in and on arrival.
Use the official site, not a lookalike
Fill the ED Card in at edcardaruba.aw, the government portal, where the only charge is the 20 dollar fee. A number of third-party sites advertise Aruba entry help and charge an extra service fee to submit the identical form, so go directly to the official site.
For the money side of your trip, including the hotel taxes and how tipping works, see the Aruba money guide.
Common questions
Quick answers.
Do US citizens need a visa for Aruba in 2026?
No. US citizens can visit Aruba for tourism for up to 90 days without a visa. You need a passport valid for your stay and, if asked, a return ticket, plus the mandatory online ED Card completed before you fly. There is no visa application and no ESTA (that is for entering the US, not Aruba).
What is the Aruba ED Card, and is it mandatory?
The ED Card (Embarkation and Disembarkation card) is a mandatory online entry form that every air traveler to Aruba must complete before boarding, including US citizens and children. It replaced the old paper card, airlines check it, and it cannot be done at the airport. It also collects the 20 dollar sustainability fee.
How much is the Aruba entry fee?
There is a 20 dollar per-person sustainability fee for air arrivals, introduced in 2024 and paid through the ED Card as you complete it. Children under 8 are exempt. There is no separate visa fee, since US citizens do not need a visa, and the old departure tax is now built into your airfare.
What is the official website for the Aruba ED Card?
The official government portal is edcardaruba.aw, and it is the only site that both files the form and collects the 20 dollar fee at cost. Many lookalike sites charge an extra service fee to submit the same form, so apply directly at the official portal to avoid overpaying.
More on Aruba
The little money things nobody warns you about.
- Tipping in ArubaAruba leans closer to US-style tipping than most of the Caribbean, thanks to heavy US tourism. Check the bill for a service charge, and tip a bit more if none is added. Here is what you actually owe.
- Do I need cash in Aruba, or can I use cards and dollars?Short answer: you can do almost the whole trip on a card and US dollars, and you never need to exchange for florin. Here is how to pay, and the one habit that saves you money.
- Getting around Aruba: taxis, buses and carsShort answer: taxis run on fixed government rates rather than meters, there is no Uber, and a rental car or the cheap public bus fills the gaps. Here is how each works and what it costs.
- Aruba hotel taxes and fees, explainedShort answer: the headline room rate is not what you pay. Between government levies and hotel charges, a nightly rate can climb by a quarter to a third. Here is exactly what stacks on top.
Sources, and how this was checked
Last checkedJul 2026
- Government of Aruba ED Card portalthe mandatory form and the 20 dollar sustainability fee
- US State DepartmentAruba entry requirements for US citizens
Our own readEntry rules and fees can change, and the ED Card window and fee are set by Aruba, so confirm the current requirement on the official portal before you travel. Checked July 2026.