What’s not to love about Aruba? With non-stop beaches, sun, and plenty of time and space to relax and go on adventures, this vacation destination should definitely be on your bucket list. Note that Aruba considers visitors of 30 days or less “tourists.” To stay up to 180 days total annually, tourists can apply for extensions of stay after 30 days. U.S. nationals who are participating in Aruba’s “One Happy Workation” program can stay up to 90 days, with no further documentation required.
Do you need a passport to go to Aruba? Aruba is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, so yes, U.S. citizens of any age do need a valid passport to travel to and from the Caribbean island (via air travel), just like they would for any other sovereign nation.
Note that U.S. passports also need to remain valid for the duration of a traveler’s stay in Aruba. For that reason, when you present your passport to local authorities, plan on being asked when you plan on leaving the country.
If you are traveling to or through Aruba on a cruise (closed-loop), documents such as passport cards or birth certificates and travel (upgraded) IDs are acceptable.
Aruba also requires incoming travelers to complete its Embarkation/Disembarkation Card (Aruba’s digital customs and immigration form) before they arrive.
Can I Use a Birth Certificate to Go to Aruba?
Yes, but only if you’re traveling to or through Aruba on a closed-loop cruise. For this type of cruise travel, any Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)-approved documents (i.e., birth certificates, U.S. passports, upgraded drivers licenses (aka, real IDs or travel IDs), passport cards, etc.) are accepted.
What Islands Can You Go to Without a Passport?
Aruba is primarily one continuous island mass, subject to Aruba’s sovereign laws and entry requirements. Other than Barcadera Reef, off of the southwest coast of Aruba’s mainland, and two tiny strips of land (Sonesta Island and De Palm Island), within Aruba’s southwest coastal waters, there are no major islands off of Aruba’s coasts.
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Documentation for Minors Visiting Aruba
All U.S. citizens visiting Aruba by air, regardless of age, must present a passport upon deplaning. For closed-circuit cruises, passport cards or upgraded U.S. state drivers licenses (real IDs) are acceptable forms of documentation for entry into Aruba.
Can You Go to Aruba With a Real ID?
A real ID (otherwise known as an upgraded drivers license, an enhanced drivers license, or a travel ID) can get you into Aruba, but only if you arrive via a closed-circuit cruise. For any U.S. citizen flying into Aruba, regardless of age, a valid U.S. passport is required for entry. Your passport must remain valid throughout the duration of your stay in Aruba for entry.
What Documents Are Needed for Aruba?
Aruba is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and a sovereign country in its own right. A U.S. passport is required for entry, for citizens of all ages.
If your travel to Aruba is via a closed-circuit cruise, any Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)-approved documents (such as birth certificates, upgraded drivers licenses (aka, real IDs or travel IDs), passport cards, etc.) will get you proper entry to the island. Passports and travel IDs must remain current through your entire stay to be considered valid.
Entry Requirements for Aruba if You Don’t Need a Visa
U.S. citizens are not required to obtain a visa prior to visiting Aruba as a tourist. Visitors are considered tourists if their stay is 30 days or less. Extensions of stay can be applied for, to not exceed 180 total days per year. U.S. nationals, participating in Aruba’s “One Happy Workation” program, may stay up to 90 total days, without the need to apply for an extension of stay.
To enter Aruba, travelers must have:
- A valid passport, valid through the entire duration of the visitor’s stay in the country. Travelers with a passport from a visa-required country must have a valid visa sticker in his or her passport.
- A complete signed Embarkation and Disembarkation card (aka, ED-card).
- A valid return or departing ticket.
- Necessary documentation to be able to return to the traveler’s country of origin, or another country he or she can legally enter (e.g., a valid permanent or temporary residence permit, a re-entry permit, or visa).
- If requested, tourists must be able to show proof of accommodations (i.e., hotel or apartment), or that he or she owns property in Aruba with a viable residence on site. A yacht (at least 46 feet in length) docked in Aruba counts as proof of residential ownership.
- If requested, tourists need to show proof of financial means to provide for hotel accommodations and living expenses during his or her stay, or that he or she has a resident of Aruba able to provide such.
- Required vaccinations and certificate of proof for countries designated by Aruba.
Aruba also requires visiting travelers to complete its Embarkation/Disembarkation Card (or ED-Card, the country’s digital customs and immigration form) before arrival.
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How Long Can I Stay in Aruba?
If you stay in Aruba 30 days or less, you are considered a tourist by the country. To stay longer, you must apply for an extension of stay, which can be granted up to 180 days annually. American nationals who are participants in Aruba’s “One Happy Workation” program may stay up to 90 days total without further documentation requirements.
Can I Stay Longer Than That? How?
To stay longer than the 30-day “tourist” visitor window, you must apply for an extension of stay, which can grant up to 180 days of stay annually in Aruba. U.S. Nationals who are participating in Aruba’s “One Happy Workation” program can stay in Aruba for up to 90 days total, without further documentation requirements.
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So, Do You Need a Passport to Go to Aruba?
The short answer is “yes” for U.S. tourists. Aruba is a part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and a sovereign nation like any other. To visit via plane, visiting U.S. tourists must show a valid passport (valid through the entire duration of the tourist’s stay), and comply with the rest of Aruba’s entry requirements, including the completion before arrival of Aruba’s Embarkation/Disembarkation Card (ED-Card), which amounts to the digital format of Aruba’s customs and immigration process. Tourists are considered those whose stay is for 30 days or less. Tourists arriving to Aruba via closed-circuit cruise, may present documents such as a valid passport card, birth certificate, or travel (upgraded) drivers license to be allowed entry.
Tourists may apply for an extension of stay after 30 days, for a period not to exceed 180 days annually. U.S. participants in Aruba’s “One Happy Workation” program may stay for a maximum of 90 days without further documentation requirements.
