How to Fill Out the Aruba ED Card in 2026: A Family Guide (From Someone Who's Done It 50+ Times)

Our family has been flying to Aruba for over 25 years. Long before the ED card existed, when you used to scribble your details on a paper landing card mid-flight, we were already there. So when Aruba moved everything online and added a sustainability fee, we had to adjust like everyone else.

If you're reading this, you're probably planning your first trip (or your first trip in a while) and you've heard you have to fill out something called the Aruba ED card before you fly. Good news: it's quick. The trickier part is making sure you do it on the right website, at the right time, with the right details.

Here's exactly how it works in 2026, what it costs, and the small mistakes we see travelers make every season.

What Is the Aruba ED Card?

The Aruba ED card stands for Embarkation and Disembarkation card. It's a mandatory online form that every air traveler must complete before flying to Aruba. It replaced the old paper landing card years ago, and the digital version is now permanent.

Think of it like a pre-arrival declaration. You tell the Aruban government who you are, where you're staying, and when you're flying in and out. Once you submit, you get a confirmation with a QR code (called a "qualifier") that the airline checks at the gate. You'll want to keep it accessible when you land, too, in case you're asked to show it.

No ED card, no boarding. That's the short version.

The official site is edcardaruba.aw. That is the only legitimate portal. We'll come back to this because it matters.

Who Needs an Aruba ED Card?

Every single air traveler flying into Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA), regardless of nationality or age. That includes:

• Adults
• Children
• Babies and infants
• Canadians, Americans, Europeans, everyone

Each person needs their own ED card. There is no family form. If you are a family of four, you fill out four separate forms. The good news is that you can fill out everyone's at once from the same device, one after another.

Canadians and Americans don't need a visa for Aruba (you can stay up to 90 days visa-free), but you still need the ED card. The two are not the same thing.

How Much Does the Aruba ED Card Cost in 2026?

The form itself is free. But there's a $20 USD Sustainability Fee that most travelers pay during the same process.

Here's how the fee breaks down:

• $20 USD per person, aged 8 and older
• Paid by credit card during the application (Visa, Mastercard, Discover)
• Charged once per calendar year, not once per trip

That last part is gold for families like ours who go more than once a year. If you fly down in February and again in November, you only pay the $20 once. You still fill out a new ED card each trip, but the system recognizes your passport and skips the fee.

Who is exempt from the $20 fee:

• Children under 8
• Aruban residents
• Repeat visitors within the same calendar year
• Transit passengers staying under 24 hours
• Cruise ship passengers (in most cases)

The fee funds environmental and wastewater projects on the island. As people who've watched Eagle Beach and Baby Beach get more crowded year after year, we're honestly fine paying it.

When Should You Fill Out the Aruba ED Card?

You can submit your ED card up to 7 days (168 hours) before your arrival in Aruba. Not earlier. If you try to submit it 10 days out, the form won't be valid and you'll have to redo it.

Our recommendation: fill it out 3 to 5 days before your flight. That gives you enough buffer to fix anything if you typed your passport number wrong or your flight changes, but it's close enough that you won't forget about it.

Do not, under any circumstances, leave it until you're at the airport. We've seen people scrambling at the check-in counter trying to fill it out on shaky airport Wi-Fi while their kids melt down. The airline will not let you board without it. There is no paper backup.

What You Need Before You Start

Have these things in front of you before you open the form. It takes maybe 5 to 10 minutes per person if you're prepared, and three times that if you're not.

• Passport (full name exactly as it appears, passport number, issue date, expiry date, nationality)
• Flight details (arrival flight number and date, departure flight number and date)
• Aruba accommodation address (the full street address of your hotel or vacation rental, not just the name)
• Email address for the confirmation
• Credit card for the $20 fee (if it's your first visit of the year)

That accommodation address trips people up more than anything else. If you're staying at a hotel, look up the full address on their website. If you're staying at a vacation rental like our Casa Azul, your host should send you the exact street address ahead of check-in. "Noord, Aruba" is not enough. They want the real address.

How to Fill Out the Aruba ED Card: Step by Step

Here's the process from start to finish.

Step 1. Go to edcardaruba.aw

Type that directly into your browser. Do not Google "Aruba ED card" and click the first result. We'll explain why in a minute.

Step 2. Choose Visitor

Unless you're an Aruban resident.

Step 3. Enter your personal details exactly as they appear on your passport

Spelling matters. If your passport says "Robert James Smith" and you type "Rob Smith," that can cause issues at the gate.

Step 4. Enter your flight information

Arrival airline, flight number, date. Then departure airline, flight number, date.

Step 5. Enter your accommodation address in Aruba

Step 6. Answer the health and travel questions

They're quick.

Step 7. Review every field carefully

Once you submit, edits are limited.

Step 8. Pay the $20 Sustainability Fee (if applicable)

The charge will show up on your statement as "Aruba Wastewater," which threw us off the first time.

Step 9. Submit

You'll get a confirmation email with a QR code.

Step 10. Save that confirmation

Screenshot it, print it, do both. Keep it somewhere you can find it when you're in the boarding line and your phone is at 12%.

The Number One Mistake: Using the Wrong Website

This is the most important section in this whole post.

If you Google "Aruba ED card," you will see a bunch of websites that look official but are not. They charge $80, $100, sometimes more, to do something the real government site does for $20. Some of them have URLs designed to look like the real one. A few even pay to show up at the top of search results.

The only official site is edcardaruba.aw.

Anything else is a third-party service. They aren't all scams in the criminal sense, but they're charging you a huge markup for a form you can fill out yourself in under ten minutes. We've had friends pay $300 for a family of four before they realized.

Type the URL directly. Don't click links from random emails. Don't trust anyone who DMs you offering to "process" your ED card.

After You Submit: What Happens Next

A few minutes after you hit submit, check your email. You should see a confirmation with a QR code and a green check mark. This is your qualifier. This is the thing you need.

Save it three ways:

• Screenshot on your phone
• Save the email
• Print a copy (optional but smart if your phone dies)

At the airport, the airline checks your QR code at check-in. That part is non-negotiable, they will not let you board without it. When you land in Aruba, the arrival process is usually smooth because the airline already verified you on the front end. In our 25 years of trips, we've rarely been asked for it at immigration, but keep it handy on your phone just in case.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Aruba ED Card

Do I need an Aruba ED card if I'm on a cruise?

Cruise passengers who stay onboard generally don't need to fill one out, but check with your cruise line. Some cruise itineraries do require it.

What if I made a mistake on my ED card?

You can usually correct minor errors through the portal. For bigger issues, you may need to submit a new one. Don't pay the $20 twice; the system should recognize you.

Do babies need their own ED card?

Yes. Every person flying needs one, even infants. Infants are exempt from the $20 fee.

What if my flight gets changed or cancelled?

You may need to update your ED card with the new flight details. If your trip dates change significantly, submit a new one.

Can I fill it out at the airport?

Technically yes, but the airline checks for it before you board. If you don't have it, you may not be allowed on the plane. Don't gamble on this.

Does the $20 Sustainability Fee apply to Canadians?

Yes. The fee applies to all air travelers aged 8 and older, regardless of nationality.

How long is the ED card valid for?

It covers one trip. You need a new one for each visit to Aruba. The $20 fee, however, only applies once per calendar year.

Bottom Line

The Aruba ED card sounds more intimidating than it is. Fill it out 3 to 5 days before you fly, use only edcardaruba.aw, have your passport and accommodation address ready, and save your confirmation somewhere safe.

Then close your laptop, finish packing, and start counting down. We promise the part that comes after the paperwork is worth it.