The most common Aruba ED Card mistakes are filling out the form too early (more than 7 days before arrival), entering a name that doesn’t match your passport exactly, and using a wrong or outdated portal. Most mistakes require resubmitting a new form — and if you paid the $20 fee, you don’t get a refund. Here are the top 10 mistakes and exactly how to avoid each one.
Mistake 1: Filling Out the Form Too Early (More Than 7 Days Before Arrival)
What happens: The form is submitted, you receive a qualifier, but it won’t be valid at check-in because it’s outside the 7-day window.
How to avoid it: Submit your ED card no earlier than 7 days (168 hours) before your scheduled arrival date in Aruba. Mark the correct date on your calendar and set a reminder. If you submitted too early, resubmit a new form within the 7-day window.
Mistake 2: Name Not Matching Passport Exactly
What happens: The airline agent or immigration officer sees a discrepancy between your ED card and your passport. You may be sent to secondary inspection or denied boarding.
How to avoid it: Copy your name letter-for-letter from your passport bio page. If your passport says “JOHN MICHAEL SMITH,” enter exactly that — including middle name if shown. Do not abbreviate. Do not use a nickname.
For special characters: if your passport bio page does not show accents or special characters (it uses the MRZ transliteration), use the version without accents on the form.
Mistake 3: Wrong Flight Number (Arrival vs Departure)
What happens: You enter your departure flight number instead of your arrival flight into Aruba. This is a data mismatch that can trigger questions at immigration.
How to avoid it: Your arrival flight is the flight that lands IN ARUBA. If you’re flying from New York to Aruba, the arrival flight is the JFK-AUA leg. Double-check against your booking confirmation. The flight number starts with the airline code (e.g., B6 for JetBlue, UA for United).
Mistake 4: Using a Third-Party Website and Paying Too Much
What happens: Many unofficial websites charge $50-$100+ for “ED card assistance.” Some process the form on your behalf; some don’t. You overpay and may not even get a valid qualifier.
How to avoid it: Use ONLY the official portal: edcardaruba.aw. The ED card form itself is free. The only fee is the $20 sustainability fee. Any site charging more is unofficial.
Mistake 5: Not Saving the Qualifier After Submission
What happens: You complete the form, close the browser tab, and realize you can’t find the qualifier email. Without the qualifier, you can’t board the plane.
How to avoid it: Immediately after submission, save the qualifier PDF to your phone and email yourself a copy. Take a screenshot as a backup. The qualifier is also emailed — check your spam folder if you don’t see it.
Mistake 6: Wrong Accommodation Address
What happens: You enter your home address, a vague hotel name without address, or a wrong city. Immigration may ask questions about your accommodation.
How to avoid it: Enter the full address of where you’ll be staying in Aruba on your first night. If your hotel doesn’t have a street address, use the hotel name and general area (e.g., Palm Beach area). Have your hotel booking confirmation open when filling out the form.
Mistake 7: Payment Failure for the $20 Sustainability Fee
What happens: Your credit card is declined during the sustainability fee payment step. The form isn’t completed and you have no qualifier.
How to avoid it: Use a Visa, Mastercard, or Discover credit card — these are the accepted payment methods. If your first card is declined, try another. Notify your bank before travel so they don’t block the $20 international charge. Do not use debit cards if possible.
Mistake 8: Not Filling Out Cards for Children and Infants
What happens: Parents complete their own ED cards but skip the form for their infant or toddler. Every person, including lap infants, needs their own ED card.
How to avoid it: Complete one ED card per traveler. Children and infants have their own passport — use those details for their individual form. Infants under 8 are exempt from the $20 sustainability fee but still need the ED card completed.
Mistake 9: Using the Old ariba.gov Portal
What happens: You find an old bookmark or Google result pointing to ariba.gov and attempt to complete your ED card there. The old portal is inactive — you won’t get a valid qualifier.
How to avoid it: Use only edcardaruba.aw — launched October 30, 2024. Delete any old bookmarks. If you’re not sure whether you’re on the right site, check that the URL shows edcardaruba.aw.
Mistake 10: Filling Out the Card for the Wrong Arrival Date
What happens: You accidentally enter tomorrow’s date when you’re departing in 3 days, or you confuse your departure date from home with your arrival date in Aruba.
How to avoid it: The arrival date is the date your flight LANDS IN ARUBA. If you fly from New York on Friday night and land in Aruba Saturday morning, your arrival date is Saturday. Double-check your flight itinerary before entering the date.
FAQ
What is the most common mistake on the Aruba ED card?
Filling out too early (more than 7 days before arrival) and name not matching passport exactly.
Can I fix a mistake after submitting?
No. Once submitted, the ED card cannot be edited. Submit a brand new form.
Do I get a refund if I made a mistake after paying the fee?
No. The $20 sustainability fee is non-refundable.
What if I accidentally used ariba.gov?
The old portal is inactive. Use edcardaruba.aw only.
How do I know if I entered the correct flight number?
Double-check your booking confirmation. The arrival flight is the one that lands in Aruba.
What if my name has an accent or special character?
Enter exactly as shown in your passport bio page.
What if I paid $69+ on a third-party site?
You used an unofficial site. The official site charges only $20. Redo at edcardaruba.aw.
What should I do immediately after submitting?
Save/screenshot the qualifier, email yourself the PDF, check email for confirmation, print a backup.