The Aruba ED Card is free — there is no charge to fill out the form itself. However, all air travelers aged 8 and older must pay a mandatory $20 USD Aruba Sustainability Fee as part of the application. This fee is paid once per calendar year, not per trip. The only official portal to complete the ED Card and pay this fee is edcardaruba.aw.
Is the Aruba ED Card Free?
Yes — the Aruba ED Card application form is completely free to complete. There is no government charge for submitting your entry registration. The confusion about costs arises because the form is bundled with the Aruba Sustainability Fee, which is a separate mandatory payment collected through the same portal.
Summary: ED Card = $0 | Sustainability Fee = $20 USD
What Is the $20 Sustainability Fee?
The Aruba Sustainability Fee is a $20 USD environmental levy introduced on July 1, 2024, and made fully mandatory on December 6, 2024. It is collected from all air travelers to fund environmental and infrastructure projects on the island, administered by Aruba Wastewater Sustainable Solutions (AWSS).
The fee is paid through the official ED Card portal at edcardaruba.aw during the application process. You cannot pay it separately at the airport or in cash — online credit card payment is the only method.
Who Must Pay the Sustainability Fee?
| Traveler Type | ED Card Required | $20 Fee Required |
|---|---|---|
| Air travelers age 8+ | Yes | Yes |
| Children under 8 (air) | Yes | No (exempt) |
| Cruise ship passengers | No | No |
| Aruba residents (returning) | Yes | Check portal |
How Often Do You Pay the $20 Fee?
The Aruba Sustainability Fee is charged once per calendar year (January 1 through December 31), not per trip. If you visit Aruba multiple times in the same calendar year, you only pay the $20 fee on your first ED Card submission for that year. Subsequent visits within the same year do not require a new fee payment — though each trip does require a new ED Card submission.
Example: If you visit Aruba in March 2026 and again in October 2026, you pay $20 in March. Your October ED Card does not include another fee charge.
Accepted Payment Methods
The Aruba Sustainability Fee can only be paid through the official portal with the following credit cards:
- Visa
- Mastercard
- Discover
Cash payments at the airport are not accepted. Debit cards may or may not be accepted — check the portal at the time of submission. Always use a credit card for a smooth experience.
Scam Alert: Third-Party Sites Charging Extra
Numerous unofficial websites impersonate the Aruba ED Card portal and charge travelers $50, $60, or even $70+ for completing the form. These are third-party services that are not affiliated with the Aruba government.
The only legitimate website for the Aruba ED Card is edcardaruba.aw. If you are on any other domain and being charged more than $20 (or any amount to fill out the form itself), you are on a third-party site.
Warning signs of fake ED Card sites:
- Charging $40, $50, $69.99 or similar inflated fees
- Domain name not ending in .aw (official Aruba government TLD)
- No mention that the form itself is free
- Appearing in paid search ads at the top of Google results
What Happens If You Make a Mistake After Paying?
The Aruba ED Card cannot be edited after submission. If you discover an error in your submitted form, you must complete the entire form again from scratch. This means:
- A new form must be submitted
- If your calendar year fee has already been paid, you will not be charged again for the same year
- The original submission with the error should be disregarded (no refund issued)
- Always double-check all details — especially passport number, dates, and name — before submitting
The $20 sustainability fee is non-refundable under all circumstances, including trip cancellations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Aruba ED card cost?
The ED Card form itself is free. A mandatory $20 USD Aruba Sustainability Fee applies to all air travelers aged 8 and older.
Do I pay the $20 every time I visit Aruba?
No. The $20 sustainability fee is charged once per calendar year (January 1 to December 31). Multiple visits in the same year require only one fee payment.
Are children exempt from the $20 fee?
Yes. Children under 8 years old are exempt from the $20 sustainability fee, though they still need their own ED Card.
Can I get a refund if I cancel my trip?
No. The Aruba Sustainability Fee is non-refundable under all circumstances, including trip cancellations.
What credit cards are accepted on edcardaruba.aw?
The official portal accepts Visa, Mastercard, and Discover credit cards.
Why did I get charged $69 for an ED card?
You used a third-party website. The official Aruba ED Card portal at edcardaruba.aw charges only $20 (sustainability fee). The form itself is free.
Do cruise passengers pay the sustainability fee?
No. The sustainability fee and ED Card requirement apply to air travelers only. Cruise passengers are exempt.
Is the sustainability fee included in airline ticket price?
No. The $20 sustainability fee is paid separately through the Aruba ED Card portal at edcardaruba.aw and is not included in airfare.