How to Complete the Aruba ED Card: Full Tutorial with Screenshots (2026)

Completing the Aruba ED Card takes about 5-10 minutes per person at the official portal edcardaruba.aw. You need your passport, flight details, accommodation address, and a credit card for the $20 sustainability fee. This step-by-step guide walks you through every field — plus recommended video tutorials if you prefer visual instructions.

Before You Start: What You Need

• Passport — you’ll need passport number, issue date, expiry date, and your full name as it appears on the passport
• Arrival flight details — flight number, arrival date, departing airport
• Accommodation address in Aruba — hotel name and address for your first night
• Credit card — Visa, Mastercard, or Discover (for the $20 sustainability fee)
• Email address — your qualifier will be sent here

Complete the form within 7 days before your arrival — not earlier. One form is required per person, including children.

Step 1: Go to edcardaruba.aw (Official Site Only)

Open your browser and navigate to edcardaruba.aw. This is the only official Aruba ED Card portal. Do not use third-party sites — they charge extra fees and may not properly process your form. Do not use the old ariba.gov domain.

The site works on both desktop and mobile browsers. Mobile is convenient for passport scanning (next step).

Step 2: Enter Your Arrival Date

The first field asks for your arrival date in Aruba. Enter the date your flight lands in Aruba — not your departure date from home. If your flight departs New York on Friday and lands in Aruba Saturday morning, Saturday is your arrival date.

This date triggers the 7-day eligibility window. The system will reject or flag submissions dated more than 7 days in advance.

Step 3: Choose Traveler Type (Non-Resident for Tourists)

Select your traveler type:

• Non-Resident — standard choice for tourists and visitors
• Resident — only for people living in Aruba (different process)
• Transit — for passengers connecting through Aruba’s airport without entering Aruba

Almost all readers will select Non-Resident.

Step 4: Scan or Upload Your Passport

The new portal (launched October 30, 2024) supports passport scanning:

• Click the camera icon to use your phone camera and scan the passport bio page
• The system reads the Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) and auto-fills your name, passport number, and expiry date
• Supported formats for upload: JPEG, JPG, PNG, HEIC, GIF
• If scanning doesn’t work, manually type your information from the passport

Always verify auto-filled fields against your actual passport — errors from scanning happen occasionally.

Step 5: Fill In Personal Information

Enter or verify:

• First name, last name (middle name if shown in passport)
• Date of birth
• Nationality
• Passport number
• Passport issue date and expiry date
• Country of passport issuance

These must match your passport exactly. Name mismatches are the most common reason for issues at check-in and immigration.

Step 6: Fill In Contact Information

• Email address — used to send the qualifier
• Phone number
• Home address (your address in your home country)

Use an email address you can access on your phone during travel. The qualifier email contains your QR code.

Step 7: Enter Travel Details (Flight and Hotel)

Enter your Aruba arrival flight:

• Flight number (the flight that lands IN Aruba)
• Departing city/airport
• Arrival date (should match Step 2)

Then enter your accommodation in Aruba:

• Hotel/accommodation name
• Hotel address in Aruba
• Duration of stay (number of nights)
• Intended departure date from Aruba

Step 8: Pay the $20 Sustainability Fee

The sustainability fee is mandatory for all travelers age 8 and older:

1. Enter your credit card details (Visa, Mastercard, or Discover)
2. Billing address matching your card
3. Complete 3D Secure / card verification if prompted

The fee is $20 USD per person. It is charged once per calendar year — if you’re visiting Aruba a second time in the same calendar year, you will not be charged again (system recognizes your passport).

If your card is declined, try a different card. Do not reload the page — contact your bank first.

Step 9: Submit and Download Your Qualifier

After payment, review all entries and submit the form. The system instantly generates your qualifier — a document with:

• Your full name and arrival date
• A unique QR code
• Confirmation number

Actions to take immediately:

• Download the qualifier PDF
• Save it to your phone photos as a screenshot backup
• Check your email for the qualifier confirmation (also check spam)
• Print a physical copy as a backup

Video Tutorials: Recommended YouTube Resources

For visual learners, these YouTube tutorials cover the ED card process:

• “Aruba ED Card Tutorial (Updated)” — Official Aruba tourism channel
• “How to complete the Aruba Online ED Card” — Catherine | Travel Made Easy
• “Required: ED Card For Entry to Aruba! Easy to Follow” — Wander and Thrive

Search these titles on YouTube. The official Aruba tutorial covers the post-October 2024 portal.

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