The Aruba Sustainability Fee is a mandatory $20 USD environmental levy charged to all air travelers aged 8 and older visiting Aruba. Fully mandatory since December 6, 2024, the fee is paid once per calendar year through the official Aruba ED Card portal at edcardaruba.aw. Cruise passengers, children under 8, and visitors who have already paid the fee earlier in the same calendar year are exempt from paying again.
What Is the Aruba Sustainability Fee?
The Aruba Sustainability Fee is a $20 per-person charge introduced by the Aruba government to fund environmental sustainability initiatives on the island. It is collected as part of the mandatory Aruba ED Card entry registration process and cannot be paid separately — all payments go through the official portal at edcardaruba.aw.
The fee was created to support Aruba’s long-term environmental goals, including clean water infrastructure, wastewater management, and ecological preservation. The administering body is Aruba Wastewater Sustainable Solutions (AWSS).
When Did Aruba Start Charging the Sustainability Fee?
The Aruba Sustainability Fee was introduced in two phases:
| Date | Phase | Details |
|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2024 | Voluntary phase begins | Fee introduced; compliance encouraged but not enforced |
| December 6, 2024 | Fully mandatory | Fee becomes a strict requirement; non-payment may block entry |
If you traveled to Aruba between July and December 2024, you may have been asked to pay the fee but were not penalized if you didn’t. From December 6, 2024 onward, the $20 fee is completely mandatory for all applicable travelers.
Who Must Pay the $20 Sustainability Fee?
The sustainability fee applies to all air travelers arriving in Aruba who are 8 years of age or older. This includes:
- All nationalities (US citizens, EU travelers, Canadian, UK, and others)
- First-time visitors and repeat travelers
- Travelers of all ages 8 and above
Exempt from the fee:
- Children under 8 years old (still need an ED Card, but no fee)
- Cruise ship passengers (not required to complete ED Card)
- Travelers who have already paid the fee during the same calendar year
What Does the Sustainability Fee Fund?
Revenue from the Aruba Sustainability Fee is directed toward environmental and infrastructure projects on the island, with a focus on:
- Wastewater treatment and management — upgrading infrastructure to protect Aruba’s natural water resources
- Environmental conservation — reef protection, coastal ecosystems, and green space preservation
- Sustainable tourism infrastructure — reducing the environmental impact of mass tourism on a small island
The fee is managed by AWSS (Aruba Wastewater Sustainable Solutions), a government-affiliated body responsible for implementing sustainability projects.
How to Pay the Sustainability Fee (via ED Card Portal)
The sustainability fee is paid as part of the Aruba ED Card application. There is no separate payment portal. Here is how the process works:
- Go to the official ED Card portal at edcardaruba.aw
- Fill in your arrival date, personal information, passport details, and travel information
- At the payment step, enter your credit card details
- Pay $20 USD per applicable person (aged 8+)
- Complete the submission and receive your qualifier by email
Accepted cards: Visa, Mastercard, Discover. Cash and debit cards are not guaranteed to work — bring a credit card.
Is the Sustainability Fee Per Trip or Per Year?
The Aruba Sustainability Fee is charged once per calendar year, not per trip. The calendar year runs from January 1 to December 31. If you visit Aruba in both June and November of the same year, you only pay $20 once — on your first ED Card submission for that year.
However, you must still submit a new ED Card for each trip. On your second visit within the same year, the portal will recognize that you have already paid the sustainability fee and will not charge you again.
Children and Sustainability Fee Exemptions
Children under 8 years old are fully exempt from the $20 Aruba Sustainability Fee. However, they are still required to have an individual ED Card submitted on their behalf by a parent or guardian. The form must be completed for every traveler, regardless of age — only the payment step is skipped for children under 8.
No Refund Policy Explained
The Aruba Sustainability Fee is completely non-refundable. This applies even if:
- Your trip is cancelled
- Your flight is delayed or rescheduled
- You made an error on your ED Card and need to submit a new one
- You are denied boarding for unrelated reasons
If you must resubmit your ED Card due to an error, the fee is only charged once per calendar year — so if you already paid in 2026, your second submission in 2026 will not incur another $20 charge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Aruba sustainability fee mandatory?
Yes. The Aruba Sustainability Fee has been fully mandatory since December 6, 2024 for all air travelers aged 8 and older.
How much is Aruba’s sustainability fee?
The Aruba Sustainability Fee is $20 USD per person, paid once per calendar year through the official ED Card portal at edcardaruba.aw.
When was the sustainability fee introduced?
The fee was introduced July 1, 2024 in a voluntary phase. It became fully mandatory on December 6, 2024.
Do cruise passengers pay the sustainability fee?
No. Cruise ship passengers are exempt from both the ED Card requirement and the sustainability fee.
How do I pay the sustainability fee?
You pay through the official Aruba ED Card portal at edcardaruba.aw using a Visa, Mastercard, or Discover credit card.
Can I pay the sustainability fee in cash at the airport?
No. The fee must be paid online via credit card before arrival. Cash payments at the airport are not accepted.
Is the $20 fee per trip or per year?
Per calendar year (January 1 to December 31). If you visit Aruba multiple times in the same year, you only pay once.
Are children exempt from the sustainability fee?
Yes. Children under 8 years old are exempt from the $20 fee but still require their own ED Card.