GEN 1 NATIONAL REGULATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

GEN 1.3 ENTRY, TRANSIT AND DEPARTURE OF PASSENGERS AND CREW

 
 

1 ARUBA

1.1 Customs requirements

 
1.1.1. Baggage or articles belonging to disembarking passengers and crew:
Baggage or articles belonging to disembarking passengers and crew are immediately released except for those selected for inspection by the customs authorities. Such baggage will be cleared on the basis of an oral declaration except in the case of returning citizens.
 
1.1.2. Customs formalities:
No customs formalities are normally required on departure.

By random test passengers, crews and luggage are examined through customs.
 
 

1.2 Immigration requirements

 
1.2.1. REQUIREMENTS FOR ENTRY INTO ARUBA AS A TOURIST
Persons who are considered a tourist are those who travel to Aruba for one of the following purposes: vacation and relaxation, sport, health reasons, family matters, study, religious purposes or a business visit. During their stay in Aruba tourists are not allowed to work.
Upon arrival in Aruba a tourist must have:
  • a passport that is valid upon entry and for the duration of stay in Aruba. If the tourist holds a passport from a visa required country (list A), he/she  must have a valid visa sticker in his/her passport;
  • a completely filled-in and signed Embarkation and Disembarkation card (ED-card);
  • a valid return- or onward ticket;
  • the necessary documents for returning to the country of origin or to a country that he/she has the right to enter, for example a valid residence permit  (temporary or permanent), a re-entry permit or a (entry) visa;
  • if so requested, the tourist has to be able to prove to the satisfaction of the migration officer that he/she has a valid reservation for an accommodation in Aruba (e.g. hotel or apartment) or that he/she owns property in Aruba (a residence, condominium, apartment, timeshare apartment or a pleasure yacht moored in Aruba with a length of at least 14 meters (46 feet) measured at the nominal water line);
  • if so requested, the tourist has to be able to prove to the satisfaction of the migration officer to dispose of adequate financial means to provide for hotel expenses (if applicable) and living expenses during his/her stay or that he/she has a declaration of guarantee from a legal resident of Aruba.

The final authorization for admission to Aruba remains with the migration officer at the border-crossing/port of entry. The migration authorities at the border-crossing/port of entry have the authority to grant or refuse admission. Admission can be refused if not all admission requirements are fulfilled by the time of entering Aruba or if the tourist has been blacklisted. Holding a valid visa for Aruba does not guarantee entry to Aruba.
 
1.2.2. Duratiopn of Admission
The maximum period of time that a person can be admitted to Aruba as a tourist is 30 days. The total amount of days a person can stay in Aruba, as a tourist cannot exceed 180 days per year.

Extension of stay upon entry

Upon entry in Aruba, the following persons can apply for an extension of their stay for more than 30 days but not exceeding 180 days:
  • nationals of the Kingdom of the Netherlands can request an extension of their stay for up to 180 consecutive days;
  • nationals from the countries mentioned in list A and visa required persons who are exempt from the visa requirement, can request an extension of their stay for up to 180 consecutive days, if:
    • They have property in Aruba, i.e. a house, condominium, apartment, time-share, apartment or a pleasure yacht moored in Aruba with a length of at least 14 meters (46 feet) measured at the nominal water line. They must show proof of ownership of the property. For a stay of up to 180 days.
    • If they don’t have property in Aruba, they must have a declaration of guarantee from a resident of Aruba who will act as guarantor for and be liable for any costs incurred during their stay. The guarantor in Aruba can download the declaration of guarantee from our website, following the procedures to have it legalized and sent it to the visitor abroad; the tourist can request for a stay of up to 90 days. Some restrictions may apply.
    • The migration officer, can grand an extension for up to 90 days if he is satisfied that the visitor has sufficient funds to cover his extended stay.
All tourists who apply for an extension of their stay beyond 30 days are required to have a travel insurance (medical and liability) valid for the duration of the extended stay.
If a tourist wants to stay longer then the number of days granted by the immigration officer on the ED-card upon admission, he or she can apply at the office of Dimas for an extension for up to 180 days if applicable. The form for a tourist stay extension can be downloaded from www.dimasaruba.aw. An application for an extension of stay can be filed at the DIMAS from Monday to Thursday, from 7:30AM to 11:30AM and 2:30PM to 4:00PM and on Friday from 7:30AM to 11:30AM. There is no filing fee for a tourist extension application.

Staying longer then the number of days granted by the immigration officer without asking for an extension can have negative consequences for future admission to Aruba.

The following documents have to be presented:
  • original application form for extension of tourist stay;
  • copy of the profile page and all the written and stamped pages of the petitioner’s passport, valid for at least another 3 months when the extension is  applied for;
  • If applicable a copy of his/her visa to enter Aruba;
  • copy Embarkation-Disembarkation card (ED-card);
  • copy valid return ticket;
  • copy of travel insurance (medical and liability) valid for the duration of the extended stay;
  • if the petitioner is not staying at his own private residence or at a hotel/resort, he/she will need a resident of Aruba to act as guarantor for their stay.

 

Anyone wanting to stay longer than 180 days in Aruba will need a residence permit and will not be considered a tourist.
 
1.2.3. Rules covering admission:
The rules covering admission are incorporated in the Federal Ordinance on Admission and Deportation (Law Act per island please see below) and in a series of Ministerial Decrees for enforcing the Federal Ordinance and the Admission Resolution.

Aruba P.B. 1962, nr 60, the Admission Resolution (P.B.1985, nr 57)
 
1.2.4. List A. Nationals who need a visa to travel to Aruba
Nationals of one of the following countries need a visa to travel to Aruba:
Afghanistan Eritrea Mali Somalia
Algeria Ethiopia Marshall Islands South Africa
Angola Fiji Islands Mauritania Sri Lanka
Armenia Gabon Micronesia Sudan
Azerbaijan Gambia Mongolia Swaziland
Bahrain Georgia Morocco Syria
Bangladesh Ghana Mozambique Tajikistan
Belarus Guinea Myanmar Taiwan
Benin Guinea-Republic Namibia Tanzania
Bhutan Guinea-Bissau Nauru Thailand
Bolivia Haiti Nepal Togo
Botswana India Niger Tonga
Burkina Faso Indonesia Nigeria Turkmenistan
Burundi Iran North Korea Tunesia
Cambodia Iraq Northern Mariana Turaku
Cameroon Jamaica Oman Turkey
Cape Verde Jordan Pakistan Tuvalu
Central African Republic Kazakhstan Palau Uganda
Chad Kenya Palestinia National 
Authority 		Ukraine
China Kiribati Papua New Guinea Uzbekistan
Comoros Kuwait Philippines Vanuatu
Congo (Brazzaville) Kyrgyzstan Qatar Vietnam
Congo (Kinshasa) Laos Rwanda Yemen
Cote d’ Ivoire Lebanon Rusian Federation Zambia
Cuba Lesotho Samoa Zimbabwe
Djibouti Liberia Sao Tome and Principe  
Dominican Republic Libya Saudi Arabia  
East Timor Madagascar Senegal  
Egypt Malawi Sierra Leone  
Equatorial Guinea Maldives Solomon Islands  

 

 
 
1.2.5. Visa required persons exempted from the visa requirement
The following persons, who normally require a visa, are exempt from this requirement:
  • holders of a valid residence permit (temporary or permanent) from:
    • another part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands;
    • the United States of America;
    • Canada
    • The Schengen Territory
    • United Kingdom
    • Ireland
  • Bolivian, Chinese, Cuban, Dominican, Haitian, Indian, Jamaican, and Peruvian nationals who are holders of a valid (multi entry visa) for the United States of America, Canada, United Kingdom or Ireland.
  • All nationals who are holders of a valid multi entry visa for the The Schengen Territory (Schengen Visa).
  • those who are continuing (in transit) to a third country within 24 hours or within the same day by aircraft, and holding tickets with reserved seats and all documents required for onward journey;
  • those who arrive by aircraft to board a cruise ship or vice versa (in transit), for a period of maximum 24 hours;
  • cruise ship passengers if they disembark in Aruba as part of their cruise, for a period of maximum 24 hours;
  • children younger than 12 years old, don’t need a visa if they are traveling with a parent or guardian;
  • holders of a diplomatic passport, being nationals of Bolivia, Chad, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malawi, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru, Russian Federation, Senegal, Serbia, Thailand, Ukraine, Tunisia or Turkey;
  • holders of a service passport, being nationals of Bolivia, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malawi, Morocco, Peru, Thailand, Tunisia or Turkey.
  • holders of passports or laissez passer issued by the IMF, the World Bank, the United Nations or one of its agencies;
  • the crew members of vessels or aircrafts mooring or landing in Aruba for commercial purposes, and who don’t pose a threat for the public order and safety of the island or the Kingdom of the Netherlands. This category is exempt from the visa requirement for a period of admission of up to 48 hours.
 
1.2.6. Where and how to apply for a visa
Visa-required tourists need to apply for and have a visitor visa before coming to Aruba. The visa must be applied for in person at an embassy or consulate of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (diplomatic mission). In some countries certain approved travel agencies can apply for a visa on behalf of their customers.

 

For more information about the visa requirements, to apply for a visa for Aruba, and for information on appointments/opening hours, the tourist can contact a consulate or embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in his country of residence or visit the websites of the Embassy or consulates concerned. For address information and websites of Dutch diplomatic missions abroad, visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,

http://www.government.nl/issues/embassies-consulates-and-other-representations/contents.
 
1.2.7. When do you need an invitation/declaration of guarantee?
A visa-required tourist needs a declaration of guarantee/invitation to apply for a visa if he/she has been invited to participate in a sports event by an organization on Aruba or if he’ll/she’ll be staying at the home of a relative or an acquaintance. The person or organization in Aruba who will act as guarantor for the tourist’s stay has to declare that they’ll guarantee all costs than can arise from the short stay of the tourist in Aruba. The guarantor is responsible for sending the declaration of guarantee/invitation to the visa-required tourist. Please note that having the declaration does not mean that the visa will be issued. It is only one of the requirements that the visa applicant has to submit.

The declaration of guarantee/invitation form can be downloaded from www.dimasaruba.aw, as well as the instructions about the relevant procedure.
 
 

1.3 LIVING AND WORKING IN ARUBA

 
Persons who want to live and work on Aruba must have a valid residence permit from the Directorate of Alien Integration, Policy and Admission (DIMAS).

For more information contact:

 

DIMAS
Addres: Paarden Baaistraat # 11, Oranjestad, Aruba
Tel. +297 522-1500
Fax +297 522-1505
Email:  dimas@aruba.gov.aw
URL:  www.dimasaruba.aw
 
 

1.4 Temporary Residence

 
Visitors and tourists may enter and remain in the Dutch Caribbean territory without a permit for temporary residence for a period not exceeding thirty days.

For a stay exceeding thirty days a permit for temporary residence is required. The petition should be submitted to the Lieutenant Governor of the island/territory for which the applicant wishes to obtain a temporary residence.

Temporary residence can be obtained at the Department of Immigration and Naturalization Aruba (DINA).

Department of Immigration and Naturalization Aruba (DINA)
Adress: Caya G.F. Croes 90, Oranjestad, Aruba
Tel: +297 582-8946
Telefax: +297 583-7425
 
 

1.5 Public Health Requirements

 
Disembarking passengers are not required to present vaccination certificates except when coming directly from an area infected with ebola, cholera, yellow fever, chicken pox or smallpox.

For Yellow Fever you need a  CERTIFICATE OF VACCINATION AGAINST YELLOW FEVER FOR TRAVELERS TO ARUBA
The vaccine is mandatory for all passengers arriving from the following:
  • CENTRAL AMERICA, LATIN AMERICA AND AFRICAN (HIGH RISK) COUNTRIES:
  • ARGENTINA, BOLIVIA, PERU, ECUADOR, COLOMBIA, BRAZIL, VENEZUELA,
  • PARAGUAY, PANAMA, FRENCH GUYANA, GUYANA, SURINAME, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO,
  • ANGOLA, BENIN, BURKINA FASO, BURUNDI, CAMEROON, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC, CHAD, CONGO, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, COTE D’IVOIRE, EQUATORIAL GUINEA, ETHIOPIA, GABON, THE GAMBIA, GHANA, GUINEA, GUINEA BISSAU, KENYA, LIBERIA, MALI, MAURITANIA, NIGER, NIGERIA, SENEGAL, SIERRA LEONE, SOUTH SUDAN, SUDAN, TOGO AND UGANDA.

IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THIS MEASURE DOES NOT APPLYTO PASSENGERS FROM CHILE AND URUGUAY, countries that are not considered at high risk for Yellow Fever transmission.
 
Validation of the Vaccine

In order to be valid, the vaccine must be applied at least 10 days before the trip. That is, visitors must be vaccinated at least 10 days before entering the island territory. It is important to keep in mind that if the passenger has been vaccinated before, even if it has been more than 10 years, and still keeps his or her YELLOW FEVER vaccination document (ICVP) , he or she should not be re-vaccinated. Similarly, if the visitor has lost his or her Certification of vaccination, he or she must re-vaccinate. The latter of which does not entail any additional risk of side effects.

The Yellow Book (ICVP) must be presented to the immigration officer of the Department Of Immigration Security and Alarm of Aruba (IASA).

Visitors who were born in the areas classified as high risk for Yellow Fever transmission, but live in Europe or United States and travel to Aruba, do not need to get the vaccine or present the YELLOW BOOK (ICVP).

Passengers who reside in Europe or the United States and travel from countries classified as high risk to Aruba DO NEED to be vaccinated and present the YELLOW BOOK.  Except for:
  1. Passengers who have been in countries at risk are in transit through Aruba. This also includes those who have to leave and re-enter the airport or cruise ships in less than 24 hours.
  2. Passengers on their way to Aruba who have been in transit through countries at risk (in their airports and ports.)
  3. Passengers who, having been in the countries considered at risk, before entering Aruba, have remained for a period of at least 6 days in a country that is not considered at risk and have not developed fever during that period.

 

Important to highlight for airlines and cruise lines:
  1. The same rules that apply to passengers, also apply to cabin crew and non-flying management.
  2. Regardless of these requirements, it is recommended that all crew members be vaccinated against Yellow Fever if travelling regularly to countries considered to be at risk.
  3. All the details regarding the exceptions to this requirements (including points a, b and c mentioned above) will be included in the TIMATIC (Travel Information Manual Automatic).

 

The Yellow book is not required for the following persons:
  1. Passengers who are coming on a connecting flight (including cabin crew) or cruise and will be less than 24 hours on the Island.
  2. Children under 9 months of age.
  3. People with a history of acute hypersensitivity reaction to any component of the vaccine (including gelatin, eggs, egg products, or chicken protein).
  4. People with a thymus disorder.
  5. Immunocompromised individuals from the following: symptomatic HIV infection or AIDS, malignant neoplasms, primary immunodeficiency diseases, transplantation, immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory therapy, radiation therapy.

If the passenger has any of these (medical) contraindications for Yellow fever vaccination, an up-to-date medical waiver can be issued instead of administering the vaccine.

Pregnant or breastfeeding women and people 60 years of age and older should consult with their doctor and in case they do not recommend administering it, they should provide the person with a medical letter with an official letterhead and stamping.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Directie Volksgezondheid
Address: Caya Ing. Roland Lacle 4, Oranjestad, Aruba
Tel:+297 522 4200
Fax:+297 582 6436
Email: directie@despa.gov.aw

 

On departure, no health formalities are required.