As of June 10, 2020, the government of Aruba officially announced that the country will reopen its borders and once again welcome inbound travel. The decision to reopen borders, which were closed due to COVID-19 restrictions in early March, was made in conjunction with the Aruba Department of Public Health (DPH) and took into consideration the ongoing guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO), The Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in the United States.

The government of Aruba considered a range of factors in the reopening decision-making process, including:

• Local Containment
  An aggressive response to identifying and managing potential cases of COVID-19 was impactful and reduced the effect on Aruba.
• Gradual Easing of On-Island Restrictions
  As conditions improved, restrictions on the island have been carefully rolled back without significant concerns.
• Stringent Health Standards in Place
  Stringent new health and safety protocols, including the Aruba Health & Happiness Code, have been implemented island-wide, with a heavy emphasis on tourism and hospitality businesses to help ensure the well-being of Aruba’s visitors and local community.

PERMITTED COUNTRIES/REGIONS & OPENING DATES

Aruba’s diligent reopening will happen in phases, monitored closely by the Government of Aruba and the Department of Public Health, and the following are the most recently updated reopening dates by region and country:

June 15, 2020 – Bonaire & Curacao
July  1, 2020 - Canada
July  1, 2020 - Europe
July  1, 2020 - The Caribbean (Excluding the Dominican Republic & Haiti)
July 10, 2020 – The United States of America

Official opening dates for other markets, including South America and Central America, have yet to be determined.

MANDATORY PROCEDURES & REQUIREMENTS FOR ENTRY

To maintain the safety and well-being of visitors and locals, new requirements are in place for visitors to be permitted to enter Aruba. There are also government-mandated procedures for visitors while staying in Aruba. While full procedural details will be updated on a regular basis, the following are some of the most important:

THE ONLINE EMBARKATION/DISEMBARKATION PROCESS

All visitors will be required to complete the online Embarkation/Disembarkation card process and be approved in order to be permitted entry to Aruba. The new ED card process will be available online as of June 26, 2020, and the requirements of the ED card will include five components. Do take note carefully, as there are important steps, and visitors will not be granted access to Aruba without completing the process. Note: You will need a valid passport and a valid email address that you have access to.

COMPONENT 1: BASIC TRAVELER INFORMATION

This will require travelers to provide basic personal and travel details such as: date of birth, passport information, length of stay, etc.
Timing: Visitors are encouraged to start and complete this part of the process anytime after booking their trip to Aruba.

COMPONENT 2: PERSONAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT

This will require visitors to provide truthful, accurate answers to questions regarding their health. These questions will likely include:

• Have you (or the person for whom you completed this form) been suspected of or diagnosed with pneumonia or the COVID-19 infection within the past 14 days?
• Did you (or the person for whom you completed this form) have any of the following symptoms in the past 24 hours: fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, or loss of smell/taste?
• Have you been in quarantine within the past 14 days?
• Have you had any close contact (less than two meters) for more than 15 minutes with a probable or confirmed COVID-19-infected person within the past 14 days, including persons in quarantine or isolation?

Timing: This must be completed within 72 hours and 4  hours prior to travel to Aruba.

COMPONENT 3: NEGATIVE PCR TEST REQUIRED

It is important that we have testing to confirm that travelers are negative for coronavirus. For this reason, we have a protocol in place that allows the following two options for testing:

Option 1: PCR testing prior to travel to Aruba

The government of Aruba strongly encourages visitors to show documentation indicating negative PCR test results prior to travel to Aruba.

• The test needs to be a COVID-19 test, obtained from a nasal/oral swab specimen through PCR, NAAT or molecular testing performed by a certified lab, and the results need to be uploaded as part of the ED card process.
• Any other Covid-19 test (serological testing/antibody testing, antigen testing or any other blood test) doctor’s declaration or home kits will not be accepted.
• Upon arrival, passengers will still be screened with a short health status interview and a temperature check.
• The cost of PCR tests in home countries is the responsibility of travelers.

Timing: At 72 hours prior to departure to Aruba (last leg in case of connecting flights), visitors can take action to get their test/swab. Note: The latest the testing/swab results can be uploaded is 12 hours prior to departure to Aruba. Any tests and results executed before 72 hours prior to departure to Aruba will not be valid.

Option 2: PCR testing at the airport in Aruba

Alternatively travelers can wait to arrive in Aruba and receive a PCR test at the airport. The costs for the test will be the responsibility of the traveler and $75 must be paid for in advance as part of the online Embarkation/Disembarkation card process.

• In this case, a PCR test will be conducted immediately after arrival, and visitors will be required to be in mandatory quarantine at their hotel or booked place of stay.
• The quarantine will be up to 24 hours, and the Aruba Department of Health will make every effort to have results in 6-8 hours, in order to minimize the visitors’ time in quarantine.
• For details on the procedures for guests showing a positive COVID-19 test result while in Aruba, please reference the “Regulations when showing symptoms or testing positive for COVID-19 while in Aruba” section below.
• Not available for the listed states.

Timing: Payment for the PCR testing in Aruba must be completed within 72 hours and 4 hours prior to travel to Aruba.

Option 3: Testing prior to travel and a PCR test at the airport in Aruba

Alternatively, especially for the listed states that do not qualify for Option 2, there is the option to perform two tests. One accessible test prior to travel, and one accurate test upon arrival.
The costs for the tests will be the responsibility of the traveler and $75 must be paid for in advance as part of the online Embarkation/Disembarkation card process.

• Pre-upload negative test results for one of the following accesible tests to the ED Card online platform prior to arrival:
  Antigen (QL IA, FIA), PCR Home kit, or any other type of test
• In this case, it will be required to conduct a second test (PCR) immediately after arrival. Visitors will be required to be in mandatory quarantine at their hotel or booked place of stay.
• The quarantine will be up to 24 hours, and the Aruba Department of Health will make every effort to have results in 6-8 hours, in order to minimize the visitors’ time in quarantine.
• For details on the procedures for guests showing a positive COVID-19 test result while in Aruba, please reference the “Regulations when showing symptoms or testing positive for COVID-19 while in Aruba” section below.

Timing: At 72 hours prior to departure to Aruba (last leg in case of connecting flights), visitors can take action to get one of the listed accessible test. Note: The latest the testing/swab results can be uploaded is 12 hours prior to departure to Aruba. Payment for the PCR testing in Aruba must be completed within 72 hours and 12 hours prior to travel to Aruba.

COMPONENT 4: REQUISITE INSURANCE COVERAGE

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the government of Aruba must ensure that all visitors are properly insured. The Aruba Visitors Insurance is a mandatory insurance that helps protect visitors against incurred medical and non-medical expenses if testing positive for COVID-19 during their stay in Aruba.

• Visitors must purchase the Aruba Visitors Insurance in order to complete the ED card process.
• Visitors can buy or use their own travel or health insurance to supplement the Aruba Visitors Insurance, but not to replace it.
• Other insurances may cover you for some of the COVID-19-related expenses, but few plans offer comprehensive COVID-19 coverage in Aruba and also cover isolation costs outside of a hospital.
• The cost of the Aruba Visitors Insurance starts at $15 per day per visitor and decreases depending on the length of stay. Children up to and including age 14 are insured for free, but a flat administration fee of $10 is applicable. For visitors older than age 76, the coverage starts at $21 per day and also decreases depending on the length of stay. To calculate your premium, please click on the following link.
• Subject to an overall limit of US$75,000, a visitor who tests positive for COVID-19 in Aruba, will have very few, if any, out-of-pocket expenses with the Aruba Visitors Insurance, as the medical and non-medical providers are paid directly by the locally licensed insurers.
• If you purchase the Aruba Visitors Insurance and do not take your trip, you may request a full refund by email.
• As soon as you’ve completed the ED-Card form and payment, you will receive an email with your Aruba Visitors Insurance policy documents attached.

For Aruba Visitors Insurance FAQ’s and more details, including eligibility requirements, premium calculations, maximum length of coverage, and more, click here.

Timing: Purchase of the Aruba Visitors Insurance must be completed within 72 hours, and 4 hours prior to travel to Aruba.

COMPONENT 5: CONSENT TO ARUBA GOVERNMENT MANDATES

This will require visitors to consent to comply with the rules and procedures as mandated by the Aruban government. This will include:

• Acknowledgment and consent that upon arrival and during their stay in Aruba visitors shall cooperate with any type of COVID-19 health screening and testing as indicated by the public health authorities of Aruba, including isolation and/or quarantine.
• Acknowledgment and consent that in case the visitor undergoes diagnostic PCR testing, they shall await their PCR test results in isolation as instructed by the public health authorities.
• Acknowledgment and consent to follow any and all instructions imposed by the public health authorities of Aruba; this includes, but is not limited to, instructions to be isolated or quarantined due to exposure to COVID-19.
• For details on the procedures for guests showing a positive COVID-19 test result while in Aruba, please reference the “Regulations when showing symptoms or testing positive for COVID-19 while in Aruba” section below.

Timing: Consent to Aruba Government mandates must be completed within 72 hours and 4 hours prior to travel to Aruba.

EMAIL NOTIFICATION & REMINDERS:

Visitors are encouraged to begin filling out the ED card as soon as they book their trip to Aruba. Once the visitor’s date of travel is submitted, the visitor will be registered to receive email reminder notifications.

• Email notification will be sent 72 hours prior as a reminder to begin completion of all components of the online ED card process. A reminder email will also be sent 24 hours prior to departure.
• Upon successful completion of the ED card process, travelers will receive an email confirmation of approval for travel, which must be shown either digitally or in printed form at check in or upon boarding.

ARRIVAL HEALTH PROCEDURES IN ARUBA

All visitors will be required to comply with arrival, screening and health procedures as mandated by the Aruba Airport Authority and the Government of Aruba. The mandatory requirements will include:

• All travelers will wear masks while in flight to Aruba as well as in the Aruba airport.
• While masks will not be required in Aruba, we strongly encourage visitors to have their masks handy for situations where social distancing proves difficult.
• All travelers not showing documentation indicating a negative PCR test result prior to travel to Aruba as a part of the ED card process will receive a PCR test at the Airport when arriving in Aruba.
• The PCR testing will be followed by a mandatory quarantine at the traveler’s booked accommodations while test results are assessed.
• The mandatory quarantine while test results are assessed will be up to 24 hours. The health department will make every effort to have results in 6-8 hours in order to
  minimize the visitor’s time in quarantine.
• All travelers showing documentation indicating a negative PCR test result as
  part of the ED card process will receive a temperature check and health interview
  by a medical professional upon arrival.
• If the temperature check and health assessment are clear, no further testing or subsequent 24-hour quarantine is needed.
• If the visitor shows COVID-19-related symptoms during the airport health screening, the visitor will be taken to a designated isolation location to await test results. Travel companions will proceed to host hotel or accommodations and will  quarantine pending test results.
• If test results are negative, the guest can go to their host hotel or accommodations. If test results are positive, the guest will remain in isolation and their travel companions will be relocated to a designated quarantine location.
• Children 14 and under will not be required to take the mandatory PCR test upon arrival at the Aruba Airport or have a health screening assessment.

REGULATIONS WHEN SHOWING SYMPTOMS OR A POSITIVE COVID-19 TEST WHILE IN ARUBA

All visitors will be required to comply with the Government of Aruba procedures and protocols if showing symptoms and/or testing positive for COVID-19 while in Aruba. The mandatory requirements will include:

SHOWING COVID-19 SYMPTOMS : STEP 1

HOTEL AND TIMESHARE GUESTS:

• In the case of a guest contacting the hotel or timeshare in light of symptoms linked to COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties), the staff will direct the guest immediately to their room and the respective hotel or timeshare representative will contact the COVID Call Center at 280-0101 and connect the call to their room.
• Over the phone, a triage questionnaire will be conducted by a medical practitioner.

For guests that do NOT MEET the criteria for testing:

• The medical practitioner will advise on next steps.
• The hotel will follow up by calling the room and confirming the status.

VILLA OR PRIVATE HOME GUESTS:

• In the case of a guest having symptoms linked to COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties), the guest must contact their accommodation host or the COVID Call Center at 280-0101.
• Over the phone, a triage questionnaire will be conducted by a medical practitioner.

For guests that do NOT MEET the criteria for testing:

• The medical practitioner will advise them on next steps.

SHOWING COVID-19 SYMPTOMS & TESTING REQUIRED : STEP 2

HOTEL AND TIMESHARE GUESTS:

For guests that MEET the criteria for testing:

• The COVID Call Center will inform the guest and the host hotel or timeshare of the suspected case.
• A date and time will be appointed by the COVID Call Center for testing.
• Following all procedures as stipulated by the host hotel or timeshare, the guest will be transported by a designated transportation company for testing.
• The guest is to follow all health and safety regulations during this process and must
  pack and take all belongings with him/her to a designated isolation location
  pending test results.
• As the guest is being tested, all travel companions will be advised to stay in quarantine at the host hotel or timeshare pending test results.

VILLA OR PRIVATE HOME GUESTS:

For guests that MEET the criteria for testing:

• The COVID Call Center will inform the guest of the appointed date and time for testing at
• Travel companions must stay in quarantine at the accommodation pending test
  results of the suspected case.
• Guest must keep the host informed of the status regarding testing.

Testing and transportation

• Host or suspected case will contact the designated private concierge to arrange transportation for pickup for testing.
• The guest should wear a mask when being picked up by designated transportation company.

COVID-19 TEST RESULTS : STEP 3

POSITIVE TEST RESULTS: 

Hotel and timeshare guests:

• The test results will be revealed by the Department of Public Health within 24-48 hours.
• If the test is positive, the confirmed case will remain in isolation at one of the designated properties until recovered.
• Throughout the isolation process, medical follow-up will be conducted.
• Once the patient recovers and tests negative, he/she can resume vacation or depart the destination.

Villa or private home guests:

• The test results will be revealed by the Department of Public Health within 24-48 hours.
• If the case is positive, the confirmed case will have to be in isolation until recovered.
• If current accommodation does not host isolation, the positively tested guest needs to be transported to a designated isolation location.
• Arrangements will be made for guest to be relocated to a designated isolation location.
• If current location hosts guests for quarantine, guests can remain in the accommodation.
• If current location does not host guests for quarantine, arrangements will be made for guests to be transported to a designated quarantine location.
• Travel companion(s) of the confirmed case will have to be in quarantine for 14 days and will be monitored by the Department of Public Health.

NEGATIVE TEST RESULTS:

Hotel and timeshare guests:

• If test results are negative, the patient will go back to their host hotel or timeshare, reunite with any travel companions who will be simultaneously released from quarantine, and can resume their vacation.

Villa or private home guests:

• If test results are negative, the patient can resume their vacation.

TRAVEL COMPANIONS – QUARANTINE PROTOCOLS

Hotel and timeshare guests:

• Travel companion(s) will not accompany the guest to the testing facility or hospital.
• Travel companion(s) of a suspected case will remain in quarantine at host hotel or timeshare while test results are pending.
• Travel companion(s) of the confirmed case will need to pack their belongings as they will be relocated and placed in quarantine at one of the designated quarantine locations for 14 days. This period restarts each time a new case is discovered within the group.
• A person not showing symptoms can either stay in quarantine in Aruba at one of the designated quarantine locations or choose to depart the island.
• In case a travel companion(s) develops COVID-19-related symptoms while in quarantine, the new suspected case will be transferred to get tested and then isolated at an assigned location pending test results.

Villa or private home guests:

• Only guests exhibiting symptoms will be taken in for testing.
• Travel companions will not accompany the guest to the testing facility and will not receive a test unless they show symptoms.
• In case a travel companion(s) develops COVID-19-related symptoms while in quarantine, the new suspected case will have to get tested and then be isolated pending test results.
• Travel companion(s) of any new confirmed case will have to stay in quarantine – the quarantine period of 14 days restarts each time a new case is discovered within the group.
• Aruba can mandate a visitor return to their country of origin should they refuse to remain in quarantine on island.
• Guests in quarantine do have the option of leaving Aruba and returning home in lieu of being relocated at one of the quarantine designated locations.

This information is subject to change at the discretion of the Government of Aruba. The preceding information reflects the most up-to-date information as it pertains to Aruba’s reopening protocols and procedures. Aruba’s health and safety protocols will be revisited and reevaluated on an ongoing basis. Based on the ever-changing situation, we recommend that all visitors check Aruba.com frequently for any changes to dates, markets, required procedures and more.