Source: U.S. State Department
Last updated: May 10th, 2024
Last Updated: Jul 17, 2023
Read the country’s information page for additional information on travel to Aruba.
A. Quick Facts
– Passport Validity: Must be valid for period of stay.
– Blank Passport Pages: 1 page required for entry stamp
– Tourist Visa Required: None
– Vaccinations: Yellow fever if arriving from select countries.
– Currency Restrictions for Entry: Amounts above $11,000 USD must be declared
– Currency Restrictions for Exit: Amounts above $11,000 USD must be declared
B. Safety and Security
Crime: Crime against tourists consists primarily of theft. The main targets are valuables left unattended in public areas (beaches, cars, hotel lobbies, etc.). Purses, cameras, passports, phones, and other handheld electronics are the most frequently stolen items. Take normal precautions to secure personal property. Do not leave valuables in cars in plain view or unattended in unsecured hotel rooms and rental homes. Keep a copy of your U.S. passport in a secure location in case the original is lost or stolen.
– Incidents of violent crime, including rape and armed robbery – although not common – do occur. Exercise caution when visiting more isolated areas of the island.
– There is an increased risk of crime in the San Nicolas district, especially at night. Crimes against tourists are more common here.
– Car theft, especially of rental vehicles, can occur. Vehicle leases and rentals may not be fully covered by local insurance when a vehicle is stolen or damaged. Be sure you are sufficiently insured when renting any item.
– The legal drinking age of 18 is not always enforced, so extra parental supervision may be appropriate. Take standard safety precautions when frequenting nightclubs and bars. Travel in pairs or groups, and, if you consume alcohol, do so responsibly. To avoid spiked drinks, do not leave your drink unattended or accept open containers from strangers.
See the Department of State and the FBI pages for information on scams.
Victims of Crime:
Dial 100 for police assistance in Aruba. Dial 911 if you need emergency medical assistance in Aruba.
Contact the U.S. Consulate General Curaçao at +5999-461-3066 after you have contacted the local police.
Do not rely on hotels, restaurants, or tour companies to make the police report for you. Remember that local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting the crime.
For more information, see our webpage on help for U.S. victims of crime overseas.
We can:
– help you find appropriate medical care
– assist you in reporting a crime to the police
– contact relatives or friends with your written consent
– provide general information regarding the victim’s role during the local investigation and following its conclusion
– provide a list of local attorneys
– provide our information on victim’s compensation programs in the U.S.
– provide an emergency loan for repatriation to the United States and/or limited medical support in cases of destitution
– help you find accommodation and arrange flights home
– replace a stolen or lost passport
Domestic Violence: U.S. citizen victims of domestic violence may contact the Consulate for assistance. If you are in immediate danger, first contact the local police at 100.
Tourism: The tourism industry is unevenly regulated, and safety inspections for equipment and facilities do not commonly occur. Hazardous areas/activities are not always identified with appropriate signage, and staff may not be trained or certified either by the host government or by recognized authorities in the field. In the event of an injury, basic emergency medical treatment is widely available throughout the country. Outside of a major metropolitan center, it may take more time for first responders and medical professionals to stabilize a patient and provide life-saving assistance. Critical injuries often require medical evacuation. U.S. citizens are encouraged to purchase medical evacuation insurance.
C. Local Laws & Special Circumstances
Criminal Penalties: You are subject to local laws. If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Individuals establishing a business or practicing a profession that requires additional permits or licensing should seek information from the competent local authorities, prior to practicing or operating a business.
Furthermore, some laws are also prosecutable in the United States, regardless of local law. For examples, see our website on crimes against minors abroad and the Department of Justice website.
Aruba’s enforcement policy concerning drug possession differs significantly from the Netherlands. In Aruba, laws against possession of controlled substances are enforced rigorously, including against tourists in possession of marijuana for personal use.
Arrest Notification: If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Consulate immediately. See our webpage for further information.
Local law is based on Dutch law, which allows for the detention of subjects during an investigation with the approval of a judge. People detained in Aruba do not have the option of posting bond for their release.
Dual Nationality: Dutch law, in principle, does not permit dual nationality. However, there are exceptions to this rule. For detailed information, contact the The Netherlands Embassy in Washington, DC, or one of the Dutch Consulates in the United States.
Counterfeit and Pirated Goods: Although counterfeit and pirated goods are prevalent in many countries, they may still be illegal according to local laws. You may also pay fines or have to give them up if you bring them back to the United States. See the Department of Justice for more information.
Faith-Based Travelers:
See the following webpages for details:
– Faith-Based Travel Information
– International Religious Freedom Report – see country reports
– Human Rights Report – see country reports
– Best Practices for Volunteering Abroad
LGBTQI+ Travelers: There are no legal restrictions on same-sex sexual relations or the organization of LGBTQI+ events in Dominican Republic.
See our LGBTQI+ Travel Information page and section 6 of our Human Rights report for further details.
Travelers with Disabilities: While in Aruba, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation very different than in the United States. Sidewalks and crossings in many areas are not wheelchair accessible, and many buildings lack ramps.
The law in the Dutch Caribbean prohibits discrimination against persons with physical, sensory, intellectual or mental disabilities, and the law is enforced. Social acceptance of persons with disabilities in public is as prevalent as in the United States. The most common types of accessibility may include accessible facilities, information, and communication/access to services/ease of movement or access. However, accessibility may be limited in some lodgings and general infrastructure.
Students: See our Students Abroad page and FBI travel tips.
Women Travelers: See our travel tips for Women Travelers.
D. Health
Access to quality medical care is limited in Aruba, and facilities may not offer the health and service standards typically expected in the United States.
There is no decompression chamber in Aruba. Persons suffering from decompression sickness must be medically evacuated for proper treatment.
Ambulance services are widely available.
We do not pay medical bills. Be aware that U.S. Medicare/Medicaid does not apply overseas. Most hospitals and doctors overseas do not accept U.S. health insurance.
A list of medical facilities in Aruba is available on our Consulate website. We do not endorse or recommend any specific medical provider or clinic.
Medical Insurance: Make sure your health insurance plan provides coverage overseas. Most care providers overseas only accept cash payments. See our webpage for more information on insurance and overseas coverage. Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more information on type of insurance you should consider before you travel overseas.
We strongly recommend supplemental insurance to cover medical evacuation. Critically ill patients requiring services unavailable in Aruba are transferred to neighboring countries, such as Colombia, at the patient’s expense. If medical evacuation is authorized by the patient’s insurance carrier or funded privately (approximately $15,000 – 25,000), patients can be transferred to the United States.
Medicines: If traveling with prescription medication, check with the government of Aruba to ensure the medication is legal in Aruba. Always carry your prescription medication in original packaging with your doctor’s prescription.
The variety of drugs available locally is smaller than in the U.S., and you may not be able to find all of your medications in Aruba. For most medicines, you will need a local prescription.
Vaccinations: Be up-to-date on all vaccinations recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The following diseases are prevalent:
– Dengue
Use the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended mosquito repellents and sleep under insecticide-impregnated mosquito nets. Chemoprophylaxis is recommended for all travelers even for short stays.
Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for more information about Resources for Travelers regarding specific issues in Aruba.
Further health information:
– U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Air Quality: Visit AirNow Department of State for information on air quality at U.S. Embassies and Consulates.
E. Travel and Transportation
Road Conditions and Safety: Road signs in Aruba are different than in the United States, so familiarize yourself with them before driving. Watch out for scooters, motorcycles, and ATVs, as drivers of these vehicles may not strictly follow traffic rules. In less developed areas, watch out for goats and other animals that may cross the road unexpectedly. Night driving is reasonably safe, as long as drivers are familiar with the route and road conditions. Most roads are not as well-lit as U.S. roads.
Traffic Laws: Vehicles operate on the right-hand side of the road. You can drive in Aruba with a valid U.S. driver’s license. Drivers approaching roundabouts must yield to traffic already in the roundabout and wait for an opening to enter. Right turns at red lights are prohibited. U-turns are often restricted. Traffic signs prohibiting actions have a red circle around them, but not the red slash you expect to see in the United States. Local law requires drivers and passengers to wear seat belts, and motorcyclists to wear helmets. Children must ride in the back seat, and children under 5 years of age must be in a child safety seat. In the event of an accident, do not move your car or pull over. If an accident occurs, dial 100 to inform the police and call the rental car company and the insurance company immediately.
Public Transportation: Taxis do not have meters and are safe and well regulated. Determine the price in advance, as rates are based on destination. Buses run every 15 minutes between 5:45am and 6pm, and every 40 minutes between 6pm and 11:30pm.
See our Road Safety page for more information. Visit the website of the Aruba Tourism Authority for more information about transportation.
Aviation Safety Oversight: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the government of Aruba’s Civil Aviation Authority as being in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for oversight of Aruba’s air carrier operations. Further information may be found on the FAA’s safety assessment page.
Maritime Travel: Mariners planning travel to Aruba should check for U.S. maritime advisories and alerts. Information may also be posted to the U.S. Coast Guard homeport website, and the NGA broadcast warnings. Please review to following Aruba government page for more information.
F. If you decide to travel to Aruba:
– Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
– Call us in Washington, D.C. at 1-888-407-4747 (toll-free in the United States and Canada) or 1-202-501-4444 (from all other countries) from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
– See the State Department’s travel website for the Worldwide Caution and Travel Advisories.
– Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
– See traveling safely abroad for useful travel tips.
Search for Travel Advisories
Visit our Discover Aruba page for all the information you need to plan your trip.
Check with your local embassy, U.S. Consulate General Curacao, when you reach your destination.
