Below follows an information and travel advisory update from the Aruba Tourism Authority regarding the measures Aruba has put in place, including travel restrictions in connection with the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Last Updated: Jun 11, 2020 12:00 PM AST
Valid Through: Today
Essential, must read information for all travelers to Aruba
The following 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 all visitors check Aruba.com frequently for any changes to dates, markets, required procedures and more. This information is subject to change at the discretion of the Government of Aruba.

Reopening dates & permitted regions and countries

As of June 10, 2020, the government of Aruba officially announced 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

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 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.

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 25th, 2020 and the requirements of the ED card will include:

The completion of the standard Embarkation/Disembarkation form details
A self-health declaration 72 hours prior to travel to Aruba. Visitors will receive an email reminder to complete the self-health declaration 72 hours prior to travel.
Acquiring mandatory Aruba COVID health insurance coverage
An optional upload of documentation indicating a negative PCR test results 72 hours prior to travel to Aruba
Important to note: The government of Aruba strongly encourages visitors to show documentation indicating a negative PCR test results prior to travel to Aruba.
If PCR test is not done prior to travel, traveler will have to pre-pay for a test that will be administered upon arrival at the Aruba Airport.
Upon successful completion of the ED card process, travelers will receive an email confirmation of approval for travel, that must be shown either digitally or in printed form, at check in.
Acknowledge 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.
Acknowledge 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.
Acknowledge and consent to follow any and all instructions imposed by the public health authorities of Aruba, this includes, but is not limited to, the instruction to be isolated or quarantined due to exposure to COVID-19
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 wear a mask while in-flight to Aruba.
While masks will not be required in Aruba, we strongly encourage visitors to have their mask 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 mandatory PCR test at the Airport when arriving in Aruba, at the visitor’s expense, followed by a mandatory 24-hour quarantine at the travelers’ accommodations while test results are assessed.
All travelers showing documentation indicating a negative COVID-19 test result as part of the ED card process, will receive a temperature check and health interview by a medical professional.
If the temperature check and health assessment are clear, no further testing or subsequent 24-hour quarantine is needed.
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:

Initial Step
In the case of a guest contacting the hotel in light of symptoms linked to COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties), the hotel staff will direct the guest immediately to their room and the respective hotel representative will contact the Call Center at 280-0101 or one of the private clinics 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 criteria for testing:
The medical practitioner will advise on next steps.
The hotel will follow up by calling the room and confirming the status.
For guests that MEET criteria for testing:
If the guest does meet the criteria:

Call Center
If Call Center has been called, the medical practitioner will inform the guest and the host hotel of suspected case.
If one of the private clinics has been called, the doctor will inform the guest, the host hotel and the Call Center.
A date and time will be appointed, by the call center, for testing at the diagnostic center.
Following all procedures as stipulated by the host hotel, 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.
The guest will be taken to a designated isolation location pending test result
As the guest is being tested, all travel companions will be advised to stay in quarantine at the host hotel pending test results.

Test Results
Positive:
The test results will be revealed by the Department of Public Health in 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.
Negative:
If test results are negative, the patient will go back to his/her host hotel, reunite with any travel companions who will be simultaneously released from quarantine, and can resume their vacation.
Quarantine: Travel Companions
Travel companions will not accompany the guest to the Diagnostic Center or hospital.
Travel companion(s) of a suspected case will remain in quarantine at host hotel while test results are pending
Travel companion(s) of the confirmed case will need to pack their belongings as they would need to 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 the Diagnostic Center to get tested and then be isolated at an assigned location pending test results