Perfect weather, gorgeous beaches, shimmering seas, duty free shopping, and friendly Dutch West Indies hosts shouting "Bon Bini" (Welcome) will greet you upon arrival in Aruba.
» Aruba General Information
Area: 75 sq miles (193 sq km)
Capital: Oranjestad
Currency: Aruban florin
Head of state: HM Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands
Language: Dutch, Papiamento
Main exports: Oil products, animals
Population: 100,500 (via UN, 2006)
Prime minister: Mike Eman
Radio: Radio Kelkboom, Hit 94, Magic 96.5, Canal 90
New Year's Day (01Jan); Official Holiday in memory of G F Betico Croes (25Jan); National Anthem & Flag Day (18Mar); Good Friday (14Apr); Easter (16Apr); Easter Monday (17Mar); Queen's Day (30Apr); Labour Day (01May);
St. John's Day (24Jun); Christmas Day (25Dec); Boxing Day (26Dec); New Year's Eve/Bank holiday (31Dec).
› Visa and Passport
U.S. Citizens:
A valid U.S. passport
USA citizens born in the U.S. must have an original or Government certified and a photo I.D.
Naturalized U.S. citizens must have an original Certificate of Naturalization with a raised seal and a photo I.D.
A U.S. resident must have a re-entry permit to the U.S. or an Alien Registration Card (Green Card)
A resident of the USA for whom visa requirements are applicable for Aruba must travel either with a national passport or an Alien Registration Card.
A resident of the USA for whom no visa requirements are applicable for Aruba must have a re-entry permit or an Alien Registration Card
Citizens of Canada:
A valid Canadian passport
Canadian citizens born in Canada must have a "Miniature Birth Certificate", a "Miniature Baptismal Certificate" or a "Miniature Certificate of Proof of Canadian Citizenship"
Canadian citizens born outside of Canada, must have either an original Certificate of Naturalization or a Certificate of Proof of Canadian Citizenship
Canadian residents for whom visa requirements are not applicable for Aruba must have a National passport or a Canadian Immigration Identification Certificate with a landing Stamp in the national passport or a Certificate of Identity
Canadian residents for whom visa requirements are applicable for Aruba, must travel with a valid national passport with a landing stamp in the passport provided with a visa for Aruba or a Canadian Immigration Identification Certificate with a visa for Aruba
All other countries not mentioned, must possess a Valid Passport and a return ticket.
Nationals that DO require a visa
If you hold and travel on a passport of one of the countries listed below, you need a visa to enter Aruba:
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Botswana, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo (Brazzaville), Congo (Democratic Republic, former Zaire), Cuba, Djibouti, Dominican Republic,
Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia-Montenegro), Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ivory coast: côte d'Ivoire, Jamaica,
Jordan, Kazachstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Korea - North Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan,
Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia (former Republic of Yugoslavia), Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Mariana islands: Northern Mariana islands, Marshall islands, Mauretania, Mauritius, Micronesia, Moldova,
Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar (former Burma), Namibia, Nauru,
Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Northern Mariana islands, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Romania, Russia: Russian Federation,
Rwanda, Samoa (West), Sao Tome & Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka,
Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Taiwan (Republic of China), Tajikistan, Tanzania,
Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arabic Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Yemen,
Yugoslavia: Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia-Montenegro), Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Papers needed (besides a valid travel document) to enter Aruba:
A valid passport (with a visa for Aruba) or other recognized travel document, AND
A return airline ticket or an onward ticket to travel elsewhere outside Aruba, AND
The necessary documents for returning to the country of origin or for further travel elswhere (e.g. visa), AND
Sufficient funds to cover the intended stay in Aruba
» Aruba History
Discovered and claimed for Spain in 1499, Aruba was conquered by the Dutch in 1636. The island's economy has been dominated by three main industries. A 19th-century gold rush was followed by prosperity brought on by the opening in 1924 of an oil refinery. The last decades of the 20th century saw a boom in the tourism industry.
Aruba seceded from the Netherlands Antilles on January 1, 1986, and became a separate, self-governing member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Movement toward full independence by 1996 was halted at Aruba's request in 1990.
