Clearance Procedure

Aruba has different procedure for clearing in and out as other islands in the Caribbean: At arrival, all vessels are required to go to an official port of entry first! The vessel will have to be cleared both by Immigration and by Customs.

For your convenience you can print and fill in the necessary clearance forms (three copies for Immigration, two copies for Customs).

People can initially stay 30 days. For yacht crew this can be extended to two times 90 days. 180 days per year maximum. Yachts can stay on the island up to 180 days. After this they will need to be imported. Exception: Yachts in dry storage at the entrepot section of Varadero Aruba. While in storage the 180-day count is stopped.

For the latest information and travel advisory update from the Aruba Tourism Authority regarding the measures Aruba have put in place, including travel restrictions in connection with COVID-19 Please visit Aruba.com

Immigration

First clear with immigration then go to Customs.

When clearing in there is one point to keep in mind: We suggest that you ask immigration for a longer period then you intend to stay. Should your plans change you will not have to spend time to get an extension.

Visa requirements: None for citizens of the USA, Canada or the EC. Other nationalities please download entry requirements. For persons requiring visa: Even though Aruba is part of the Netherlands, visa for the Netherlands Antilles are not valid for Aruba.

Visa Requirements

None for citizens of the USA, Canada or the EU. Other nationalities please download: http://www.aruba.com/sigma/Entry_Req-Eng.pdf .

For people requiring a visa: Visa must be specifically for Aruba. Even though Aruba is part of the Netherlands, visa for the Netherlands Antilles or the Netherlands are not valid for Aruba.

Visitors can stay up to a total of 180 days per year in Aruba but might get limited in to how long for each stay depending on the nationality. A vessel can stay 180 days in Aruba.

Customs

None for citizens of the USA, Canada or the EU. Other nationalities please download: http://www.aruba.com/sigma/Entry_Req-Eng.pdf .

For people requiring a visa: Visa must be specifically for Aruba. Even though Aruba is part of the Netherlands, visa for the Netherlands Antilles or the Netherlands are not valid for Aruba.

Visitors can stay up to a total of 180 days per year in Aruba but might get limited in to how long for each stay depending on the nationality. A vessel can stay 180 days in Aruba.

Pets

Require a certificate of health from your last port of call not older then 30 days.

Anchoring Permit

In Curacao an anchoring permit is required if you want to anchor outside of Spanish water. In Aruba there is no permit required. If you are anchored in a less frequented anchorage the Coast guard will probably pay you a visit, just because you are doing something different.

Clearing in Barcadera harbor

When you clear in the Barcadera Harbor please keep the following in mind:

The container terminal is off limits to yachts.
You have to tie up to the North West dock which partially has the wooden face board. There is a less than 4 ft / 1.20 M, shoal in front of this dock. Do not go in a straight line to the dock!
The entry buoy to Barcadera Harbor is at 12° 28.834′ N 70° 00.430′ W
The customs dock at Barcadera is at 12° 28.855′ N 70° 00.014′ W
Once tied up the Captain will have to go the Immigrations & Customs offices on the dock. Crew is to remain on board.

To get to the customs dock: Enter the channel and set course for the Customs docks. DO NOT GO STRAIGHT TO THE CUSTOMS DOCK! There is a 3 ft shoal in the way if you go straight to the dock from the harbor entry.

Stay in the ships channel (minimum 36 ft deep) until abeam of the customs dock: Abeam of the blue building next to the white tanks.

Once abeam, turn in towards the customs dock keeping two (smaller) rounded mooring bollards to port. And two hard cornered mooring bollards to starboard. In the picture you can see two of the small bollards (keep to port), and one of the large ones (keep to starboard)

In front of the black, grey, and white tug tied up in the corner (Behind the large black fenders in the picture) there is 10 ft / 3M of water. Past the dogleg in the pier, where the pier changes from concrete to a wood face board, maximum 7ft / 2.1M can enter, staying close (one boat width) to the dock. If you go to the end of the (wooden) dock, stay close to the dock or the vessels tied to the dock to stay off the shallows. Up to 7 ft / 2.1M draft can go to the end, but you do need to stay close to the dock.

If your draft is over 10ft / 3M call Aruba Port control for instructions. They might send you to the Container terminal in Barcadera or send you to Oranjestad. The Barcadera Customs dock area does not look nice, but it is a nicer and easier dock to tie up to than the container dock or Oranjestad harbor. Once tied up you will find the officials and procedures pleasant and efficient.

Before departing the harbor (or when making any movements within the harbor) call Aruba Port Control to make sure there is no other traffic. This is a precaution to avoid yachts from being run over by large steel ships.

Clearing in at Oranjestad Harbor

Note: Currently Aruba Ports sends all yachts to Barcadera harbor to do the clearance.

Call “Aruba Port Control” on channel 16 when approaching Oranjestad harbor. The port Captain will probably want to switch to channel 11 or 14. Then request permission to enter the harbor to clear Customs and Immigration. Customs agents are present in Oranjestad harbor, the Immigration officer will have to come down from Barcadera. Calling in your arrival 1/2 hour before arrival will expedite the clearing in process.

chart of Oranjestad harbor

view of Oranjestad harbor

The SE entry buoy to Oranjestad harbor is located at 12° 30.317′ N 70° 02.153′ W

The port captain will assign you a place to tie up on one of the harbor docks and notify the authorities. The Immigration and Customs officers will come to your vessel to do the clearance. This will be at the second basin, to the west of the long cruise ship dock, at the “Hans dock” to port 12° 31.285′ N 70° 02.709′ W.

All crew will have to stay on board and wait for the customs and the immigration officials to come to the boat.

You will have to do your clearance with both Customs and Immigration.