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Aruba
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Guide Details
Household Goods
Documents
Documents required for importing used household goods, personal effects, and related shipments.
- Certificate from last place of residence confirming the applicant lived there for at least 6 months prior to the move (1 year if importing a motor vehicle, boat, or airplane and seeking duty exemption)
- Completed customs form (provided by the destination agent)
- Certificate of residence in Aruba
- Original invoices for all new items
- Bill of lading (OBL) / air waybill (AWB)
- Inventory list
- Copy of passport
- Certificate of registration (title) of any motorised vehicles
- Insurance certificate of insured period of vehicle with start and termination date (if importing a vehicle)
Specific Information
Residence permit prerequisite: Prior to moving, the shipper must ensure that a residence permit will be granted. Without a valid residence permit, the duty-free exemption cannot be applied.
Ownership duration: The applicant must have been in possession of the goods for at least 6 months prior to arrival in Aruba. For motor vehicles, boats, and airplanes, the ownership and use period must be at least 6 months prior to the shipping date to obtain exemption.
Personal appearance required: The applicant must appear personally at the destination agent's office immediately upon arrival in Aruba to sign the necessary customs forms. The client must be on the island during the entire customs clearance procedure. This is confirmed by both the FIDI guide and the official customs authority.
Original documents: Original documents are needed for customs clearance. Copies may be sent by fax or email to start the process, with originals sent by courier service.
Traveller duty-free allowances (per Departamento di Aduana): For goods brought in personal luggage, a maximum value of Afl. 900 per person is exempt from duty. Goods must be personal and not intended for trade.
Customs declaration system: Aruba uses the ASYCUDA World system for written declarations.
Duties & Taxes
Duty-free conditions: Per the FIDI guide and confirmed by the Aruba government (gobierno.aw), immigrants moving to Aruba with the intention of establishing residence may import household goods and personal effects duty-free, provided the goods were owned and used by the applicant in their former country of residence. Vehicles, motorcycles, and pets are also included in the duty-free exemption.
Import duties (non-exempt goods): Per the Government of Aruba, import duties for basic goods range from 0% to 12%. Luxury goods are subject to higher rates. Raw materials for manufacturing are duty-free. Alcohol, tobacco, and products thereof are subject to excise duties in addition to import duties.
Prohibited & Restricted Items
Prohibited Items
- Drugs and narcotics — Strictly prohibited; customs checks flights from known risk areas
- Firearms, explosives, and ammunition without licence — Prohibited
- Counterfeit currency and goods — Prohibited
- Endangered species and their products `CITES` — Prohibited without CITES permit (conch shells, sea turtles, parrots, iguanas, sea stars, coral)
- Pets from high-rabies-risk countries — Prohibited
- Pets from South and Central America — Prohibited unless part of household effects with Veterinary Service approval
Restricted / Dutiable Items
Duty-Free Traveller Allowances
Per the Departamento di Aduana, the following may be brought to Aruba in personal luggage without duty:
- Personal goods up to a maximum value of Afl. 900 (approximately USD 500) per person
- Goods must be for personal use, not for trade
Restricted Items (per Departamento di Aduana — douane.aw)
- Meat and meat products `PERMIT REQUIRED` — Must be declared and presented to the Veterinary Service with health certificates, invoice, and cargo bill. Only from approved slaughterhouses in approved countries. 5% import quality fee on customs value.
- Plants `PERMIT REQUIRED` — Must be declared with health certificates and related documentation.
- Telecommunications equipment `PERMIT REQUIRED` — Import licence required from the Department of Telecommunications Business. Exceptions: household phones (not wireless), modems (not wireless), and fax machines do not require a licence.
- Medicines `PERMIT REQUIRED` — Licence from the Inspection for Medicinal Products required. Carry a medical passport or doctor's note for personal medications.
- Firearms and ammunition `PERMIT REQUIRED` — Import, export, and transit prohibited unless licensed.
- Precious jewellery, cameras, laptops — Customs may request proof of prior ownership (receipts, guarantee certificates) for luxury/expensive items.
ISPM 15 (Wood Packaging)
Per the FIDI guide, shipments in wood packing material must have a seal certifying required treatment: either Heat Treatment (HT — minimum wood core temperature of 56°C for minimum 30 minutes) or Methyl Bromide Treatment (minimum temperature 10°C, minimum exposure 16 hours). The mark must be in a visible location on each article, on at least two opposite sides, in black ink (labels and adhesives are not allowed). The mark must show: country code, producer number, treatment type, and inspection agency logo.
Importing a Used Personal Vehicle
Required Documents
- Certificate from last place of residence (confirming at least 6 months' residency; 1 year for vehicle exemption per FIDI)
- Completed customs form (provided by agent)
- Certificate of residence in Aruba
- Bill of lading / AWB
- Inventory list
- Copy of passport
- Certificate of registration (title) of the vehicle
- Insurance certificate showing the insured period with start and termination dates
Specific Information
Duty-free conditions: Vehicles may be imported duty-free under the same transfer of residence exemption as household goods. The applicant must have owned and used the vehicle for at least 6 months prior to the shipping date.
Vehicle definition (per FIDI): A "passenger car" is defined as a motor vehicle (not being a sport car or a car for pursuing a hobby), on two or more wheels, including trailers for other than business transportation of persons, goods, or livestock, and suitable for the public road.
Sport cars and hobby vehicles: These do not qualify under the standard passenger car exemption. Contact the destination agent for specific guidance.
Driving: Driving is on the right-hand side of the road.
Pets
- **Import permit:** A completed "Application for Import Permit" form, submitted to the Veterinary Service of Aruba (vetservice@dvg.aw) at least 2 business days before the travel date. The Veterinary Service will validate and return the form with official approval within 2 working days (weekdays). Print the approved form and present it to customs on arrival. Per the Government of Aruba (gobierno.aw), the Departamento di Aduana (douane.aw), and USDA APHIS:
- **Microchip:** AVID or ISO 11784/11785-compliant microchip required. Other chips are permitted if the owner carries an appropriate reader. Per the Government of Aruba (gobierno.aw), the Departamento di Aduana (douane.aw), and USDA APHIS:
- **Rabies vaccination:** Valid rabies vaccination administered at least 30 days before entry and not expired. 3-year vaccines are accepted. Not applicable for puppies/kittens under 12 weeks; the 30-day waiting period is waived for the first rabies vaccine given to puppies/kittens between 12 and 16 weeks. Per the Government of Aruba (gobierno.aw), the Departamento di Aduana (douane.aw), and USDA APHIS:
- **Health certificate:** Issued within 14 days of arrival by a licensed veterinarian. For US-origin pets, must be endorsed by USDA/APHIS. Must include a certification statement regarding New World Screwworm. Per the Government of Aruba (gobierno.aw), the Departamento di Aduana (douane.aw), and USDA APHIS:
- **6-month residency in origin country:** The pet must have lived continuously in a country with a low incidence of rabies for 6 months preceding the travel date, or must have been born and lived continuously in the country of birth until the date of travel. Puppies under 6 months must have been born in the origin country. Per the Government of Aruba (gobierno.aw), the Departamento di Aduana (douane.aw), and USDA APHIS:
Official authority: The Veterinary Service of Aruba (DVG) is the sole authority for granting pet import permits. Contact: vetservice@dvg.aw, phone +297 522 4310 or +297 585 0400, fax +297 585 1828. Address: Barcadera 1, Oranjestad, Aruba.
Pre-notification process: Email the USDA-endorsed health certificate (PDF) and the completed Application for Import Permit (PDF) to vetservice@dvg.aw at least 2 business days before travel. Only PDF files are accepted. The Veterinary Service will return the approved permit within 2 working days. Print the approved document and present it at customs upon arrival.
Country of origin restrictions: Pets may NOT enter Aruba from any country with a high percentage of rabies. Animals travelling or originating from South and Central America are prohibited unless they are part of a household move and a "certificate of no objection" is issued by the Veterinary Service Aruba.
Quarantine: If the pet does not have a valid pet passport with vaccination records, the dog or cat will be vaccinated upon entering Aruba and must remain in quarantine for 30 days (per FIDI guide). If all documentation is in order, no quarantine is required.
Entry method: Pets enter through Queen Beatrix International Airport in Oranjestad. Pets can arrive in-cabin (dogs under 20 lbs in an airline-approved carrier), as checked baggage, or as air cargo. The owner must declare the pet to Aruba customs upon arrival.
VAT on cargo pets: Pets entering as air cargo are subject to value-added tax based on the pet's value and cost of transport.
Exotic pets and other species: An import permit from the Veterinary Service is required for ALL live animals. Exotic pets must have health certificates and documentation approved by the Director of the Veterinary Service before shipment.
CITES: Species protected under CITES (conch shells, sea turtles, turtle eggs, parrots, iguanas, sea stars, coral) are illegal to import or export without a CITES permit. The Veterinary Service issues CITES permits for Aruba.
Banned breeds: Aruba does not publish a formal list of banned breeds.
Common mistakes: Not submitting the import permit application at least 2 business days in advance. Attempting to import pets from high-rabies-risk countries. Importing from South/Central America without the certificate of no objection. Not having the microchip implanted before travel.
Consignment Instructions
Recommended: Contact the destination agent to ensure all requirements have been met prior to import, especially for differences regarding air / sea shipments.
Personal appearance: The owner must appear personally at the destination agent's office immediately upon arrival and must be on the island during the entire customs procedure. This is a strict requirement.
Original documents: Required for clearance. Send copies in advance to start the process; originals must follow by courier.
Routing / port of entry: Aruba is a small Caribbean island approximately 15 miles north of Venezuela. Queen Beatrix International Airport (Oranjestad) for air freight. Barcadera port for sea freight. Aruba has direct flights from the US, Europe, and the Caribbean.
Currency: The Aruban florin (AWG/Afl.) is the official currency. Exchange rate: approximately Afl. 1.80 = USD 1.00. US dollars are widely accepted. Cash declarations required for amounts exceeding USD 10,000 or equivalent.
Kingdom of the Netherlands: Aruba is a constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, with its own customs authority (Departamento di Aduana). It is NOT part of the European Union and EU customs rules do not apply. Aruba has its own import duty structure separate from the Netherlands and the other Dutch Caribbean islands (Bonaire, Curacao, Sint Maarten).
Cultural & Other Information
- OpenFactBook (replaces CIA World Factbook): https://www.openfactbook.org/countries/aruba/
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aruba
- Departamento di Aduana: https://www.douane.aw/en/
- Government of Aruba — Import Information: https://www.gobierno.aw/en/import-duties
- Government of Aruba — Importing Pets: https://www.gobierno.aw/en/sanitary-measures-importing-pets
- Departamento di Aduana — Pets: https://www.douane.aw/en/pets/
- Departamento di Aduana — Specific Goods: https://www.douane.aw/en/specific-goods/
- Departamento di Aduana — Moving to Aruba: https://www.douane.aw/en/ (see "moving to Aruba" section)
- VisitAruba — Traveling with Pets: https://www.visitaruba.com/traveling-to-aruba/traveling-with-pets/
- Aruba.com — Pets Travel Tips: https://www.aruba.com/us/plan-your-visit/tips-for-visitors/traveling-to-aruba-with-pets
- USDA APHIS — Pet Travel US to Aruba: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/pet-travel/us-to-another-country-export/pet-travel-us-aruba
Key territory facts: Aruba is a small Caribbean island approximately 30 km long, located 15 miles north of Venezuela. It is a constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, with full autonomy on internal affairs including customs. The capital is Oranjestad. Official languages are Dutch and Papiamento; English and Spanish are widely spoken. The currency is the Aruban florin (AWG), pegged to the US dollar at Afl. 1.80 = USD 1.00. US dollars are widely accepted. Aruba is outside the hurricane belt. Driving is on the right-hand side. Population approximately 107,000.
Regulatory Updates
- August 2025: The customs procedure for digital submission of objections to customs decisions went into effect.
- 2023: FIDI guide updated (July 2023) with current ISPM 15 requirements and pet import details.
- Ongoing: The Veterinary Service continues to update pet import requirements; the electronic pre-notification system (email PDF documents to vetservice@dvg.aw) is the current standard process.
Useful resources