Americans Now Need To Complete A Digital Entry Form Traveling To These 3 Caribbean Islands

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Come rain or come shine, one thing’s for sure: Americans will be flocking to the Caribbean for their yearly getaway.

Be it the tropical atmosphere, regardless of season, or the world-class amenities offered at resorts, they just know they can expect the royal treatment and some good old pampering once they check into that beachfront all-inclusive fringed by tall palm trees.

As stress-free as the Caribbean may be, however, vacationing there does not come without its fair share of travel-related bureaucracy, especially when it comes to these 3 islands that are introducing additional requirements for U.S. passport holders.

From this year onward, Americans will need to complete a digital entry form entering Aruba, Dominica, and the lesser-known Sint Maarten, or risk longer delays at the border:

Aruba

Famous for its pink flamingo-inhabited beaches, turquoise-colored bays, and Dutch-era forts, Aruba is rising fast in popularity with Americans who are keen on escaping the bustling crowds of Cancun, but they should know the tiny island is updating border procedures slightly.

For years now, Aruba has requested that newcomers fill out their Online Embarkation and Disembarkation form, which guarantees a speedy border screening when landing and minimal wait times if you’re coming from the States.

Now, they’ve introduced a newer version of the form, retitled Aruba Online ED Card, that can be obtained directly at edcardaruba.aw and functions essentially as a digital entry permit: you must provide your passport and personal details, provide your travel information, and pay a fee.

The $20 ‘sustainability’ fee applies to all applicants, and you can pay by credit card (Visa, Mastercard, or Discover are accepted)––without an ED Card, you may not be allowed to embark on an Aruba-bound flight or enter the territory.

Dominica

Elsewhere in the crystal-clear sea, the volcanic paradise that is Dominica is getting rid of all the unnecessary paperwork and transitioning to digital entry procedures––this involves a fully online Immigration and Customs Form.

As of October of last year, travelers have been permitted to submit their information to Dominica’s border authorities in advance, and though it’s not mandatory, it helps you avoid spending any precious vacation time signing papers upon landing.

Dominica’s Online Embarkation & Disembarkation Card is not precisely an Electronic Travel Authorization, but it does serve to streamline border control when the alternative is to queue up with everyone else who didn’t submit theirs.

The form can be found on the Dominican Government’s official platform at edcard.dominica.gov.dm, and once it’s submitted, you’ll get both confirmation and a QR code sent to your email––make sure you download these, as they’re your ticket to skipping the line at the Douglas-Charles Airport.

Sint Maarten

Similarly to Aruba, the fellow Dutch Caribbean territory of Sint Maarten is rolling out its own digital entry form, the difference being that, at this moment, no entry fee seems to be collected once you submit your application.

The digital Embarkation/Disembarkation (ED) form is available at www.entry.sx, and it applies to all passengers entering Sint Maarten from abroad, especially those landing at Princess Juliana International Airport.

You don’t need to complete it in advance prior to flying or boarding your cruise ship, yet it is strongly recommended as ED form-holders are screened much more quickly than those who leave it until the very last minute.

Sint Maarten shares the island with the French-administered territory of Saint Martin, and it is worth noting this requirement is enforced only by the Dutch side––those arriving at Grand Case Espérance Airport and staying only on the French part of the island do not need to submit this form.

Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior lead writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60+ countries under his belt (and currently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.

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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com

Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.