Clearance Procedures
Aruba has a bit 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! This can be either at Barcadera Harbor or Oranjestad harbor.
The vessel will have to be cleared both by Customs and by Immigration. 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 (e.g. two or three months). Should your plans change you will not have to spend time in long lines trying to get an extension. For your convenience you can print and fill in the necessary clearance forms (three copies for Immigration, two copies for Customs) .
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.
We recommend doing the clearance at Barcadera harbor. Both customs and Immigrations have an office at Barcadera. There is no immigrations office in Oranjestad harbor. If you clear at Oranjestad harbor it is a 30 to 60 minute drive away for the immigration officials to come to your boat.
Entering And Clearance In Barcadera Harbor
Call Aruba Port Control on channel 16 and notify them that you will be tying up for clearance at Barcadera harbor.
The outermost (yellow floating) harbor buoy is at approximately 12° 28.834' N 70° 00.43' W. When approaching from the Southeast make the turn into the harbor, keeping the yellow buoy to starboard. Line up the range markers which are black and yellow masts with a diamond day mark (the diamonds may be hard to see). The course will be 93° T. As you come in on this line you can see in front of you to the right the old harbor section with the big fences on it and to the left the new Northwest dock with the nice row of tires hanging on it where the local tenders and small trading ships tie up. At the very end of this NW section of dock (left) there is a section where the tires have been removed and the face board is smooth and there are sufficient bollards to tie to. Be cautious of the shoal that runs just of this NW section of the dock. There are two pilings that mark the edge of the shoal. Use the range markers to run to a position just off the new section of the harbor (WP: 12° 28.855' N 070° 00.014' W). Turn left and pass between the pilings and the dock, keeping the pilings to port as you run parallel to the dock to the no tire section of the dock where you can tie up. At low tide depths will be running at 7 ft up to the last piling where there is a short section of 6 ft depth. Vessels needing more then 6 ft will have to check the tide tables, tie up before the second piling, or proceed to Oranjestad.
The captain can take the ships papers to the immigration office at the sea side of the road entry to the harbor. Across the road is the Customs office.
We recommend any vessel above 80 ft LOA or more then 7 ft draft to make use of the Oranjestad harbor for clearance as the mooring maneuvers will be easier.
For more information check the Aruba Ports website.
Entering And Clearance In Oranjestad Harbor
About 10 minutes away from the entry buoy of Oranjestad harbor contact Aruba Port Control on channel 16 to ask for permission to enter the harbor. The port captain will direct you to one of the main harbor docks for clearance of Immigration and Customs at their commercial docks.
If you are under crewed and need assistance to tie up the vessel in Oranjestad harbor ask the port captain. Alternately: between 8.00 and 16.00 for clients of the marina we can send someone over to the Oranjestad harbor docks to take a line from you. Call us on channel 16.
Aruba Port Control will notify the Immigration office to send an officer to your boat. If Customs hasn't shown up by the time Immigration is finished you can walk over to their office at the road entry of the harbor across from the Security booth.
Once finished clearing, you can leave the harbor to go to the marina or an anchorage. Please call Aruba Port Control anytime you move your vessel within Oranjestad harbor, they don't want yachts in the way when maneuvering with large ships.
For more information check the Aruba Ports website.
To Find The Renaissance Marina
Once you have finished clearing call the Renaissance Marina on channel 16 so that we can direct you to your slip and assist you with mooring. Office hours are 8.00 to 18.00 except on Sundays and Holidays. Assistance outside of office hours is by appointment.
The marina is located inside of Oranjestad harbor channel just east of the Cruise ship dock. You will see a large concrete mooring bollard in the entry to the Marina basin. Keep this to your port when entering. Inside the basin there will be two white buoys, one will have a "No Wake" sign on it (These buoys mark the 10 ft line, SE is deeper NW is shallower). Keep these buoys to port.