Aruba Digital Nomad Visa Guide
Visa Name: One Happy Workation
Launch Year: 2020
Max Stay: 3 months (continuous stay allowed; extension possible to 180 days)
Summary for HR & Compliance Teams
Aruba’s One Happy Workation programme offers U.S. nationals the ability to work remotely from the island for up to 90 days with potential extensions up to 180 days. There is no local income tax, as nomads are not considered tax residents during their stay. Employment with local companies or clients is not permitted, making this visa low risk for corporate tax or PE exposure. Application is straightforward—booking a qualifying accommodation and selecting “One Happy Workation” as your purpose on the entry form is sufficient.
Key Compliance Considerations
| Factor | Detail |
|---|---|
| Can your employee work for a local company? | No. Remote work must be for non-Aruban companies. |
| Local income tax payable? | No. Foreign income is exempt |
| Corporate tax / PE risk? | Low. Only remote work under this visa is permitted. |
| Social security obligations? | None. Visa does not trigger local contributions. |
| Employment classification risk? | Low. Visas clearly distinguish participants from domestic workforce. |
| Permanent establishment (PE) trigger | Unlikely, if the role remains remote-only and non-client-facing in Aruba. |
Visa Details
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Eligibility | U.S. nationals with a valid passport |
| Minimum income requirement | At least US$5,000 per month (approximate guidance) |
| Visa cost | Free—no visa required for U.S. nationals; from July 2024, a US$20 entry fee applies to all air travelers (per year) |
| Max stay | 3 months (90 days); extensions up to 180 days possible via immigration approval |
| Processing time | Immediate upon entry (via ED card, online) |
| Application difficulty | Easy—no formal application required beyond entry documentation |
| Renewable? | Extensions available up to total of 180 days per year |
| Dependents allowed? | Yes (entry based on standard visitor provisions) |
| Work for local company? | No |
| Application link | Not required—entry managed via purpose selection on ED card |
| Gov info link | Visit Aruba – One Happy Workation |
Local Living Snapshot
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Time zone | GMT -4 |
| Cost of living | $$ (Moderate–High) |
| Wi‑Fi speed | ~97 Mbps average |
| Popular hubs | Oranjestad, Palm Beach, Eagle Beach, Noord |
| Lifestyle | Bright Caribbean beaches, expat-friendly, relaxed pace, full English-speaking environment |
Why Aruba Works for Employers
Low-risk compliance: No local income tax and no local employment permitted.
Quick setup: Fast entry via a simple ED card process.
Short-term flexibility: Suitable for brief work stints or pilot nomad programs.
High-quality infrastructure: Strong internet and tropical lifestyle appeal.
Risk Summary
Best suited for: Short-term remote assignments or tests of distributed work policy.
Caution: Limited to 90-day stays (extensions must be approved).
Recommendation: Ensure internal tracking of stay durations and documentation of purpose (ED card).
At a Glance: Aruba DNV Summary
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Visa in Place | Yes |
| Visa Name | One Happy Workation |
| Launch Year | 2020 |
| Max Stay | 3 months (up to 180 days with extension) |
| Visa Fee | None (US nationals); US$20 entry surcharge (2024) |
| Income Requirement | Approx. US$5,000/month |
| Tax on Foreign Income | No |
| Social Security | No |
| Work for Local Employer? | No |
| Processing Time | Immediate (on entry) |
| Application Type | Entry / ED card |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Eligible Roles | Freelancers, employees |
| Wi-Fi Speed | ~97 Mbps |
| Cost of Living | $$ |
| Residency Path | Not available |
| Last Reviewed | August 2025 |
Donal Brady is Co-Founder and Head of Product at Work From Anywhere, a platform to help companies execute a successful workation policy. He has deep expertise and experience in the world of remote work having spent nearly twenty years working in finance leadership roles with global multinationals like PwC, before entering the world of global mobility with International SOS and then pivoting into the software industry with Accel-KKR backed Smart Communications. He walks the walk with Work From Anywhere, speaking 5 languages, having travelled to 65+ countries and worked in 10.
