Americans Need Digital Entry Permits To Visit 5 Of The Caribbean’s Most Beautiful Islands

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It’s getting colder, and my itch for the Caribbean officially needs to be scratched! But the era of grabbing your passport and popping down to any Caribbean island without a care in the world is coming to an end.

Across the Caribbean, traditional paper customs forms handed out by flight attendants are quickly being phased out. They are being replaced by mandatory digital entry permits, e-tickets, and digital immigration cards that must be completed before you even arrive at the airport. If you show up to the check-in counter without these digital QR codes on your phone, you’ll likely be denied boarding.

If you’re planning to escape the cold this winter, here are 5 of the most beautiful Caribbean islands that now require Americans to secure a digital entry permit before takeoff.

1. Aruba (Aruba ED Card)

Aruba is famous for its stunning beaches, constant sunshine, and being located safely outside the hurricane belt. It’s one of the most reliable winter escapes in the Caribbean, with a high-end restaurant scene and world-class resorts. However, in an effort to streamline the arrival process at Queen Beatrix International Airport and fund local eco-initiatives, the island has completely overhauled its entry requirements, meaning you can no longer just show up with a passport and a smile.

• The Permit: All foreign visitors must complete the online Aruba Embarkation/Disembarkation (ED) Card.
• The Catch: As of late 2024, Aruba introduced a mandatory $20 USD Sustainability Contribution fee, which is collected directly during the ED Card application process.
• The Logistics: You can only complete the form between one and seven days before your departure.

Tip From The Editor (me): Watch out for third-party scam websites that try to charge you $60 to “process” this form for you. The official site is edcardaruba.aw, and it only takes five minutes to complete. Also, you only have to pay the $20 fee once per calendar year, so save your confirmation number if you plan to return.

2. Antigua and Barbuda (ArriveAntigua)

This twin-island nation is legendary for boasting exactly 365 beaches—one for every day of the year. It’s a premier destination for sailing, barefoot luxury, and finding your own isolated stretch of pink and white sand. To handle the influx of winter travelers without creating hours-long bottlenecks at the V.C. Bird International Airport, the government has entirely digitized their customs and immigration processing.

• The Permit: The ArriveAntigua Electronic arrival system.
• The Catch: You have to take a live selfie during the application process so that immigration can automatically compare it to your passport photo to approve your entry.
• The Logistics: Because of the photo requirement, it must be completed on a smartphone or tablet equipped with a camera.

Tip From The Editor (me): Don’t try to add your friends or unmarried partners to your own form to save time. The system only allows you to add a spouse or dependent children under 18; everyone else must submit their own individual form.

3. Dominican Republic (E-Ticket)

I spend a ton of time in the Dominican Republic covering tourism updates, and the country is currently seeing an explosion in visitor numbers. Whether you’re heading to the established mega-resorts in Punta Cana, exploring the brand-new luxury builds in Miches, or visiting the northern coast of Puerto Plata, you are going to encounter a highly modernized entry system. The days of filling out blue customs papers on the tray table are over; this digital form is a non-negotiable for entry.

• The Permit: The Dominican Republic E-Ticket (Ticket Electrónico).
• The Catch: You have to fill this out twice. It’s required once for your entry flight, and you have to generate a completely separate QR code for your departure flight back to the U.S..
• The Logistics: It replaces the old International Boarding Card, Customs Declaration, and Health Affidavit, combining them all into one mandatory digital portal.

Tip From The Editor (me): Take a screenshot of the QR code right after the website generates it. The cell service inside the arrivals hall at Punta Cana (PUJ) can be spotty, and customs officers will ask to scan it before they let you through.

4. The Bahamas (Bahamas Digital Arrival Card)

The Bahamas is arguably the most accessible island chain for Americans. Because it’ss just a quick hop off the coast of Florida, it’s a popular destination for long-weekend trips. To make those quick getaways even smoother and cut down the notoriously long weekend customs lines in Nassau, the Bahamian government is actively rolling out a new digital system to replace the old physical arrival cards.

• The Permit: The Bahamas Digital Arrival Card (BDAC).
• The Catch: This system just launched its pilot phase in 2026, meaning it combines both your immigration and customs declarations into one single online submission before you arrive.
• The Logistics: Because it is currently in a soft launch, it’s only available on select participating flights. If your flight is eligible, use it to skip the traditional paper forms entirely.

5. Curacao (DI Card)

When I was scuba diving the shallow reefs off the coast of Curacao, the dramatic underwater topography and water clarity completely blew me away. Beyond the beaches, the capital of Willemstad is a vibrant, highly walkable city filled with colorful Dutch colonial architecture. It’s a stunning and culturally rich destination, but the local authorities have eliminated physical arrival forms to modernize their borders. To experience this deep southern Caribbean gem, you have to lock in your digital paperwork before you even check your bags.

• The Permit: The Curacao Digital Immigration Card (DI Card).
• The Catch: The traditional physical embarkation cards that flight attendants used to hand out on the plane are officially gone. The entire process has moved online.
• The Logistics: You must complete the form at dicardcuracao.com before your trip and have the downloadable PDF or confirmation email ready to present digitally or physically upon arrival.

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