US Preclearance at Aruba Airport
Aruba is one of the few places outside North America with US Preclearance. You go through US immigration and customs in Aruba, so you arrive in the United States like a domestic passenger.
What is US Preclearance?
Officers of US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) work at Aruba's airport. They carry out the same immigration, customs and agriculture checks that would otherwise take place when you land in the United States. After landing in the US you simply walk out of the terminal or continue to your connecting flight, without waiting in immigration lines.
Arrive 3 hours before departure
Because you pass through check-in, security and US Preclearance, airlines and the airport advise arriving 3 hours before your flight to the US. You cannot enter the US check-in hall earlier than that.
The process
- Check in and drop your bags in the US check-in hall.
- Go through security screening.
- Pass US passport control and customs. CBP increasingly uses facial recognition, so keep your passport ready but be prepared to have your photo taken.
- Continue to the US departure gates.
Customs allowances for US residents
- US residents returning from Aruba can bring back goods worth up to $800 duty-free for personal use or as gifts.
- Declare everything you bought abroad. Fresh fruit, plants and many meat products are not allowed into the US.
- Check the latest rules on cbp.gov.
Tips
- Travelling with Global Entry or Mobile Passport Control? Check with CBP which programmes are available at the Aruba preclearance facility.
- Keep liquids from duty-free shops sealed in their tamper-evident bag if you have a connecting flight.
- Once through preclearance you cannot go back to the check-in area, so buy souvenirs and have lunch before or after security as planned.
Last updated: September 2026. Information can change at short notice – always check with your airline and the official airport website.