🇨🇭 Curaçao ED Card for Swiss Citizens

Planning a trip from Switzerland to Curaçao is refreshingly straightforward. Swiss passport holders can enter without a visa, so there's no embassy visit and no lengthy application to worry about. But there's one document you can't skip: the Curaçao Digital Immigration Card.

The rules aren't complicated, yet two small details trip up a surprising number of travelers-when you fill out the form and how accurately you complete it. Get those right, and your arrival at Curaçao International Airport should be smooth. Get them wrong, and you risk delays at the gate or the immigration desk.

This guide focuses on exactly that: the right timing, the details you need on hand, and what officers may ask to see when you land. It's written for Swiss travelers who want a clear, reliable checklist rather than vague reassurances.

What is the Curaçao ED Card, and do Swiss citizens really need it?

The official name is the Curaçao Digital Immigration Card. You'll also see it called the DI Card or the ED Card, a legacy name from the old paper Embarkation-Disembarkation form that flights used to hand out. Curaçao abolished that paper version on October 1, 2019, and switched fully to the digital process.

Here's the key point: the ED Card is not a visa. It's a separate entry declaration required for all non-resident visitors, issued by the Curaçao Immigration and Customs Service. Swiss citizens fall into the visa-free category, which means the ED Card is the only entry form you need to prepare before you travel.

So the answer is yes. Regardless of your nationality, age, or reason for visiting, every non-resident arriving in Curaçao must have their own ED Card. That includes children and infants-a family of four needs four separate forms.

When should Swiss travelers complete the Curaçao ED Card?

Timing is where careful planning pays off. The submission window opens up to 7 days before departure, and the form takes only about 5 to 10 minutes to complete. But earlier isn't always better.

The recommended time to submit is 24 to 48 hours before departure, once you've confirmed your flight. Why wait? Because the form asks for your flight number, airline, and arrival date. If you fill it out weeks ahead and your schedule shifts, the details won't match your actual travel-and mismatched information can cause problems on arrival.

A simple rule of thumb for Swiss travelers:

• Confirm your final itinerary first (flight number, arrival date, accommodation).
• Then submit the ED Card in the 24–48 hour window before you leave.
• Save the PDF immediately so it's ready before you head to the airport.

If your flight is delayed by up to one day, your ED Card generally remains valid, so a short disruption won't force you to redo the form.

Is the Curaçao ED Card free, and where do I complete it?

Yes-the Curaçao ED Card is completely free. The only official portal is dicardcuracao.com, run in connection with the Curaçao Immigration and Customs Service.

This matters more than it might seem. Many unofficial websites copy the process and charge a fee for a form that costs nothing. If you're being asked to pay, you're on the wrong site. A Swiss traveler booking through an unfamiliar third-party page could easily hand over money for free government paperwork-so always confirm you're on the official domain before entering any personal details.

To complete the form online, have these ready:

• Passport details - number, country of issue, and expiry date
• Travel details - flight number, airline, and arrival date
• Accommodation details - full hotel name and address, or your host's name, address, and phone number
• A valid email address - this is where your PDF confirmation lands

No document uploads are required to fill out the form. You'll present physical documents on arrival, not before.

How do I fill out the form accurately?

Accuracy is the second detail that catches travelers out. The most common mistake is entering a nickname or shortened name. Your name must match your passport exactly-no informal versions.

A few points worth double-checking before you submit:

• Passport number - read it character by character, since a single wrong digit can flag your form.
• Flight number - only enter it once your flight is confirmed.
• Accommodation address - provide the full hotel name and street address, not just the city.
• Individual forms - never file one card for the whole family; each person, including infants, needs their own.

Once you submit, the system emails a PDF confirmation immediately. Print it or save it to your phone. Some airlines check the ED Card at the departure gate before boarding, so don't leave Switzerland without it.

What should Swiss travelers show on arrival in Curaçao?

All commercial international flights land at Curaçao International Airport (Hato Airport) near Willemstad-the island's only international airport. Your ED Card PDF is the starting point, but immigration officers may ask for more.

Have the following ready when you land:

• Your valid passport - the same one used to complete the ED Card
• The ED Card PDF - printed or on your phone
• Proof of onward or return travel - a return or onward ticket
• Proof of accommodation - your hotel booking or host details
• Proof of sufficient funds - roughly USD 50 per day if staying in a hotel
• Travel or medical insurance - not mandatory, but strongly recommended

Swiss citizens don't need a visa, so you won't be asked for one. As an EU-equivalent visa-free traveler, you can generally stay up to 90 days per visit. Keep in mind that the ED Card itself doesn't determine your permitted stay-that's decided by your nationality and the immigration officer at the desk.

Can I update the ED Card if my plans change?

Yes. If you're a returning visitor, the portal lets you retrieve your stored data and update only the travel details for your new trip, rather than re-entering everything from scratch. For a single trip where plans shift before you've submitted, simply complete the form once your details are final.

This is exactly why the 24–48 hour timing works so well. Wait until your itinerary is locked in, and you avoid the hassle of correcting a form you filed too early.

A quick checklist before you submit

Before you press submit, run through this short list:

1. Flight number and arrival date confirmed
2. Accommodation address in hand
3. Passport open in front of you for exact name and number
4. A separate form for every traveler, including children
5. You're on dicardcuracao.com-not a paid lookalike site

Once each of these checks out, you're ready. Complete your Curaçao ED Card in the 24–48 hour window before departure, save the PDF, and you'll arrive with one less thing to think about.

Frequently asked questions

Emma de Jong

Immigration & Travel Documentation Researcher

Immigration and travel documentation researcher specializing in DI Card eligibility, Curaçao entry regulations, and nationality-specific requirements.