Traveling to Curaçao: Entry Requirements, DI Card, Currency and Practical Info
Booked your flights to Curaçao? Before you pack, here’s all the practical info you need: documents, entry requirements, money, driving, electricity… A simple checklist so you arrive stress-free.
Rules can change: always check the official information before you travel.
Documents: passport and visa
- Curaçao is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, but it is not part of the Schengen Area.
- Travelers from the US, Canada, the UK and the EU generally don’t need a visa for a tourist stay, usually for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. Check the rules for your own nationality.
- Your passport must be valid for the entire length of your stay (some airlines require an extra margin).
- You may be asked to show a return ticket, proof of accommodation and proof of sufficient funds.
The DI Card: mandatory before you fly
🛂 Fill it in online before boarding
All travelers arriving by air must complete the Digital Immigration Card (DI Card) before departure: passport details, flight and accommodation address. It's free on the official website (dicardcuracao.com). Beware of third-party sites that charge a fee for it.
Money: Caribbean guilder, US dollars and cards
- Since March 31, 2025, the official currency has been the Caribbean guilder (XCG), which replaced the Netherlands Antillean guilder (ANG).
- It’s pegged to the US dollar: 1 USD = 1.79 XCG.
- US dollars are accepted almost everywhere (taxis, tours, restaurants), but you’ll often get your change in guilders, sometimes at a slightly less favorable rate.
- Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted, and so is contactless payment.
- ATMs dispense guilders or dollars; fees may apply from both the local bank and your own bank.
- Keep some cash on hand for beach entrance fees, snacks and tips.
Getting around: a car is almost essential
- Traffic drives on the right.
- There is public transport, but it’s not very practical for sightseeing: renting a car is the easiest way to reach the west coast beaches.
- Right of way, roundabouts, honking: read the guide to driving in Curaçao by The Little Green Boat before you get behind the wheel.
- Leave nothing visible in your car when parked near the beaches.
- No car? Private tours take care of the whole day for you.
Other useful info
🗣️ Languages: Papiamentu (the local language), Dutch, English and Spanish. You’ll get by perfectly well in English.
🕐 Time zone: Curaçao is on UTC-4 all year round, with no daylight saving time – the same as New York in summer, and 4 to 5 hours behind London.
🔌 Electricity: US-style plugs (types A/B) and a voltage of around 127 V. North American travelers won’t need an adapter; others should bring one and check their chargers accept this voltage (most phone and laptop chargers do).
🚰 Tap water: it comes from desalinated seawater and is considered safe to drink.
🚑 Emergencies: dial 911.
✈️ Getting there: there are direct flights from Amsterdam as well as from several US hubs such as Miami, which makes it easy to connect from almost anywhere.
Our pre-trip checklist
- ✅ Valid passport
- ✅ DI Card completed on the official website
- ✅ Travel insurance
- ✅ Driver’s license and credit card for your rental car
- ✅ Plug adapter (if needed)
- ✅ Reef-safe sunscreen, mask and snorkel
- ✅ Tours booked ahead for peak periods
👉 Also worth reading: when to go to Curaçao and where to stay in Curaçao.