It’s one of the worst parts of any vacation, particularly in the Caribbean: immigration. Long lines, endless forms, infinite hassle. 

But the Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba, which has long been ahead of the rest of the region in making the arrival experience easier (including innovating the first digital entry card), is doing it again. 

Aruba will soon be installing new automatic border control gates at Queen Beatrix International Airport with a very special amenity. 

The island is launching a new travel credential called the “Happy One Pass,” which lets visitors hold their travel data on their personal mobile devices and share it directly with immigration officials to create a “hassle-free travel experience, centered around privacy.”

That means travelers can complete pre-boarding verification and cross checkpoints without having to show their physical passport. 

The program will be launching for all travelers coming to Aruba in March 2024. 

So how does it work? 

Travelers can convert their physical passport into “verifiable digital credentials” on their phones; through biometric checks at immigration, they will be matched to their passport images via facial recognition. 

“The latest achievements for Aruba Happy One Pass signify our steady progress in transforming the traveler experience – ensuring our guests start their vacations sooner,” said Ronella Croes, CEO of Aruba Tourism Authority. “Aruba is proud to continue building upon its innovative approach within the tourism industry, providing an exceptional travel experience for its visitors. We continue to look forward to the full implementation of the Aruba Happy One pass program.”

Let’s hope the rest of the Caribbean starts to catch up.

For more, visit Aruba HOP.