Welcome to the Aruba Guide!
Aruba is a small Caribbean island in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, with about 110,000 residents and about 1.5 million stay-over visitors in 2025. It suits senior or specialist hotel staff whose employer will sponsor a permit. Line jobs are hard to get from abroad and rent is high.
Who hires
Aruba has about 6,800 hotel rooms and 3,400 timeshare units (2026). The hotel association has 35 member hotels, among them large international chains. Most large hotels are at Palm Beach, north-west of Oranjestad, with more at Eagle Beach. Casinos, tour companies, restaurants and shops also hire. The hospital has about 1,300 staff and works in Dutch.
When hiring happens
In 2025 the busiest months were December, March and July, and the quietest September and October. September had about two thirds of December's visitors.
Where you live and what it costs
Staff housing is not usual. Crowd-reported prices (October 2026) put a one-bedroom flat at about AWG 1,700 to 2,050 a month (about USD 950 to 1,150), before electricity and water. The same reports put a cheap restaurant meal at about AWG 33 to 40 (about USD 18 to 22). The minimum wage is AWG 11.58 an hour in 2026 (about USD 6.50). That is about AWG 2,000 a month (about USD 1,120) before deductions for a 40-hour week. A bus ride costs AWG 4.50 (about USD 2.60).
Daily life
Papiamento and Dutch are the official languages. Most Arubans also speak English and Spanish. Three in four visitors are North American, so English matters most with guests. You must carry identification. Drug penalties are severe. Permit holders registered as residents join the public health insurance (AZV). Until then you need your own insurance. On days off people snorkel, kitesurf and go to the beach or Arikok park.
Getting there and around
The only airport is Queen Beatrix International, at Oranjestad. Most flights come from the United States, others from Toronto, Bogota, Panama City and Amsterdam. No direct flights come from Asia or Africa. Check visa rules for Aruba itself and for each stop on the way. Buses link Oranjestad, the hotel area and San Nicolas, but not every area or hour. Taxis have no meters, so agree the fare first.
What to watch for
- Local applicants come first: the hotel association's job centre takes CVs only from people who need no work permit.
- Housing is scarce: about 11% of homes were holiday rentals in 2023. Ask in writing about any housing allowance.
- Employers divide the service charge in different ways. Ask how before you sign.
- Read your own government's travel advice for Aruba before you travel.
Never pay anyone for a job offer or a visa.
Before you apply
Below this guide, "Can I work in Aruba?" gives the answer for your passport, and "What the job usually comes with" covers housing, meals, flights and leave.
Can I work in Aruba?
Never pay anyone for a visa or a job offer. A real employer pays the permit costs and never asks you for money.
How it works
How it works: Labour test, then a residence and work permit; Dutch citizens are preferred.
Official source: Government of Aruba: work and residence permit. Checked November 2026.
What the job usually comes with in Aruba
Usual for Aruba, varies by employer. Checked November 2026.
| Housing | Usually not |
|---|---|
| Meals | Duty meals at larger hotels |
| Flights | Varies |
| Service charge | 11% to 15%, pooled |
| Contract | 12-month permits, renewed |
| Leave | 15 days |
| Income tax | 0% to 52%, plus about 7.6% social |
Senior staff often get more than line staff, for example a single room or a yearly home flight. Ask the employer what the job includes before you accept.
Guidance, not legal advice. Rules change; your employer confirms the details for your case.