Personal accounts: Aruba

Updated 5 October 2026

An honest assessment before work starts, the quote is fixed in writing.

Aruba is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands off the coast of Venezuela. Its currency, the Aruban florin, has been pegged to the US dollar at Afl. 1.79 since 1986. The Centrale Bank van Aruba is the sole supervisor of the financial sector: it regulates banks, insurers, pension funds, money transfer companies and trust service providers. Aruba applies foreign exchange rules, and your resident or non-resident status decides which account you can open.

Resident and non-resident accounts

• Non-residents may, under central bank rules, open a foreign currency account at a local commercial bank, funded only with foreign currency.
• Residents - islanders and local companies - open florin accounts with the full range of services.

Resident status is determined under the State Ordinance on Foreign Exchange Transactions, so we confirm your category before applying.

Taxes

Corporate profit tax in Aruba is 22%. Residents pay progressive income tax, while non-residents pay only on Aruban-source income.

What the bank checks

• the client's identity, address and tax residence;
• resident or non-resident status;
• the source of funds and purpose of the account;
• for a company, registration, owners and activity.

Documents

• passport and a second ID;
• proof of address and status: for a non-resident an address abroad, for a resident registration in Aruba;
• a reference letter from your bank;
• proof of income and source of funds.

Foreign exchange control in practice

The central bank maintains the fixed florin rate to the US dollar, and transfers between residents and non-residents follow the foreign exchange rules. So the bank asks about the purpose of large payments and may request supporting documents. For a non-resident a US dollar account is more convenient: it is funded from abroad, and spending on the island is paid by card.

Timing

The bank decides after checking identity, status and source of funds. With a full file and a reference letter the process is faster, while for a non-resident with no link to the island the bank may ask for more explanation of the account's purpose.

Why applications are refused

• no link to Aruba and no clear purpose;
• an unverified source of funds;
• payments that breach foreign exchange rules;
• links to sanctioned countries.

What we do

We establish your status, choose a bank, prepare documents and a source-of-funds explanation, and handle the application until the decision. A manager will calculate the cost in the chat.

A personal account in Aruba

A non-resident can open a personal foreign currency account, such as in US dollars, with a clear purpose: property on the island, regular visits, income in Aruba. Residents, including remote workers under the remote work programme, open a florin account after registering their address. The bank will ask for a passport, proof of address, a reference letter and income documents.

Documents for a personal account

• passport and second ID;
• proof of address in Aruba or abroad;
• a reference letter from your bank;
• proof of income and source of funds.

How a personal account is opened

1. Status. We establish whether you are resident or non-resident.
2. Currency. We choose a florin or foreign currency account.
3. Documents. We prepare your passport, address and income details.
4. Opening. The bank opens the account and issues a card.

What we do

• Personal account - opening assistance

See also

Business account · Investment property · All country programs

FAQ