WILLEMSTAD – Travelers arriving at or departing from Curaçao International Airport will pay a slightly higher fee for automated passenger data processing and border control starting January 1, 2027. The government has approved an increase in the Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS) fee from US$2.79 to US$2.83 per passenger.
The adjustment represents an increase of four US cents, or approximately 1.4 percent, and is based on inflation figures calculated by Curaçao's Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS).
The new rate has been established through a ministerial regulation issued by the Ministry of Traffic, Transport and Spatial Planning (VVRP), following a recommendation from the Minister of Justice.
According to the regulation, the increase corresponds to the average inflation recorded between September 2025 and August 2026.
The APIS fee is reviewed and established annually under existing legislation, which provides for a one-year tariff period. The adjustment therefore does not represent the introduction of a new airport tax but rather an annual revision of an existing charge.
The fee helps finance the systems and infrastructure used to process passenger information and facilitate automated immigration procedures at Curaçao International Airport, commonly known as Hato Airport.
A significant portion of the revenue is used to purchase and maintain automated border control gates, also known as e-gates.
These systems allow eligible travelers with compatible travel documents to complete much of the passport control process independently, reducing the need for manual processing by immigration officers.
The technology is intended to improve efficiency at border checkpoints, reduce waiting times, and support the airport's ability to handle increasing passenger volumes.
In addition to the e-gates themselves, APIS revenue contributes to the purchase and maintenance of supporting equipment, operational expenses, and necessary upgrades to the software and control systems used in automated border processing.
Curaçao has invested in automated immigration technology for several years as part of efforts to modernize airport operations.
In 2024, existing e-gates at Hato Airport were replaced and upgraded to improve their performance and reliability.
Further investment in automated border control is also being considered as part of the planned expansion of the airport's departure terminal, where additional e-gates are expected to be incorporated into the infrastructure.
The expansion of automated processing facilities is intended to accommodate future passenger demand while maintaining efficient immigration procedures.
For individual travelers, the financial impact of the new tariff will be limited to an additional four US cents per passenger.
Nevertheless, the annual adjustment forms part of the broader system through which airport-related services and infrastructure are financed.
The revised APIS fee of US$2.83 per passenger will take effect on January 1, 2027, and will apply during the new annual tariff period.