The Censo Aruba online appointment demand is currently limiting the flexibility of the Civil Registry Office to assist walk-in visitors, particularly elderly residents who arrive without a scheduled appointment.
According to Sharin Luydens, Director of the Censo and Civil Registry Office of Aruba, the department is experiencing an extremely busy period due to a high number of service requests related to various administrative products, especially registrations and official documents.
Growing Demand for Passports and Licenses
The Censo Aruba online appointment demand has increased significantly due to structural changes introduced over the past decade. In 2014, the validity period of passports was extended from five to ten years. As a result, every ten years there is now a large surge in passport renewal requests.
Luydens urged citizens to regularly check the expiration date of their passports and schedule appointments well in advance. In 2024 alone, Censo issued more than 12,000 passports.
In addition, since November 2020, the office has also taken over responsibility for issuing driver’s licenses, a task that was previously handled by the police. At the time, there was already a backlog of applications.
Today, the Censo Aruba online appointment demand has grown even further as the office processes increasing numbers of license requests. In 2024, approximately 14,000 driver’s licenses were issued.
High Volume of Services
Overall, the office handled 216,446 service products in 2024, not including several additional services that are not officially counted because they do not generate revenue.
One example is interviews related to marriages of convenience investigations, which require considerable staff time but are not reflected in official statistics.
Limited Staff Capacity
The Censo Aruba online appointment demand places significant pressure on the office’s small team. Currently, the Civil Registry Office has only 24 employees responsible for serving the entire public demand.
Because most services now require an online appointment, it has become more difficult for staff to accommodate people who arrive without a scheduled visit.
This situation particularly affects elderly residents, who may struggle to book appointments online or who prefer to visit the office directly.
Appeal to Families for Assistance
Luydens encouraged family members and acquaintances to help elderly residents schedule their appointments online in advance so they can avoid waiting at the office during busy periods.
The office also offers a special service for seniors who cannot travel. In such cases, family members can arrange and pay for the service at the office, after which Censo staff can visit the senior’s home to complete the necessary documentation process.
Commitment to Quality Service
Despite the challenges caused by the Censo Aruba online appointment demand, Luydens emphasized that the office remains committed to providing quality public service.
“For many years Censo has been dedicated to delivering high-quality service. This commitment truly comes from the heart,” she said.
However, she also acknowledged that the current service capacity cannot fully keep up with the exceptionally high demand the office is experiencing.
