The Government of St. Maarten is continuously monitoring global developments to ensure the safety of our visitors and citizens. We advise to regularly check our updates pertaining to entry requirements and protocols before your travels.

Last Updated: February 17th 10:15 AM

Update in Travel Entry Requirements, All FDA approved antigen tests including those with Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) are accepted for US and Canadian passengers. Must be administered within 48 hours.

A MESSAGE TO OUR VISITORS

Since March, we’ve all been staying home, wearing masks, and social distancing for the safety of all our citizens, and our visitors. The time away has been a bitter moment for all of us, but The Friendly Island is proud to announce that we are welcoming back our international visitors to our beautiful shores. We kindly ask our visitors to read our safety protocol and travel requirements below before traveling to St. Maarten. See you soon!

TRAVEL ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

To ensure the safety and well-being of visitors and residents, entry requirements will be in place for visitors to enter St. Maarten along with other safety measures at the Princess Juliana International Airport.

1.Due to the COVID-19 epidemic Sint Maarten has established a mandatory health authorization application through an Electronic Health Authorization System (EHAS) for every visitor arriving by air including transits, Sint Maarten and Sint Martin residents. Without the health pre-authorization boarding will not be possible. Be advised that processing time can take up to 12 hours. Visitors arriving on a vessel please read the latest requirements on www.yachtingstmaarten.com

2.The requirements vary depending on the country risk status which can be found at www.stmaartenentry.com. Children must have the online health form filled out by their parents.

3. The application must be completed in order to be processed. This includes the purchase of the mandatory COVID-19 insurance and a negative COVID-19 test result in case they are required.

5. If you are suffering from flu like symptoms and/or fever travel will be denied by the airline and by the EHAS.

6. As of January 27, 2021, until further notice, a travel ban is in place for persons who have been the 14 days before departing to Sint Maarten in a banned country as mentioned in the “banned countries” table on www.stmaartenentry.com.

7. Sint Maarten/Sint Martin/Saba/St. Eustatius residents are exempted from the travel ban and should get a rt-PCR test before departure. If not, a rt-PCR test will be performed upon arrival for a fee of $125.00. The EHAS application must be completed.

8. All incoming passengers are subjected to temperature checks and other screening protocols and may be subjected to mandatory testing at their own expense. Failure to comply with the screening at the Health Check Point upon arrival will result in you not being cleared to enter St. Maarten and sent back to your originating country.

9. If re-tested upon arrival you will be required to self-isolate or self-quarantine at your place of lodging/residence until the test results are known.

10. Provide a working email address on which you are reachable.

11. Monitor your health on a daily basis during your stay.

12. Applicants will receive confirmation of their accepted application. Non-completed applications will be automatically deleted within a day after the provided travel date.

13. If health authorization is pre-approved, you will receive a (printable) pre-authorization via e-mail, which must be presented to the health and immigration authorities upon arrival. The original rt-PCR or antigen test result should be presented to the health authorities upon request. Please check your spam/junk mail folder as well in case you haven’t received a response.

14. If health authorization is not pre-approved, you will receive an e-mail informing you that health pre-authorization has been denied.

MANDATORY INSURANCE

1.The government of Sint Maarten has implemented a mandatory COVID-19 insurance for all travelers with destination Sint Maarten with the exception of Sint Maarten residents, transit passengers, flight crews, transiting cruise ship crew, BES-ZVK medical referrals, and AUC faculty and students.

2. The insurance purchasing process is an integrated step in the EHAS application. Travelers requiring the COVID-19 insurance must complete this process upon application.

3. For more information on and all questions related to the COVID-19 insurance please visit www.sxmprotectionplan.com or contact customer support at info@sxmprotectionplan.com.

COVID-19 TEST REQUIREMENTS

1.A rt-PCR test for the SARS-COV-2 virus obtained from a naso-pharyngeal swab performed within 72 hours prior to departure to Sint Maarten (last leg in case of connecting flights) is required for all travelers originating from a country that is categorized as high risk. Antibody tests and tests performed outside of the 72 hours period will not be accepted. Results from home covid-19 collection test kits will also not be accepted. Airlines might require you to show a negative lab test result. For travelers from the USA, US territories and Canada the time frame remains 120 hrs. prior to departure. This will remain in effect as long as the national health authorities of the USA and Canada do not require differently for their traveling citizens.

2. Alternatively, travelers originating from the USA and Canada can do an antigen test for the SARS-COV-2 virus obtained from a naso-pharyngeal swab performed within 48 hours prior to departure to Sint Maarten. All FDA approved antigen tests including those with Emergency Use Authorization only (EUA) are accepted. Tests performed outside of the 48 hours period and home tests will not be accepted.

3. Travelers residing in and/or traveling from a low-risk country are exempted from the mandatory rt-PCR or antigen test.

4. Travelers who reside in a low-risk country but have visited a high-risk country in the 14 days prior to departing to Sint Maarten, must also have a rt-PCR or antigen test for the SARS-COV-2 virus performed within 72 respectively 48 hours prior to departure to Sint Maarten (last leg in case of connecting flights).

5.The original test result to be uploaded as part of EHAS application procedure must clearly specify the name of the laboratory or clinic, full name of test subject, type of test administered, name of antigen test, swab date, source of the swab, result date and a negative result.

6. Incomplete results, hand written or e-mail statements from doctors will not be accepted.

7. Children under the age of 10 are exempted from the mandatory rt-PCR or antigen test.

8. Airline and private flight crews with stopovers in St. Maarten or St. Martin must demonstrate a valid negative rt-PCR or antigen test upon arrival. Crew members not in possession of a valid negative rt-PCR or antigen test must self-quarantine until their departure flight.

Thank you for choosing St. Maarten as your preferred vacation destination!

Click for Full List of all Travel Entry Requirements and EHAS Form

Disclaimer: Protocols are subject to change based on advice from the Ministry of Public Health

ST. MAARTEN VISITOR PROTECTION PLAN

Click for Full List of all Travel Entry Requirements and EHAS Form

While on Island

• Get to know the guidelines and protocols of your lodging facility and activity providers, and adhere to these guidelines and protocols
• Wear masks when social distancing is not possible, during your stay on island and avoid touching mouth, eyes, nose
• Sanitize and wash hands frequently
• Avoid touching surfaces as much as possible
• We recommend to vacation safe and adhere to the guidelines while exploring our Friendly Island
• If feeling unwell, contact the hotel’s front desk/ hotel's COVID-19 task force team immediately or contact the health department by dialing 914

TESTING ON ISLAND

Health Care Laboratory

Orange Grove Mall Unit 12
Tel: +1721-544-1036
Email: info@healthcarelab.sx
Website: www.sxmhealthlab.com

St. Maarten Laboratory Services

1G Hamster Drive
Tel: +1721-542-2518
Email: prescreening@sls.sx
Website: www.sls.sx

BioPôle Antilles

46 rue Manioc, Hope Estate
+590 (0) 590 77 69 77
Website: www.biopoleantilles.

Medwork

Puerta Del Sol Plaza, Simpson Bay
Email: girish@medcare.aw
Website: www.medcare.aw

More Information on Testing on Island

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

01. What are the travel entry requirements to enter St. Maarten?

1. Passengers and airline crew arriving from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, South Africa, Suriname, United Kingdom, Uruguay or Venezuela are not allowed to enter.
- This does not apply to residents of St. Maarten.

2. Passengers must complete a health declaration form at least 12 hours before departure obtained at www.stmaartenentry.com. They must also present a pre-approved e-mail authorization at time of check-in and upon arrival.

3. Residents of St. Maarten arriving from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, South Africa, Suriname, United Kingdom, Uruguay or Venezuela must have a medical certificate with a negative Coronavirus (COVID-19) RT - PCR test result issued at most 72 hours before departure of the last direct flight to St. Maarten.
- This does not apply to passengers younger than 10 years.

4. Residents of St. Maarten without a negative PCR test obtained from a Coronavirus (COVID-19) molecular SARS-CoV-2 test based on a nasal swab, issued at most 72 hours before departure of the last direct flight to St. Maarten or a negative Abbott-CGIA Panbio COVID19- Ag Rapid test, Abbott - BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag CARD, Becton Dickinson (CGIA BD Veritor COVID-19 test) or Roche/SD biosensor F test based on a nasal swab, issued at most 48 hours before departure of the last direct flight to St. Maarten are subject to a Coronavirus (COVID-19) PCR test upon arrival at their own expense.
This does not apply to:
- passengers younger than 10 years of age;
- residents of St. Maarten arriving from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, South Africa, Suriname, United Kingdom, Uruguay or Venezuela.

5. Passengers arriving from the USA must have a medical certificate with: - a negative Coronavirus (COVID-19) RT - PCR test result issued at most 120 hours before departure of the last direct flight to St. Maarten; or
- a negative Coronavirus (COVID-19) antigen test for the SARS-COV-2. The test must have been taken at most 48 hours before departure. Tests accepted are: FDA approved tests and Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) tests.
This does not apply to:
- passengers younger than 10 years of age;
- residents of St. Maarten.

6. Passengers arriving from Canada must have a medical certificate with:
- a negative Coronavirus (COVID-19) molecular SARS-CoV-2 test based on a nasal swab, issued at most 120 hours before departure of the last direct flight to St. Maarten; or
- a negative Abbott-CGIA Panbio COVID19- Ag Rapid test, Abbott - BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag CARD, Becton Dickinson (CGIA BD Veritor COVID-19 test) or Roche/SD biosensor F test based on a nasal swab, issued at most 48 hours before departure of the last direct flight to St. Maarten; or
- a negative Coronavirus (COVID-19) antigen test for the SARS-COV-2. The test must have been taken at most 48 hours before departure. Tests accepted are: FDA approved tests and tests with Emergency Use Authorization (EUA).
This does not apply to:
- passengers younger than 10 years of age;
- residents of St. Maarten.

7. Passengers arriving from Aruba or Dominican Rep. must have a medical certificate with a negative Coronavirus (COVID-19) RT - PCR test result issued at most 72 hours before departure of the last direct flight to St. Maarten.
This does not apply to:
- passengers younger than 10 years of age.

8. Passengers must have a medical certificate with:
- a negative Coronavirus (COVID-19) molecular SARS-CoV-2 test based on a nasal swab, issued at most 72 hours before departure of the last direct flight to St. Maarten; or
- a negative Abbott-CGIA Panbio COVID19- Ag Rapid test, Abbott - BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag CARD, Becton Dickinson (CGIA BD Veritor COVID-19 test) or Roche/SD biosensor F test based on a nasal swab, issued at most 48 hours before departure of the last direct flight to St. Maarten.
This does not apply to:
- passengers younger than 10 years of age;
- residents of St. Maarten;
- passengers arriving from Aruba, Canada, Dominican Rep. or USA;
- passengers arriving from low risk countries as listed on www.stmaartenentry.com.

9. Airline crew staying for a maximum of 24 hours and arriving without negative RT-PCR test for the SARS-COV-2 virus obtained from a naso-pharyngeal swab issued at most 72 hours prior to departure or a negative Abbott-CGIA Panbio COVID19- Ag Rapid test, Abbott - BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag CARD, Becton Dickinson (CGIA BD Veritor COVID-19 test) or Roche/SD biosensor F test based on a nasal swab, issued at most 48 hours before departure of the last direct flight to St. Maarten are subject to quarantine until their next flight. They must have completed a health declaration form at least 12 hours before departure at www.stmaartenentry.com. and must also present an approved e-mail authorization at time of check-in and upon arrival.

10. Passengers transiting through St. Maarten must:
- have completed a health declaration form at least 12 hours before departure at www.stmaartenentry.com. and must also present an approved e-mail authorization at check-in and upon arrival; or
- have a medical certificate with a negative Coronavirus (COVID-19) RT-PCR test result (Molecular SARS-CoV-2 test based on a naso-pharyngeal swab) issued at most 72 hours before departure of the last direct flight to St. Maarten; or
- have a medical certificate with a negative Coronavirus (COVID-19) Antigen test based on a nasal swab, issued at most 48 hours before departure of the last direct flight to St. Maarten. The Antigen test must be Abbott Panbio COVID-19, Becton Dickinson Veritor Plus or Roche/SD Biosensor F.

Iata Travel Centre Timatic

02. What are the requirements for transit passengers?

Transit passengers entering the airport terminal building are required to abide to the travel entry requirements as described above. Travelers coming from low risk countries are not required to take a COVID-19 test as long as they have not been in any of the high risk countries in the last 14 days prior to their travel to St. Maarten.

03. What type of COVID-19 tests are recognized upon entry?

Passengers can provide copy of a negative rt PCR COVID-19 Test administered by naso-pharyngeal swab issued at most 120 hours (5 days) before departure of the last direct flight to St. Maarten, or provide a copy of a negative rapid antigen test obtained from a naso-pharyngeal swab, issued at most 48 hours before departure of the last direct flight to St. Maarten.

As of February 12th, The PCR COVID-19 test has to be issued at most 72 hours (3 days) before departure of the last direct flight to St. Maarten. An exemption will be made for all passengers arriving from the US and Canada, in these cases the 120 hour timeframe will remain.

All FDA approved antigen tests including those with Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) are accepted.

Regardless of the type of test, all tests must be uploaded when filling out the Electronic Health Authorization System Form. The test result should clearly specify the name of the laboratory, test subject name, test date, type of test administered and how the test sample was obtained. Typed, written or e-mail statements from doctors or non-laboratories will not be accepted.

04. Are all visitors required to fill out the Electronic Health Authorization System Form?

Yes, all passengers are required to fill out the Electronic Health Authorization System Form.

05. Are all visitors required to have official documentation of a negative COVID-19 test?

Travelers coming from low risk countries are not required to take a COVID-19 test as long as they have not been in any of the high risk countries in the last 14 days prior to their travel to St. Maarten. Children under 10 years of age are exempted from the mandatory COVID-19 test. If you do not see your country listed in the low-risk country list, it is automatically regarded as a high-risk country, and you must therefore abide by all travel entry requirements for high-risk countries.

06. How far in advance do I need to take my COVID-19 test?

The rt PCR COVID-19 test has to be issued at most 120 hours (5 days) before departure of the last direct flight to St. Maarten. As of February 12th, The rt PCR COVID-19 test has to be issued at most 72 hours (3 days) before departure of the last direct flight to St. Maarten. An exemption will be made for all passengers arriving from the US and Canada, in these cases the 120 hour timeframe will remain. The Negative rapid Antigen test has to be issued issued at most 48 hours before departure of the last direct flight to St. Maarten.

07. Are all visitors required to apply for the Visitor Protection Plan?

As per January 11 2021 the government of Sint Maarten will be implementing a mandatory COVID-19 insurance for all travelers visiting Sint Maarten with the exception of residents, students of American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine St. Maarten campus, transit passengers, and flight crews.

For more information on and all questions related to the COVID-19 insurance please visit www.sxmprotectionplan.com or contact customer support.

08. How do I apply for the Visitor Protection Plan?

As per January 11 2021, the insurance purchasing process is an integrated step in the EHAS application.

For more information on and all questions related to the COVID-19 insurance please visit www.sxmprotectionplan.com or contact customer support.

09. How do I find a testing lab near me?

To find a testing lab near you that administers rt-PCR tests and Rapid Antigen tests obtained from a naso-pharyngeal swab, please check the following resource; Test For Travel

10. Where can I get tested in St. Maarten?

There are two laboratories offering COVID-19 testing on island.

St. Maarten Laboratory Services
1G Hamster Drive
Tel: +1721-542-2518
Email: prescreening@sls.sx

Health Care Laboratory
Orange Grove Mall Unit 12
Tel: +1721-544-1036
Email: info@healthcarelab.sx

11. How can I stay updated on the situation related to COVID-19 in St. Maarten?

We encourage visitors and residents alike to stay updated on the number of cases, essential business schedules, and local curfews, via the St. Maarten’s Government’s official page regarding COVID-19 and the Government of St. Maarten Facebook Page.

12. Is St. Maarten open to marine vessels?

St. Maarten is now open to yachts, cruisers and private vessels. A local registered agent is required for all vessels. Please contact a local agent for more information on the protocol and to arrange your arrival. For more information you can go to the official website of The St. Maarten Marine Trade Association. If you are arriving from outside of one of the Approved countries listed then a 14 day quarantine may be required as well as a COVID-19 PCR test taken and result received within 120 hours prior to departure. As of February 12th, The PCR COVID-19 test has to be issued at most 72 hours (3 days) before departure of the last direct flight to St. Maarten.

13. What are the requirements for private planes to land at SXM Airport

Private planes are able to land, upon request and approval of said request, and have submitted all necessary documents and have adhered to the travel and health requirements as stated.

14. How can I stay updated on the situation related to COVID-19 in St. Martin, the French Side?

Visitors can stay updated on matters concerning COVID-19 on the French Side via the St. Martin Tourism Website

15. If arrive on the Dutch Side, can I stay on the French Side?

Yes you are able to stay on the French side.

16. What should I do if i suspect I have COVID-19 while on-island?

If you are feeling unwell and suspect that you may have COVID-19, please contact your Front Desk or one of the COVID-19 task force members of your property you are staying at, or dial the hotline 914. We recommend you familiarize yourself with the property's guidelines before or upon arrival.

17. Do St. Maarten/St. Martin residents have to test before traveling to the island?

Travelers residing on St. Maarten are exempted from having the mandatory RT-PCR test. However, must test upon arrival at their own expense.

IMPORTANT LINKS

Princess Juliana International Airport

For the latest airline scheduling we advise you to visit www.sxmairport.com

The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor

If you are displaying symptoms of COVID-19 or would like to speak to someone about this topic please refer to the below contact details:

Collective Prevention Services (CPS)
Hotline during business hours: 914
Email: EHAS@sintmaartengov.org

Government of Sint Maarten

For more information and updates relating to COVID-19 and the actions of Government of Sint Maarten please visit www.sintmaartengov.org/coronavirus