COVID-19 Precautionary Measures in Sint Maarten (01 July Update)

Can a resident enter the country?

• Yes

• Citizens and residents are allowed to enter

Can a foreigner enter the country?

• Yes, with exceptions

• Foreign travellers are allowed to enter. The full list of low-risk countries and entry rules can be accessed here. The countries that are not on the list are considered high-risk countries.

• A travel ban is in place until further notice for persons who have been in a banned country listed here in the past 14 days. Residents of the following countries are exempted: Sint Maarten, Saint Martin, Saba, and St. Eustatius.

Is transit allowed through the country?

• Yes

• Transit through the country is currently permitted for travellers staying in the aircraft or being transferred from one airplane to another through wing-to-wing transfer. Transit passengers from the approved list of countries are allowed to enter the airport.

• Transit passengers will also be required to complete the health declaration procedure and have a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test certificate issued no more than 72 hours before arriving in Sint Maarten.

• Vessels and yachts in transit can enter Sint Maarten for up to 48 hours without pre-test. All travellers onboard must remain in quarantine.

• As Saba has their EHAS, transit travellers going to Saba are no longer required to apply in the Sint Maarten EHAS system. Proof of the Saba EHAS approval must be demonstrated when transiting through Sint Maarten.

Is a test required on arrival?

• No, with exceptions

• All travellers will go through screening measures upon arrival. Passengers may be asked to have a COVID-19 test on arrival at their own expense. Travellers who are selected to be re-tested upon arrival will be required to self-isolate or self-quarantine at their place of lodging/residence until the test results are known.

• Returning residents without the COVID-19 PCR test certificate may be subject to a COVID-19 test on arrival at their own expense. Travellers under 10 years of age are exempt.

• Residents from Sint Maarten, Saint Martin, Saba, and St. Eustatius will be tested on arrival if they do not have a valid PCR test result conducted within 72 hours before departure. However, fully vaccinated residents from Sint Maarten and the BES islands are allowed to enter without a PCR test.

• Vessels and yachts arriving from a low-risk country can enter Sint Maarten without a test for COVID-19. However, vessels arriving from a moderate or high-risk country must provide an RT-PCR test within 120 hours before departure. If testing was not possible before departure, a test must be done within 24 hours after arriving. The appointed yacht agent must coordinate tests. More information can be found here.

Is a test certificate accepted?

• Yes

• Test certificates issued in other countries are accepted.

• Tests such as antibody tests and PCR tests performed outside of the 72 hours will not be accepted. Results from home COVID-19 collection test kits or antigen tests performed outside of the 48 hours will also not be accepted. Incomplete results, handwritten or email statements from doctors will not be accepted.

Test certificate required?

• Yes, with exceptions

• Those who have transited or have been in a high-risk country in the last 14 days must follow the requirements below.

• A RT-PCR test for COVID-19 obtained from a nasopharyngeal swab performed within 72 hours before departure to Sint Maarten (last leg in case of connecting flights) is required for all travellers originating from a country that is categorized as high risk.

• Effective 1 July Travellers from the USA, US territories or Canada are required to submit a negative RT-PCR certificate issued 72 hours before departure. Alternatively, travellers can take an antigen test for COVID-19 obtained from a nasopharyngeal swab performed within 48 hours before departure to Sint Maarten. All FDA-approved antigen tests, including those with Emergency Use Authorization only (EUA), are accepted.

• Fully vaccinated residents of Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, or Saba can enter Sint Maarten without COVID-19 test unless they arrive from a designated “banned” country. Travellers arriving from banned countries will be required to present a negative result from an RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours before departure. Vaccination status must be uploaded on EHAS. More information can be found here.

• Travellers from Aruba, must submit a negative RT-PCR test obtained within 48 hours before departure to Sint Maarten. Travellers from Aruba who are fully vaccinated, must submit an antigen test no older than 48 hours. Official proof of the vaccination status must be uploaded on EHAS. The antigen test must be FDA-EUA approved. Sint Maarten and BES residents travelling from Aruba are exempted from these requirements.

• Airline and private flight crews with stopovers in Sint Maarten or St. Martin must have a valid negative RT-PCR or antigen test upon arrival.

• Travellers arriving from low-risk countries are not required to provide the mandatory PCR test certificate. However, travellers who reside in a low-risk country but have visited a high-risk country in the 14 days before departing to Sint Maarten must have an RT-PCR performed within 72 hours before departure or an antigen test for COVID-19 performed 48 hours before departure to Sint Maarten (last leg in case of connecting flights).

• Children aged ten years or below are exempt from the testing requirements.

Is quarantine required on arrival?

• No, with exceptions

• For travellers originating from a high-risk country, 5 consecutive days of self-monitoring of body temperature and possible flu-like symptoms is mandatory.

• Travellers from a low-risk country who have visited a high-risk country in the 14 days prior to departure are also required to self-monitor body temperature and possible flu-like symptoms for 5 days.

• The travellers in these categories will receive, during 5 days, an automated daily email alert providing a link for submitting the required information online. Travellers visiting Sint Maarten for a shorter term will have to submit the information during their time on the island.

• Travellers who develop fever and/or flu-like symptoms during the surveillance period will be contacted by the public health authorities and will be subjected to a RT-PCR test. Those with positive test results will be quarantined for 14 days. The medical assessment and isolation are at the traveller’s expense.

• Based on the above restrictions, the traveller will be required to spend between 0 and 14 days in quarantine.

Insurance required?

• Yes, with exceptions

• The government implemented mandatory COVID-19 insurance for all travellers, except for residents, French nationals, flight crews, and transit passengers. The information and other details can be found here.

Is vaccination required?

• No

• A vaccination for COVID-19 is not mandatory for entry into the country. However, fully vaccinated residents of Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, or Saba will not be required to present an RT-PCR test certificate, provided that they upload the official proof of the vaccination status in EHAS.

Entry form required?

• Yes

• Travellers are required to complete an electronic health pre-authorization form. Without the health pre-authorization, boarding will not be possible. The processing time for this form can take up to 12 hours. The form can be accessed here. Children must have the online health form filled out by their parents. This application includes the purchase of the mandatory COVID-19 insurance and a negative COVID-19 test result if required for entry.

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

• If the health pre-authorization is approved, travellers will receive a (printable) pre-authorization via email, which must be presented to the health and immigration authorities upon arrival. This PDF will also contain a QR code that will show the vaccination status and COVID test result when scanned. Travellers must carry the original RT-PCR or antigen test result and proof of vaccination at all times.

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

• Transit travellers to Saba are not required to apply in the Sint Maarten EHAS system as Saba has their own EHAS system.

Airline restrictions

• Minimal

• Commercial flight services are operating.

• Face masks and hand sanitizers are mandatory during travel.

• Only passengers and airport employees are allowed into the airport.

• Private planes require approval before landing.

• If travellers are suffering from flu-like symptoms and/or fever, travel will be denied by the airline.

Border restrictions

• Moderate

• The country has reopened its borders to cruises, private vessels, and yachts. A registered local agent is required for all vessels. Travellers from countries outside the list of approved countries may be subject to quarantine and must have a negative PCR test certificate. More information can be found here

• Borders between the Dutch side of the island, Sint Maarten, and the island's French side, Saint Martin, are open. Travellers arriving on the Dutch side can visit and stay on the French side.

• Funtime Charters resumed services. Voyager Ferry is operating on a temporary schedule.

Curfew restrictions

• Minimal

• There is no curfew in place.

Social restrictions

• Minimal

• The physical distance of up to 2 meters must be maintained.

Internal travel restrictions

• Minimal

• Bus and taxi services have resumed with reduced capacity.

• Marine services, boat rental, rental car service, and freight services are available.

Non-essential shops open?

• Yes

• Shops and businesses are open.

Accommodations open?

• Yes

• Hotels are open.

Restaurants open?

• Yes

• Restaurants are open.

Bars and cafes open?

• Yes

• Bars are open.

*Personal care services open? *

• Yes

• Public services and personal and professional services are open.

Beaches and tourist sites open?

• Yes

• Beaches are open, and water activities are currently allowed.

Places of worship open?

• Yes

• Religious activities are allowed.

Events allowed?

• Yes

• Contact sports, indoor and outdoor activities, sports facilities, gyms, and religious events are permitted.

Masks required in public?

• Yes

• When in public, face masks are required when social distancing is not possible.

The COVID-19 epidemic is constantly changing worldwide. Travel and border restrictions may change with little or no notice. Airlines may have their own requirements for testing, masking, and distancing. It is recommended that travellers carry a supply of face masks since the requirement can vary by location. It is recommended that travellers practice social distancing and maintain a 6-foot distance from other individuals and avoid crowded areas. Check with your airline, booking agent, or country's embassy for information on your specific travel plans.