Get Involved with St Maarten’s K1 Britannia Foundation
May 31, 2020
Hygiene and Sanitation at St Maarten’s SXM Airport
July 16, 2020
Updates…
Happy New Year, 2021!
We are no longer updating this post in 2021. For the latest information on COVID-19 and Travel to St Maarten, please visit our page on Travel to St Maarten | COVID-19 and What You Need To Know.
Or click the banner above
Update December 6: French St Martin Entry Requirements
All international travelers entering and staying at accommodations in French St Martin are subject to these PCR (and antigenic) test requirements.
Update November 21: French St Martin and American Visitors
American visitors to the island will be allowed to stay in French side hotels as of December 1, 2020 according to a press conference held by the Préfecture. Additional details will soon follow on this page. American visitors have been and continue to be allowed to stay at private villa accommodations on the French side.
Update November 19: Rapid Antigen Tests
St Maarten’s Health and Tourism Ministries in a joint press release announced that the entry requirements for St Maarten have been updated to include antigen testing with an effective date of November 25, 2020.
Travelers visiting St Maarten are required to complete a mandatory health authorization application via the Electronic Health Authorization System (EHAS) and upload their negative RT-PCR test within 5 days or their negative antigen test result within 48 hours. Currently the following antigen tests have been approved:
- Abbott (CGIA Panbio COVID-19 Ag rapid test)
- Becton Dickinson (CGIA BD Veritor COVID-19 test)
- Roche (SD Biosensor F test)
We urge all travelers to travel safely and responsibly while adhering to the guidelines imposed by the local government and health authorities. Click here to book the best things to do in St Maarten!
For a complete list of entry requirements and to complete the mandatory health authorization application, click here.
Update September 15:
St Maarten extends PCR test requirements from 72 hours to 120 hours. Passengers are now required to take a COVID-19 PCR test and receive the negative results within 120 hours (5 days) prior to arrival in St Maarten. Incorrect type of tests are subject to retesting at the SXM Airport at US$125 per person. Children under the age of 10 are exempt from testing.
The borders between French St Martin and Dutch St Maarten are now open allowing for free movement between both the French and Dutch sides of the island.
We urge all travelers to travel safely and responsibly while adhering to the guidelines imposed by the local government and health authorities. Click here to book the best things to do in St Maarten and you can save up to 15% on St Maarten car rentals, when you book with us.
Please note the following updated TRAVEL ENTRY REQUIREMENTS for St Maarten.
Update July 29:
At a Council of Ministers press briefing held earlier today, the Minister of TEATT announced that St Maarten will indeed reopen to flights from the US on August 1, however there is a heavily reduced flight schedule.
The Minister confirmed the following:
- Delta will operate 3 flights per week
- JetBlue has cancelled flights from Florida to St Maarten and will operate 1 weekly flight from New York JFK
- American Airlines will operate 1 weekly flight from Charlotte and 5 flights from Florida
Click here to book the best flight deals to St Maarten and you can save up to 15% on St Maarten car rentals, when you book with us.
For travelers arriving from the United States, stricter guidelines will be required and more information will be provided soon. Travelers are still required to take a COVID-19 PCR test and receive negative results within 72 hours prior to departure to St Maarten.
Due to the reopening of borders for flights from the US to Dutch St Maarten, French St Martin will impose border restrictions to Dutch St Maarten as of Friday, July 31 at 12pm.
To ensure the safety of residents and travelers alike, you are highly encouraged to follow guidelines and protocols such as physical distancing, wearing a mask, and proper cough etiquette.
Update July 22:
As reported at this week’s Council of Ministers Press Briefing, St Maarten is scheduled to reopen its borders to travel from the United States on August 1, 2020. Protocols are in place and are subject to change. Most notably however, is that travelers are required to take a COVID-19 PCR test and receive negative results within 72 hours prior to departure to St Maarten. Children age 10 and under and exempted from taking this test.
Update July 16:
Expected changes to travel requirements and health protocols will soon be announced (next week). According to St Maarten’s Minister of Tourism (TEATT), the island’s protocols are constantly being evaluated and are subject to change. And, while the minister did not disclose any of the new protocols, we expect that additional Caribbean islands will be added to the list of countries that can travel to St Maarten.
Travel from the United States has been further postponed to August 1 and remains subject to continuous risk assessment to ensure the safety of visitors and our island’s residents. Click the following link for information on Hygiene and Sanitation at St Maarten’s SXM Airport.
Mandatory health insurance and daily tourist quotas are also being considered by the tourism ministry and government, although no firm decisions have been made as yet.
There is one new, active case of the COVID-19 virus on St Maarten.
Update June 30:
St Maarten is set to reopen the island’s borders and Princess Juliana International Airport to international travel tomorrow, July 1, 2020. However, in light of increased concern for safety of residents and visitors, it was just announced by the Minister of TEATT during a press briefing, that flights from the US to St Maarten have been delayed for the next 2 weeks. Flights from Europe and the surrounding Caribbean islands continue as scheduled. Adjustments are being made and this will be reflected in additional Caribbean islands being allowed to travel to St Maarten.
The situation is fluid and conditions for entry for travelers from the US in 2 weeks will be evaluated and are subject to change. Please keep checking this post for further updates.
*Please refer to the latest infographic above for entry requirements.
If you plan to visit St Maarten, you are required to complete this online Health Declaration prior to departure.
Original Post June 20:
We are happy to share some fantastic news with you! Mark your calendar, St Maarten is reopening for tourism as of July 1, 2020.
This evening, St Maarten’s Minister of Tourism announced that the airport will reopen on July 1 – which coincides with celebration of Emancipation Day. She went on to state that the island is ready to welcome travelers from Europe and North America with proper social distancing and health safety protocols in place.
The following established requirements are in place for entry to the island and include testing requirements and health screening procedures, among others for visitors arriving at the Princess Juliana International Airport. Please note these are subject to change.
*Please refer to the latest infographic above for entry requirements.
St Maarten is also now open to travelers from the surrounding islands including Saba, St Eustatius, Bonaire, Curacao, Aruba, Anguilla, St Barts, Martinique, and Guadeloupe. Travelers arriving from these islands, according to the press release, “should ensure that they have been consecutively present there for 21 days prior to the date of departure.” In such cases, “No quarantine will be required upon arrival to Sint Maarten.”
On Monday, June 22, St Maarten will also open its borders to the wider Caribbean region including St Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, St Kitts and Nevis, Dominica and British Virgin Islands. According to the press release, “the 21 day minimum stay will apply to passengers from these islands. No quarantine will be required.”
The Minister also mentioned that while the island is reopening, it will do so “in a safe and responsible manner for our residents and visitors.”
Are you ready to travel to St Maarten? If you’re looking for a place to stay on the island, you’re at the right place. Here are some of the best places to stay on St Maarten. We look forward to welcoming you soon!
See you soon in paradise!
1 Comment
what are testing requirements for children under 18 years old? Children under 18 in the US are not Allowed for covid-19 standard or rapid PCR testing.