Passports, Immigration & Customs
You’re just a couple clicks away from the sandy white beaches of St. Maarten and the familiar welcoming of our vibrant and Friendly people. Follow this quick guide on passport and visa information to make your trip to St. Maarten as smooth as your days lounging back at our shores.
● A passport that is valid upon entry and for the duration of stay.
● If your passport is from a visa-required country, you’ll need a valid visa sticker in the passport you are traveling with and the passport must be valid for 3 months after your intended stay .
● A valid return- or onward ticket
● A valid reservation for an accommodation in St. Maarten (e.g. hotel or apartment) or proof that you own property in St. Maarten (a residence, condominium, apartment, timeshare apartment or a pleasure yacht moored in St. Maarten)
● An address of a family member or friend if not staying at a hotel or your own property.
● You must have enough money to cover your stay and any other expenses.
To read our COVID-19 Entry Requirement click here.
The maximum stay allowed on St. Maarten is 30 days uninterrupted for tourists in general. For Dutch nationals and American nationals, maximum stay allowed is 6 months uninterrupted with the possibility to extend. For nationals of Canada, the European Union, Australia, New Zealand and Japan; maximum stay allowed is 3 months uninterrupted with the possibility to extend.
- Albania
- Andorra
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Australia
- Austria
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belgium
- Belize
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Dominica
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Hong Kong - holders of a British National Overseas passports
- Hong Kong - holders of a Special Administrative Region passports
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Macao – holders of Special Administrative Region passports
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- South Korea
- Spain
- St Christopher and Nevis (St Kitts)
- St Lucia
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Suriname
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan – holders of a passport bearing their identity card number
- Trinidad and Tobago
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- United States of America
- Uruguay
- Vatican City
You do not need a visa for St. Maarten if any of the following applies to you:
SCHENGEN COUNTRY
If you hold a multiple-entry short-stay Schengen visa or an authorization for temporary stay or residence permit for a Schengen country, you do not need a visa.
OVERSEAS FRANCE
If you hold a valid residence permit for French Guyana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint-Barthélemy, Saint Martin, Mayotte or Réunion, you do not require a visa.
SAINT MARTIN RESIDENT PERMIT
If you hold a residence permit or proof of return for Saint Martin (the French part of the island), you do not need a visa to enter St Maarten (the Dutch part of the island).If you hold a visa for French Saint Martin, you do not need a visa to enter St Maarten.
UNITED KINGDOM OR IRELAND
If you hold a multiple-entry visa or residence permit for the United Kingdom or Ireland you do not need a visa.
UNITED STATES OR CANADA
If you hold a residence permit for the United States or Canada, you do not need a visa. Or If you hold a multiple-entry visa for the United States or Canada and are a national of one of the countries down below, you do not need a visa.
● Bolivia
● China
● Colombia
● Cuba
● Dominican Republic
● Guyana
● Haiti
● India
● Jamaica
CRUISE SHIP PASSENGERS
You are a cruise ship passenger and your stay in port lasts no more than 48 hours
When coming to St. Maarten with your pet(s) you will need an import permit prior to traveling to St. Maarten. Please contact the Inspection Department at least 10 days prior to your trip to St. Maarten in order to process your permit and to request any additional information if necessary. The Import Form must be completed and sent along with a valid Health Certificate from your local veterinarian for the permit to be granted. Before processing your permit, make sure you are meeting the following conditions.
INSPECTION DEPARTMENT TEZVT – AGRICULTURE, LIVESTOCK AND FISHERIES
Zoutsteeg 3
Philipsburg, St. Maarten
Telephone: +1-721-543-7820
It’s no shock to us that visitors wan to bring their own piece of St. Maarten, back home as a reminder of their unforgettable trip. If you're taking back your favorite bottle of Guavaberry Liqueur, make sure you have it stored in your checked in luggage.
Here’s what you’re not allowed to carry back in your hand luggage;
● Liquids over 3 ounces
● Powders over 12 ounces
We think our conch shells are pretty too, and compliment the shores of our island wonderfully.. Which is why visitors are not allowed to take any conch shells back home.
Certain items need to be cleared by local Customs before going back home, these include;
● Cash exceeding USD$ 10,000
● Firearms
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