Sint Maarten: Authorities maintain most COVID-19 restrictions unchanged, except for travelers from Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao, as of May 24 /update 17

Event

Authorities in Sint Maarten are maintaining most COVID-19-related restrictions unchanged for international travel as of May 24, except for vaccinated travelers from Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire.

Effective May 24, travelers from Aruba, Curacao, and Bonaire who can present an official document, such as a national vaccination card, as proof of being fully vaccinated will be required to present a negative COVID-19 antigen test taken within 48 hours before departure, instead of a PCR test. The antigen test for these travelers must have at least an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) approved by the US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA). Travelers from these locations who have not been fully vaccinated must continue to present a negative real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test taken within the 48 hours prior to departure.

Otherwise, most travel requirements remain unchanged. All individuals traveling to Sint Maarten by air, including residents, are still required to submit a mandatory health authorization through an Electronic Health Authorization System (EHAS), which may take up to 12 hours to be processed. From May 24, same-day transit travelers going via Princess Juliana Airport Sint Maarten (SXM) to Saba only need to apply for the EHAS through the Saba EHAS system, and are no longer required to apply via Sint Maarten's EHAS system.

Nonresidents who have been in a country on the government's banned countries list in the previous 14 days remain prohibited from entering Sint Maarten. Such countries include Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guyana, Guyana, India, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, South Africa, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela. Residents of Sint Maarten, Saint Martin, Saba, and Saint Eustatius may enter if traveling from a banned country but must present a negative result from COVID-19 RT-PCR test before departure.

Apart from the banned countries, authorities in Sint Maarten have classified foreign nations as being either high risk or low risk based on their individual levels of COVID-19 activity. Countries designated as low risk for COVID-19 transmission include Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Barbados, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, China, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, New Zealand, Saba, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, and Sint Eustatius. Travelers entering Sint Maarten from these locations are not required to produce a COVID-19 test result.

All other countries and territories are categorized as high risk for disease transmission. Individuals traveling to Sint Maarten from these countries must present a negative result from a COVID-19 RT-PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to departure, self-monitor for 14 days after arriving, and submit daily health information to authorities. Travelers entering from Canada, the US, or US territories, have the option to present either a negative RT-PCR test taken up to 120 hours prior to departure or an antigen test taken 48 hours prior to departure.

Authorities still perform temperature checks and other screening protocols for all travelers. Some passengers may be subject to mandatory testing at their own expense. Other travel protocols in place include:

• Maritime crews and passengers must complete the EHAS application and present a negative a RT-PCR test taken within the 120 hours prior to departure from the last port. All crew and passengers must quarantine on board until health authorization approval is received. Vessels are allowed to transit for up to 48 hours without these requirements, but all crew and passengers must quarantine onboard.

• All foreign nationals, except residents, French nationals residing in France or a French territory, crewmembers, and transit/transfer passengers, are required to have the mandatory SXM Protection Plan health insurance.

Domestically, all persons must wear protective facemasks in all public places, including at the airport, on public transportation, in supermarkets, and in all areas where social distancing is not possible. Individuals must stay at least 1.5-2 meters (5-6 feet) away from each other at all times.

Authorities could expand or ease the travel bans with little-to-no notice depending on disease activity in international destinations over the coming weeks.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Abide by local health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements.

Resources

WHO Coronavirus Knowledge Base
Sint Maarten EHAS Information
Sint Maarten Country Risk Classifications