Sint Maarten: Authorities in Sint Maarten ease certain COVID-19 travel restrictions effective June 15 /update 18

Event

Authorities in Sint Maarten have issued orders easing certain COVID-19-related travel restrictions. Effective June 15, fully vaccinated residents of Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, or Saba are no longer required to present a COVID-19 test result to enter Sint Maarten unless they arrive from a designated "banned" country. Such travelers arriving from banned countries will be required to present a negative result from an RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours prior to departure.

Fully vaccinated nonresidents entering from Aruba must present a negative COVID-19 antigen test taken within 48 hours before departure; unvaccinated travelers must present a negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours prior to departure.

All arriving individuals, including residents and most in-transit passengers, are required to submit a mandatory health authorization via Sint Maarten's Electronic Health Authorization System (EHAS). Same-day transit travelers going to Saba via Princess Juliana Airport Sint Maarten (SXM) only need to submit an application through the Saba EHAS system. Additionally, all foreign nationals, except residents, French nationals residing in France or a French territory, crewmembers, and transit/transfer passengers staying less than 24 hours, are required to have the mandatory SXM Protection Plan health insurance.

Authorities in Sint Maarten classify countries and territories as either banned, low-risk, or high-risk locations based on their individual levels of COVID-19 activity and impose restrictions accordingly. Specific restrictions by risk-level are:

• Banned: Nonresidents who have been in a banned country in the previous 14 days remain prohibited from entering Sint Maarten. Residents of Sint Maarten, Saint Martin, Saba, and Saint Eustatius can enter from a banned country but must present a negative result from a COVID-19 RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours prior to departure. Banned countries include Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guyana, Guyana, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, South Africa, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

• Low risk: Locations designated as low risk for COVID-19 transmission include Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, China, Curacao, Dominica, Grenada, Hong Kong, Montserrat, New Zealand, Saba, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, Sint Eustatius, and Turks and Caicos Islands. Travelers entering from these locations are not required to produce a COVID-19 test result.

• High risk: All countries and territories not listed as either banned or low risk are automatically considered high-risk locations. Passengers who have been in these locations in the 14 days prior to arrival in Sint Maarten must present a negative result from an RT-PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to departure, self-monitor for 5 days after arriving, and submit daily health information to authorities during this period. 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. Effective July 1, arrivals from Canada, the US, or US territories, will be required to present a negative RT-PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to departure or an antigen test taken 48 hours prior to departure.

Maritime crews and passengers must also complete the EHAS application and present a negative result from an RT-PCR test taken within 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.

Domestically, all persons must wear protective facemasks in public places, including at the airport, on public transportation, and in any 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