Sint Maarten: Authorities update COVID-19-related restrictions on international travel as of Jan. 5 /update 25

Event

As of Jan. 5, authorities in Sint Maarten have outlined new testing requirements based on the vaccination status of arriving passengers. Sint Maarten no longer imposes country-specific testing requirements and the ban on entry from several southern African countries has also been lifted.

Passengers are not required to test prior to travel if they are aged 18 or over and have received a booster shot or if they are aged 5-18 and fully vaccinated. However, arrivals aged 18 or over who have been fully vaccinated but have not received a booster shot must present a negative result from either an RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours prior to departure or an antigen test taken 24 hours prior to boarding. Travelers who are not fully vaccinated must present a negative result from an RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours prior to departure. Passengers are considered to be fully vaccinated if they have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine or a single dose of the Janssen vaccine at least 14 days prior to departure and less than one year prior to travel. A booster dose is only considered valid if the traveler has received it over 14 days prior to travel and within the nine months prior to their trip. After arriving in Sint Maarten, all individuals are required to self-monitor for possible COVID-19 symptoms and submit details to authorities via email on a daily basis for the first five days of their stay.

Domestic Measures
All persons must wear protective facemasks in public places, including at the airport, on public transportation, and in areas where social distancing is impossible. Individuals must stay at least 1.5-2 meters (5-6 feet) away from each other at all times. Special enhanced sanitization, social distancing, and other protocols are in effect at lodging facilities and tourism businesses.

International Travel Restrictions
Aside from the changes mentioned above, most other air travel restrictions remain largely unchanged. All arriving individuals, including residents, are required to submit a mandatory health authorization via the territory'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. All foreign nationals, except Sint Maarten legal residents, French nationals residing in France or a French territory, crewmembers, and transit/transfer passengers staying less than 24 hours, must have the mandatory SXM Protection Plan health insurance.

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