The island of St Maarten / St Martin has a 350 year history of open borders. The French side is part of the European Union; the Dutch side is an associated country of the European Union and issues European passports. Travel between the two sides via its four border crossings Cupecoy / Lowlands, Cole Bay / Marigot (at the Concordia Monument), Dutch Quarter / French Quarter (Belle Plaine) and Oyster Pond do not have border or passport checks. However, it clearly stands both countries free to do controls at any location on their respective territories.
This article pertains to the Dutch side of St Maarten / St Martin, as it is the main international gateway to the island by means of its airport Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM). If you have a visa or proof of return for the French side ( St Martin ), none is needed for the Dutch side (St Maarten). In this article, you will find all general travel requirements for a trip to St Maarten / St Martin.
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Official Link: entry.sx (Free of charge)
Who Needs It: All air and yacht visitors arriving at Princess Juliana Airport (PJIA).
Who is Exempt: Residents, French-side arrivals (SFG airport), and most day-visit cruise passengers.
Timeline: Complete within 7 days of arrival; recommended 24+ hours before departure.
Requirements: Passport details, flight/vessel info, and local address (hotel/villa).
Warning: Beware of scam sites charging fees. The official process is $0.
As of October 2024, an Embarkation / Disembarkation card is requested to be filled in by visitors via air (Princess Juliana International Airport) and yachts. Though it is not mandatory yet to fill in the form in the official sense, it is highly recommended to complete it for logistical purposes and ensure seamless travel. The ED card can be filled in for free at the official government website entry.sx within 7 days of arrival. It is recommended to do so at least 24 hours before departure.
The ED form is for stayover (hotel, timeshare, villa / apartment) and yachting visitors and those transferring flights on Princess Juliana International Airport. Some important notes for clarification:
The card is entirely free of cost. Note that over the winter of 2025 / 2026, scam sites have been discovered charging “processing fees”. These are not official websites and malicious. Do not share credit card information and contact your bank should you have paid for the ED card.
Initially, the platform entry.sx was also known as sxmentry.com, especially in Europe. The two sites have merged into entry.sx.
All persons changing flights need to fill in the ED Card. This applies to both transfer passengers changing flights on “air-side” (within the departure area) or land-side, meaning leaving the airport or having a short break on destination St. Maarten / St. Martin. That also pertains to passengers continuing travel by ferry to surrounding islands like Anguilla, Saba, St. Barths, St. Eustatius (Statia) or St. Kitts. Under St. Maarten law, a transfer passenger is permitted to stay for up to 24 hours to connect to their next flight without a traditional visa (for most nationalities), but they still need to be documented via the ED card if they pass through immigration.
Global aviation regulations make a distinction between “transfer” (changing flights) and “transit” passengers (not disembarking but awaiting to continue travel in the same plane or in a dedicated transit area). The words “transit” and “transfers” are being used jointly in relation to the need to fill in the ED Card on entry.sx. Should you be in transit on St. Maarten when it regards to a trip that continues with the same plane, ask your agent or airliner if filling the ED Card is required for their systems. You can always fill in the document saying “in transit to…” if in doubt.
The entry.sx site follows the local “LTU” admission law when it says “all travelers to St. Maarten” need to fill in the ED form. Practically, as other stipulations come into play, there are however some exemptions:
Though the entry.sx site mentions the need for residents to fill in the ED Card too, this has been adjusted on November 20th 2024, in line with the LTU law.
The treaty of Concordia from 1648 is unique in its early agreements on free border transgression of citizens. This makes citizens of the French side exempt from needing to fill in the ED Card.
If you arrive at the French side airport Aéroport de Grand-Case Espérance (SFG), you do not need to fill in the ED Card at arrival. Nor does the French side have an ED Card of its own. The same applies to yachts arriving in French side marinas in Marigot or Anse Marcel or cruise ships at the Galisbay Port.
Cruise Passengers arriving on island by ship for a one day visit do not need to fill in the card. A ship-issued ID card (SeaPass, Sail & Sign, etc.) would suffice for entering the island. The cruise ship’s manifest (the list of passengers cruise liners send to the government) acts as your legal entry document. In general, always check the ‘Required Documents’ message by your cruise company of choice should any change occur.
Note: Crews and “Homeporting” cruise passengers (meaning embarking on ships departing from the St. Maarten’s cruise port) and coming in via Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) are not exempt and need to fill in the ED Card like stayover passengers.
If you are a native of St. Maarten or the former Netherlands Antilles, or Aruba (pre-1986) – or the child of someone who is – you are exempt from the legal requirement to complete an ED Card. Lawyer Agency to claim this exemption, you must hold a valid Not Applicable Declaration issued by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection Service
The entry.sx portal opens 7 days prior to your flight. While the government previously allowed for arrival-day completion during the 2024-2025 transition, practice has it it is highly recommended to fill in the card up to 24 hours in advance. This avoids challenges with current IATA/Timatic regulations requiring airlines to verify your QR code before boarding and delays on the airport.
Though the process is not mandatory yet, failure to present an ED Card QR code at check-in in some cases resulted in denied boarding by airlines.
1. To ensure a smooth application, use Google Chrome (recommended for system compatibility) and have the following ready
2. Prepare Details: Have your passport (valid 6 months), flight number, and accommodation address/boat name ready.
3. Group Submissions: You can add family members to a single session.
4. Save the QR Code: You will receive a QR code via email. Screenshot it immediately, save a pdf or print a copy to show St. Maarten Immigration.
Princess Juliana International Airport is not just a regional hub, it also serves a dual nation with open borders. Visitor data is vital to understand traveler habits, route needs and to improve the visitor experience.
Yes. The official government form at entry.sx is completely free. Do not provide credit card information to any site claiming to process this form for a fee.
If you are arriving via Princess Juliana International (SXM) Airport you must pass through Dutch-side immigration. That means you must complete the form regardless of which side of the island you are staying on or whether you take a flight or ferry to a surrounding island. If you arrive via the French side no card needs to be filled in.
If you manage to board, you will be required to complete it upon arrival, significantly increasing your wait time at immigration.
Yes, the system allows for “Group Options” to process your entire travel party. This makes the process easier.
No. Your cruiseliner will take care of your travel process, unless you are coming in via Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) as crew member or homeporting passenger.
As of November first 2022, the Electronics Health Authorization System (EHAS) Application is no longer required to be filled in. This means Covid 19 entry requirements are no longer in place for St. Maarten.
In all cases, visitors need to be in possession of a valid passport for the duration of their stay and a return ticket. If transiting through St Maarten, a ticket showing the next part of the travel itinerary needs to be at hand. For seamen and airline crews, please see below.
Visa for the Kingdom of the Netherlands can be applied for with a general maximum of 90 days via its consulates and embassies or online.
Click here for more information about entry requirements when traveling to St Maarten.
Telephone: +1 721 543-0353 / +1 721 543-0354 or call +1 721 546-7518 (This is the airport’s number asked to be transferred to the immigration department)
Email: immigration@sintmaartengov.org
Website: www.ministryofjustice.sx
For hundreds of years, a United States – Dutch Friendship treaty applies to St Maarten. United States citizens do not need a visum to enter St Maarten (or St Martin).
The US State Department requires visitors to exercise normal precautions in Sint Maarten and read its country information page for additional information on travel to Sint Maarten.
It encourages visitors to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to make it easier to reach visitors in case of alerts or an emergency. A Traveler’s Checklist assists in preparing for contingency measures.
Click here for more information from the Bureau of Consular Affairs about entry requirements when traveling from the United States to St Maarten.
If you have questions for a Dutch (St. Maarten) or French (St. Martin) embassy in the United States, see our list of embassies and consulates relevant for the island in the US.
Canadian travelers do not need a visa to enter St Maarten. A passport needs to be valid for the expected duration of stay in Sint Maarten. Residents of Canada must travel with their Permanent Resident Card and Canadian passport.
US / Canada permits and Multiple Entry Visas:
If you have a residency permit for the United States or Canada, you do not need a visa for St Maarten (maximum of 90 days). If you possess a multiple entry visa for the United States or Canada from the following countries, no visa up until 90 days is required for St Maarten: Bolivia, China, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Haiti, India, Jamaica and Venezuela.
Note that neither a permit or a multiple entry visa is the same as an ESTA, but are separate requirements.
Click here for more information from the government of Canada about entry requirements when traveling from Canada to St Maarten.
As with visitors from all countries, a passport is required for European Dutch / Aruban / Curaçaolean travelers when entering St Maarten. Dutch ID passes do not apply as a valid entry document. No visa is required for a stay under 180 days. Those Dutch passport holders born on the former Netherlands Antilles (St Maarten, Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, St. Eustatius) have no limitation on their stay.
Click here for more information from the Dutch government about entry requirements when traveling from the Netherlands to St Maarten.
Citizens of European Union (EU) Member states can enter St. Maarten free of visa for a stay up to 90 days. Members of the EU are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
Citizens of non-EU countries exempted of visa requirements for St Maarten:
In Europe, exemption for visa also applies to Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, San Marino, Serbia, Switzerland, Ukraine (if biometric passport), the United Kingdom and Vatican City.
People in possession of a short stay visa or multiple entry visa for a Schengen country do not need to apply for a visa for St Maarten or St Martin. The same applies for citizens having a residency permit or multiple entry visa for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
Within the Caribbean region, citizens the following countries do not need to apply for visa for a 90 day stay: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Bahamas, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines and Trinidad & Tobago.
With a valid residency permit for French Guyana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, Reunion, Saint-Barthelemy (or Saint Martin) no visa is needed to visit Dutch side St Maarten.
In Latin America, citizens of Argentina, Brazil, Belize, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay do not need to carry visa when entering St Maarten.
Outside the Caribbean, Europe, Latin America and North America, citizens of the following countries are also exempted of the requirement to have a visa: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Hong Kong (– holders of British National Overseas passport or holders of Special Administrative Region passport), Israel, Japan, Macao (holders of Special Administrative Region passport), Malaysia, Mauritius, New Zealand, Seychelles, Singapore, South Korea, Suriname, Taiwan (holders of a passport bearing their identity card number) and the United Arab Emirates.
If you are visiting St Maarten by cruise, you are allowed to stay on St Maarten without visa for 48 hours.
Most cruise lines visiting St Maarten are part of a “closed loop cruise” system, returning in the same United States port as where embarkation took place. Though different documents could be permitted for entering this “loop” depending on your cruise liner of choice, most cruise liners strongly recommend or oblige the use of a passport. This recommendation is also meant for possible extra stay on or travel from the individual ports of call along the itinerary should incidents or emergencies arise making you miss the ship. In most cases this passport is advised to be valid at least six months after your cruise trip. See for example the travel requirements of Royal Caribbean, Disney cruises, Holland America Line, Carnival Cruises for permanent US residents and Carnival Cruises for non-US citizens. It is important you read the travel requirements of your cruise liner of choice well in advance.
Many Caribbean destinations would ask for a passport to enter when disembarking, regardless whether it is part of a closed loop cruise. St. Maarten does not require a passport at disembarkation. Your cruise pass will grant you access to the island from and back to the ship. At this point, it is not necessary for cruise visitors to fill in an entry.sx ED card.
If your cruise ship is home porting from St. Maarten (meaning your trip is embarking on / departing from the island), you need a passport to enter the country via Princess Juliana International Airport or the marinas. You also need to fill in the ED card at entry.sx before entry.
Though there is no border control between the southern or Dutch side (St. Maarten) and the northern or French side (Saint Martin) of the island, it is important to realize you enter the European Union when you travel to the French side. Cruise passengers arrive in Philipsburg on the Dutch side, which is not part of the European Union but an autonomous associated territory within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. That does however not mean you have to bring a passport on a shore excursion; your cruise pass suffices.
In case you plan a cruise excursion to or including British territory Anguilla, a passport is needed. The same applies in the rare occasion should you have individual day trips to Dutch municipalities Saba, Statia or French overseas community St. Barths in mind.
If you are transiting via St Maarten, in the possession of a valid onward ticket, you are permitted to stay on St Maarten for 24 hours to connect to your next flight. No visa is required.
If you are a crew member of a civil aviation airliner and staying on St Maarten less than 48 hours, or crew member of a civil vessel in accordance to the London Treaty of April 9th, 1965 and the rules of the International Maritime Organization.
If you are a sailor and in possession of a seaman’s book and a passport, you are allowed to stay in St Maarten for 48 hours without a visa.
No visa is needed when you possess a refugee or stateless person document issued by the Kingdom of the Netherlands, a Form I-571 issued by the authorities of the United States or you are in the possession of a document according to the treaty of July 28th 1951, provided by Canadian or United States authorities.
Any of the above information can vary at any time as international agreements are adjusted frequently. VisitStMaarten attempts to update its information frequently, but does not take responsibility for overlooked / outdated information due to changes in international relations. The same applies as the laws applying to your stay are issued in Dutch and French; any confusion arising from our attempt to translate the requirements as clear as possible.
We therefore advise to take up contact with your nearest embassy or consulate of either the Kingdom of the Netherlands or the French Republic before you commence your travel. Though the south side of St Maarten is an autonomous country within the Kingdom, consular and diplomatic traffic is represented worldwide in embassies and consulates jointly with Aruba, Curacao and the European Netherlands. For French St Martin this applies to those of the republic of France. For the travel status of diplomatic and special passports we also recommend taking up contact with a kingdom or French embassy.
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