Coronavirus St Martin
We will be posting regular updates on this page to keep you informed of the Coronavirus situation in St Martin / St Maarten, Anguilla, St Barths and Saba. As soon as travel restrictions end, you'll see it here first!
You can follow our Facebook page @StMartinbookings.com to get notified quicker and stay up-to-date with the latest developments.
Last Updated: 15th December 2021
Cases overview in St Martin:
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St Maarten ferry services COVID-19
There are currently no ferry services operating between St Martin/St Maarten and the islands of Anguilla or Saba, with only a limited service to/from St Barths.
COVID-19 St Maarten
Since June 2020, St Maarten is open to international tourism, allowing tourism to slowly return to the island, albeit under strict health and safety measures. St Maarten has different entry requirements depending if travellers arrive from countries considered Low Risk or High Risk of transmission.
Thankfully, most businesses, including shops, markets, restaurants, bars, and casinos, have reopened. Beaches are accessible, and water activities are once again allowed. And while boat rental and charters services have resumed, most ferry services to/from neighbouring islands have yet to restart.
Travel entry requirements:
- Anyone wishing to visit St Maarten, or transit through it to a neighbouring island, must first submit a mandatory health authorisation application via an Electronic Health Authorisation System (EHAS). Click here to apply via the official website: www.stmaartenehas.com. Processing time can take up to 12 hours.
- Passengers arriving from High Risk countries are also obliged to show proof of a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test. The test must be performed within 120 hours before departure to St Maarten (last leg in case of connecting flights). Alternatively, travelers originating from high risk countries can do an antigen test for the SARS-COV-2 virus within 48 hours prior to departure to Sint Maarten. Only the following antigen tests are approved: the Becton Dickinson (BD) Veritor Plus, the Abbott Panbio, the Abott BinaxNow and the Roche/SD Biosensor F antigen tests. The original test results must be uploaded for processing as soon as possible as part of the EHAS application procedure. Processing takes 6-8 hours. Children aged under 10 years old are exempt from testing.
- As of January 11, 2021 the government of Sint Maarten will be implementing a mandatory COVID-19 insurance for all travelers visiting Sint Maarten with the exception of residents, transit passengers, flight crews and French nationals. The insurance purchasing process is an integrated step in the EHAS application. Check the St Maarten proctection plan website for more details.
- If health authorisation is pre-approved, you will receive a (printable) authorisation via email, which must be presented to the health and immigration authorities upon arrival. You may also be asked to show the original PCR test result.
- Upon arrival, passengers must pass through additional medical screening measures at the Airport Health Checkpoint, including temperature check and other screening protocols.
- Travelers with destination Sint Maarten are required to have health insurance coverage.
- All passengers must wear a face mask at the airport.
- SXM airport will only be accessible to passengers and employees.
- Mandatory periods of self-monitoring (body temperature and possible flu-like symptoms) are required for all travellers from high-risk countries (14-consecutive days). An automated daily email alert, providing a link for submitting the required information online, will be sent out.
in supermarkets and all areas where social distancing is not feasible.
and/or the public health authorities immediately on phone number 914
(on St Martin call +15).
The above measures have been put in place to control the spread of the Coronavirus and ensure St. Maarten remains a safe destination. You can check our travel tips to plan your vacation once the crisis subsides.
Coronavirus in Anguilla
All travellers to Anguilla, including returning resident are required to:
- Obtain travel authorization by applying online at ivisitanguilla.com. Once your application is reviewed, you will know if you are part of the low-risk countries (less than 0.2% Covid cases) or the higher-risk countries (more than 0.2% Covid cases).
- Provide a negative COVID-19 PCR test conducted within 3-5 days prior to arrival date.
- Be insured for COVID-19 medical costs and full hospitalization, doctors’ visits, prescriptions and air ambulance.
- Complete online passenger information and health screening questionnaire.
- The use of mask is required on vessels to Anguilla, during transit through ports of entry (airport and seaport) and en route to your pre-approved accommodations.
- Undergo a mandatory COVID-19 PCR test and health screening on arrival.
- Be transferred to your accommodations to await test results.
- Remain quarantined at your approved location for up to 10 days (depending on your length of stay)
- Obtain a negative PCR COVID-19 test to be released from quarantine.
Travellers also need to pay a fee, to cover the re-entry protocols and procedures (2 tests per person, surveillance and costs associated with the additional public health presence):
Duration of your stay | Individual Traveler | Couple | Family |
5 days or less | US$300 | US$500 | Main applicant US$300 + US$250 per additional family member. |
6 days to 3 months (90 days) | US$400 | US$600 + US$250 per additional family member. | Main applicant US$400 + US$250 per additional family member. |
Coronavirus in St Barthelemy
- No Corona test is needed for citizens from: Europe, Andorra, Australia, South Korea, Iceland, Japan, Lichtenstein, Monaco, Norway, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Rwanda, San Marino, Vatican City, Singapore, Switzerland or Thailand.
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A negative Covid-19 PCR or Antigen test, strictly taken no more than 72 hours before ferry departure, is required for citizens from: South Africa, Algeria, Bahrain, China, United Arab Emirates, Ecuador, United States, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Morocco, Panama, Democratic Republic of Congo, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine or Zimbabwe.
Children 10 years old or younger are exempt from testing. -
Citizens travelling from all other countries can travel without showing a test at the departure but will need to do a test in St Barth directly upon arrival.
Coronavirus in Saba
- Negative Covid-19 PCR test required 72 hours prior to arrival if originating from the region and 120 hours prior to arrival if originating from an international destination.
- Get an letter of travel exemption after completing the Saba Entry Application. The travel exemption letter, must be issued within 14 days of your arrival, printed and ready for inspection from immigration.
- Persons arriving from high-risk countries are required to quarantine at their home or hotel or 14 days. A PCR test is taken prior to the completion of quarantine on day 10 or 11.
- Persons arriving from medium risk are required to quarantine for 14 days. No PCR test is required prior to completing quarantine.
What can we do to help the locals?
St Martin's tourism industry has almost entirely collapsed. St Martin/St Maarten and its surrounding islands are suffering from a severe economic downturn, putting many people out of work and under incredible strain, given that tourism drives the region's economy. A way to help the locals is to consider rescheduling your travel plans instead of cancelling bookings entirely.
You could also decide to book your next vacation now, even if this means booking more than a year in advance.
When it is safe to travel again, and if you have the time, why not explore more of the region than you may have previously considered. St Martin, Saba, Anguilla and St Barths are all within easy reach of each other and offer something unique and worth experiencing.
You can learn more about the region to help plan your trip on our dedicated Travel Tips pages.
Contact information
If you had a ferry or fast boat booking for travel in the next few months, or for other destination-related questions, feel free to contact us directly if you wish to reschedule your trip. We also invite you to consult our Terms and Conditions if you have any questions regarding a cancellation.
*Sint Maarten - List of Countries with low risk of transmission (as per 3rd January 2021)
If a country is not listed in the low risk category, this country is considered a high risk country for the transmission of COVID-19.
Aruba
Curacao