Covid travel requirements


Please note that these are the requirements for the Dutch side, where 99% of people here enter by air. If you are entering by AIR directly to the French side, the rules are different. If you are on island, you can travel back and forth freely to the French side without any problem.



If you are STAYING on the French side, you need to check to make sure whether you need to do anything additional.

Information on testing on island for return to the US

In case you have problems with getting a EHAS approval, try this number in SXM. 721-542-1570

Thanks Dear Carol.

Thanks for posting. One place on the list for return testing, Almond Grove turned us away when we asked for appointment. Said they now were just testing locals.

Are you sure of the date - 2/17/21?

That is the last change to requirements.

Thanks so much Carol!
carib cheers,
doctorj

Sorry--I changed the title, as it was confusing.

One question: If one is staying on the French side is that considered a transit passenger?

I'm not certain, but I don't think so. I think transit refers to someone who never leaves the airport, but flies on to a different destination.

Carol,

As far as I know, If you are in transit I don't believe you are allowed to leave the airport to go anywhere and are held in a separate area to await your next flight.

pat--I think that is correct. The entrance requirements say that transit passengers have to have a Covid test, but they are exempt from the mandatory insurance. Possibly that is the reason for his question. Perhaps that is a question that needs to be asked of the EHAS folks, either by email or phone.

We just completed a 14 day request for a temp check from the EHAS. They emailed us every day, it was quite easy. I would suggest bringing thermometer. (Our’s “died”, and they are a lot more expensive on the island). Results can be sent either F or C.
I have no idea what would happen if we did not comply with this simple measure.

This past winter, we passed our covid test and got our pre approval from EHAS. A couple days before we were to fly out we both got Covid and stayed home. We received an email every day we were supposed to be there and never responded to the emails. No follow up emails to see why not complying. Don't think they would have liked the results of our temperature checks. haha

Wow. Just proves that the testing is worthless! Glad you did the right thing and stayed home.

Georgia--no, it just proves that the results can be negative one day and be positive the next day, which is what experts have said all along. And part of the reason why SXM wanted to go to 72 hours for PCR tests.

I should have clarified that testing on anything other than the day of travel is worthless, and even then, you can still be positive the next day.

Now, that I definitely agree with..

Thanks for this thread and hopefully all with experience and knowledge on traveling during these times will add posts for others.

one of the questions on the form is hotel where you are staying. Does anyone know how you report multiple locations?

I'm not sure there is a correct answer, but if it were ME, I'd just put down the first place you are staying.

Exactly what I would do too.

Can’t wait for a vaccine passport to come into play. It’s still theoretical at this point but it would be nice.

Any word on a vaccine waiver. We got both our vaccines, any updates. Some islands are starting to allow proof of 2 vaccines. We are planning a land trip in late May.

Not for SXM yet, that's for sure.

Curious as to "some Islands allowing a vaccine waiver" in lieu of testing.....which ones?

Don't worry. Can see it coming from a mile away. Won't be long until you won't be able to leave home with out hearing "your paper's please."

Found a link...

Travel OK after vaccine link

My wife and I got our second vaccine yesterday. I hope by the time we go back to St Martin in May that prove of the vaccination is all we need to enter the country

We hope the same but not counting on it for our May trip.

Just to reiterate here--I think that everything one needs is in the original post. The most recent posts here don't have anything to do with the original topic. Unless there are changes to the entry requirements, what you need to know is in the original post.

My wife and I are planning a trip for one week in May. We are coming from New York. We have both received our first and doses of the vaccine. Do we still need to be tested prior to arrival? Are there any quarantine requirements? I under stand we need to take out the health insurance to cover any testing our medical needs while I am there. I assume masks are required in public places which is not an issue.

Yes you still need a negative test to travel to SXM. There are no other quarantine requirements unless you test positive while there.

The link in the original post provides the official government requirements. That is the best place to get accurate and current information about the requirements.

Thanks Carol got the number

So what is the latest as of April 12th, Still a negative PCR test with 72 hrs of last leg to SXM takeoff?

"USA, US territories and Canada the time frame remains 120 hrs."

As copied directly from St Maarten EHAS website.

JD--right, and the April 2 update had only to do with Curacao, Bonaire and Aruba, nothing to do with the US.

I’ve been told locally here in the US that it can take 2-4 days to get the test results back from the lab. So is the 120hr (5 day) window ok for the test results date, or the actual test date? 4 days for results is cutting it really close if it’s the test date.

Test date