No more testing effective November 1

Posted by Dr. Soc on Facebook:

"Island 92 reports:
The Minister of Public Health (VSA), Omar Ottley, reported today that starting November 1, 2022, no pre-travel testing will be required for visitors to St. Maarten regardless of your vaccination status. This was reported during the Council of Ministers Press Briefing.
The system we now know as EHAS will be changing to gather information about our visitors, yet it remains to be seen what the system will look like come November 1. Minister Ottley also reported that our airline partners have been informed or are in the process of being informed regarding the November 1, 2022 changes."

YAYYY --- best news of the day !!!

Such GREAT news! I always know that everything will be perfect once I get to the Royal Islander, Now there will be one less hoop to jump through - 79 days and counting

So, do you still have to file in EHAS to travel to SXM? I would think the 3 day time-line might be extended to a week or so.

I was under the impression that you still had to complete the EHAS form 72 hours before your departure flight, just no more testing required. Is this correct?

Yes, Elizabeth. EHAS will be around for some time I think.

Anything that requires going online to get permission to enter Is still not needed ridiculous hoops and hurtles will hurt SXM tourism. Nobody needs another chore to go on vacation, then theirs the airport check in circus to make sure you have the proper docs and that stress. The airlines hate this sxm silliness because of the extra time to screen passengers. Hardly any countries in the world including most if not all Caribbean islands don’t require anything now to enter. Again behind the times and not fixing the problem. IMO

Well that sounds good!
Hope no more EHAS !

"The system we now know as EHAS will be changing to gather information about our visitors, yet it remains to be seen what the system will look like come November 1. Minister Ottley also reported that our airline partners have been informed or are in the process of being informed regarding the November 1, 2022 changes."

Since the airlines are being informed of the changes, I'm hopeful that they won't be checking for approval before we board. After all, if the purpose is just data collection ...

They used to collect data long before Covid came around via the questionnaire upon entering.

And don’t u wonder if anyone even looked at those forms??

Maybe you can help me as no one has answered this question
To “ upload “ vaccination card can I do that from my photosSaw that someone said you have to put it in pdf form??
What’s stressing me out is I’m not too tech savvy and concerned this will cause a problem…

Just convert it to a PDF. Just Google how to do it. Pretty easy even for a not so tech savvy old man like me.

I only got that form on one flight in 15 years, and then, no one collected it.

That's wonderful but my fear is how quickly will the airlines get informed about the change. My daughter flies in on the 2nd. I am encouraging her to still apply for the EHAS form just to make sure she does not get hung up.

I uploaded my vaccination card without converting it to a pdf.

good luck.

Good idea as no word has been said it's not required.

Please report on any updated info
Thank,you

They're not eliminating EHAS at this point, just the requirements for tests for unvaccinated travelers.

And as I expected, some of the EHAS employees/consultants are losing their positions and complaining, contesting or filing suits over being dismissed. Once one gets on any form of a government position, it is not easy to do away with those positions.

I’m confused. So do we still have to go online to get permission to enter the country? Then show any paperwork to anyone? Hopefully not! Packing is all I want to do.

As of now you still need EHAS approval.

Another post reported that the island is anticipating 1,000,000 cruise passengers. Does anyone think that EHAS has the capacity to process that number as well as all those arriving at PJIA?

Cruise passengers do not have to submit an EHAS application, unless the cruise begins or ends in St Maarten and they plan on staying pre or post trip on the island.

How ?
Photo ?