Sint Maarten ED Card & Entry Requirements
There is no arrival on earth quite like the one into Sint Maarten. You come in low, lower than feels legal, and below the wingtip there are people standing on a beach with their phones up, because the runway at Princess Juliana ends where the sand begins. You touch down on one of the great theatrical landings in aviation, and then you remember that even theater has a ticket booth. This little half-island has always been two things at once: the Dutch side, Sint Maarten, where you land, and the French side, Saint-Martin, where lunch turns into a three-hour affair. To get onto the island through that famous airport you need the ED Card, the digital entry form rolled out in late 2024. It's free, it takes ten minutes, and the airline won't let you board without the QR code. This guide covers all of it: the ED Card at entry.sx, passports and visas, the 90-day stay, the gloriously light-touch customs of a duty-free free port, and how to get off the plane and into the rum and grilled fish.
- Main town
- Philipsburg
- Main airport
- Princess Juliana (SXM)
- Currency
- Caribbean guilder (USD accepted)
- Languages
- Dutch & English
- Time zone
- Atlantic (UTC-4, no DST)
- Best time
- Dec to Apr
- Power
- Dutch side 110V · Type A & B
- Entry form
- ED Card (free, entry.sx)
How to complete the Sint Maarten ED Card
Sint Maarten's ED Card (Embarkation/Disembarkation Card) is the digital immigration form for arrivals through Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM). It launched on the official government portal, entry.sx, in October 2024 and replaced the old paper landing card. It captures your passport details, travel itinerary, accommodation and a short health declaration.
- 1File within 7 days of arrival
The portal opens seven days before your flight; you cannot submit earlier. Complete it at least 24 hours before departure so any error can be fixed calmly rather than at the gate. It covers arrivals by air, sea and land, including crossing in from the French side.
- 2One form per person
Every traveler needs their own ED Card, including children and infants. Enter your details exactly as printed on your passport. Official residents of Sint Maarten are the exception and use a dedicated line.
- 3Save your QR code
On submission you receive a confirmation with a QR code by email. Airlines check it at check-in, and travelers without it have been denied boarding, so treat it as required. Screenshot the code and keep it handy on arrival. Submitting the ED Card does not guarantee entry, the immigration officer at the border makes the final call.
Is the Sint Maarten ED Card free? Watch for third-party sites
Yes. The official ED Card is free on the government portal, entry.sx. There is no charge to submit it.
As with most Caribbean entry forms, a number of third-party sites offer to fill in the ED Card for you for a fee. That's optional, and you're paying a middleman rather than the government. Use the official site, entry.sx, and you pay nothing. The “mandatory” status has been phased in since launch and airlines now verify the QR code, so complete it regardless; confirm the latest position on entry.sx.
Entry requirements
Have these ready before you reach immigration at SXM:
- A valid passportIt must be valid for the duration of your stay; carry 6+ months' validity where possible, since airlines may apply stricter rules at check-in. A US passport book is required for air travel, the passport card doesn't fly.
- Your ED Card QR codeFrom entry.sx, ready on your phone or printed.
- A return or onward ticketRequired, and often checked. If you're transiting, have the ticket for your onward journey.
- Proof of accommodationYour hotel or villa booking, or a host's address (you'll enter this on the ED Card too).
- Proof of sufficient fundsOfficers may ask you to show you can cover your stay, or a guarantee letter from a legal resident.
Do I need a visa for Sint Maarten? Visa requirements and length of stay
Most visitors don't need a visa. Admission is always the border officer's final call, so confirm your nationality's status with Sint Maarten immigration before traveling.
| Country / region | Visa status (tourism) | Typical stay |
|---|---|---|
| USA | Visa free | Up to 90 days (longstanding US-Dutch friendship treaty) |
| Canada | Visa free | Up to 90 days |
| United Kingdom | Visa free | Up to 90 days |
| EU / EEA | Visa free | Up to 90 days |
| Most Latin American countries | Visa free | Up to 90 days |
| Holders of a Dutch Caribbean (short-stay) visa | Visa issued in advance | Up to 30 days per visit, multiple entries over 6 months |
| Other nationalities (e.g. India, China, Nigeria, Pakistan) | Visa required in advance | As granted |
How long can I stay in Sint Maarten?
Visa-exempt visitors are generally admitted for up to 90 days (most US travelers receive 90 days automatically). Always check the duration the officer actually stamps. Nationalities that require a visa apply for a short-stay Caribbean visa through a Dutch embassy or consulate before traveling. Staying longer means applying for the appropriate permit; working on a tourist entry is not allowed.
Sint Maarten customs: a duty-free free port
Here's where Sint Maarten is genuinely different from its neighbors. The Dutch side is a duty-free free port. The island's own Customs department describes itself as primarily a law-enforcement agency rather than a duty collector, and the only tax it levies is an excise on gasoline. There's no VAT, no turnover tax and no room tax, which is exactly why the island is a famous shopping stop for jewelry, watches, electronics, liquor and perfume.
For arriving travelers aged 18 and over, personal-use goods (alcohol, tobacco, perfume, electronics and gifts) are admitted without import duty, and there are no tight set quantity limits the way other islands impose. In practice:
| Item | Sint Maarten (arrival) |
|---|---|
| Alcohol & tobacco (personal use, 18+) | No import duty on reasonable personal quantities |
| Perfume & gift articles | No import duty on reasonable personal quantities |
| Personal effects | Camera, laptop and phone enter freely |
| Cash & currency | Declare amounts over about US$11,000 (or equivalent) |
The catch is on the way home. The limits that will actually cost you are your own country's duty-free allowances when you fly back (for example, the US personal exemption is commonly around US$800 of goods and roughly 1 liter of alcohol; EU residents are generally limited to 200 cigarettes and 1 liter of spirits). Keep your receipts, and check your home country's customs rules before you shop. Confirm current Sint Maarten rules with Customs (sintmaartengov.org), as policy can change.
Prohibited & restricted items
Even in a free port, plenty is off-limits. Sint Maarten's customs uses a green channel / red channel system: nothing to declare goes green, anything to declare goes red.
- ProhibitedIllegal narcotics and drugs, firearms and ammunition without a permit, spearguns and pole spears, explosives, counterfeit goods, and pornographic material.
- Restricted / permit requiredWeapons of any kind need prior written permission. Live plants and cuttings, and raw fruits and vegetables, are restricted or prohibited.
- PetsAn import permit from the Ministry of Justice is required, plus an international health certificate; submit the paperwork well in advance.
- Prescription medicationCarry it in original packaging with the prescription, and declare large quantities.
- Endangered speciesItems covered by CITES (certain plants, animals and their products) are restricted or banned.
Arriving at Princess Juliana Airport (SXM)
Almost all international visitors land at Princess Juliana International (SXM) on the Dutch side; the small Grand Case (SFG) airport on the French side mainly serves regional French-Caribbean flights. After that legendary approach over Maho Beach:
- 1 · ImmigrationPresent your passport and ED Card QR code. The officer stamps your permitted stay.
- 2 · Baggage claimCollect your checked luggage.
- 3 · CustomsChoose the green channel if you have nothing to declare, or the red channel if you do. Bags may be screened.
- 4 · Arrivals hallTaxis, pre-booked transfers, rental desks and tour operators are just outside; minivans/buses run toward Simpson Bay and Philipsburg.
Skip the arrivals-hall scramble
Land, walk out, and find your name on a sign. Book a verified driver to your Simpson Bay, Maho or Philipsburg hotel before you fly.
Money matters
The official currency is now the Caribbean guilder (XCG), which replaced the Netherlands Antillean guilder on March 31, 2025 (older guides still say “Antillean guilder”). It's pegged to the US dollar at about 1.79 XCG to US$1. In practice you may barely see it: US dollars are accepted almost everywhere, and many prices are quoted in dollars.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Currency | Caribbean guilder (XCG, symbol Cg), pegged at about 1.79 to US$1 |
| US dollars | Accepted nearly everywhere; cards widely accepted |
| Sales tax | None on the Dutch side: a duty-free free port with no VAT, turnover tax or room tax |
| Tipping | A service charge is often added; otherwise 10% to 15% is customary |
| Departure tax | Applies at SXM, normally included in your airfare; confirm with your airline |
| Currency declaration | Declare cash over about US$11,000 |
| Electricity | Dutch side 110V, US-style Type A & B plugs; French side 220V, European plugs |
| Driving | On the right (both sides) |
The French side uses the euro, though dollars are often accepted there too. Tax-free shopping is the Dutch side's calling card, so price big-ticket items here.
Best time to visit Sint Maarten
Warm all year, generally 80°F to 88°F (27°C to 31°C). Unlike Aruba, Sint Maarten sits inside the hurricane belt, so the seasons matter.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Peak / dry | Dec to Apr | Sunniest, calmest, busiest and priciest; book early |
| Shoulder | May to Jun | Warm, better value, occasional showers |
| Low / hurricane | Jun to Nov | Cheapest, hottest, higher rain and storm risk; insure the trip |
Hurricane season runs June to November; travel insurance is worth it in those months.
Health, water & food in Sint Maarten
This is the real reason to cross the border.
- WaterTap water on the island is largely desalinated; bottled water is widely available and an easy default.
- Before you goCheck current advice with your doctor and an official health authority such as the CDC or your national equivalent. Travel insurance with medical coverage is strongly recommended.
- SunStrong year-round. Sunscreen, shade and water, especially the first days.
- Food, the real reason to cross the borderSint Maarten eats better than an island this size has any right to. On the Dutch side, hunt down the johnnycakes and the island's beloved ribs and chicken at the Friday-night street parties, and the lolos (open-air barbecue shacks). Then drive to Grand Case on the French side, the self-styled culinary capital of the Caribbean, and eat grilled lobster and Creole snapper at a beachfront lolo with your feet in the sand. One island really does give you two cuisines. Wash it down with a Guavaberry or a cold Carib.
Top things to do in Sint Maarten
One island, two countries, jet-spotting beaches and the best eating in the Caribbean. Here's where to start.
Maho Beach plane spotting
The island's signature spectacle: jets skimming the sand on final approach to SXM. Check arrival times, hold onto your hat (the jet blast is real), and enjoy one of the great free shows in travel.
Philipsburg & Front Street
The Dutch capital: duty-free shopping on Front Street, the Great Bay boardwalk, beach bars and cruise-day buzz. The place to buy the watch or the rum without the tax.
Grand Case (French side)
The culinary heart of the island: beachfront lolos grilling lobster next to refined French bistros. Cross the invisible border and make a night of it.
Orient Bay (French side)
A long, lively beach with watersports, beach clubs and a famously free-spirited stretch at one end. The French side's beach social scene.
Pinel Island & boat trips
A short boat hop to a tiny, calm islet for snorkeling and lunch, or day sails to nearby Anguilla and St. Barts.
Loterie Farm & Pic Paradis
Inland and green: ziplines, jungle trails and the island's highest point, a cooler counterpoint to the beaches.
A sample day in Sint Maarten
Shop Philipsburg while it's cool, time Maho Beach for a few big arrivals, then cross the invisible border for lobster off the grill.
- 8:00 amSlow breakfastCoffee and a johnnycake before the heat lands.
- 9:30 amPhilipsburgWalk Front Street and the boardwalk; shop duty-free while it's cool.
- 12:00 pmMaho BeachTime it for a few big arrivals and the famous low approach.
- 1:30 pmCross to the French sideLunch at a Grand Case lolo, lobster off the grill.
- 3:30 pmOrient Bay or Pinel IslandSwim, snorkel, or just lie there.
- 7:00 pmDinner back on either sideFrench bistro or Dutch barbecue, a Guavaberry to finish.
More time? Day-sail to Anguilla or St. Barts, or zipline at Loterie Farm.
Where to stay in Sint Maarten
Each area has a distinct character, and choosing the right base shapes your whole trip. Here's how the most popular visitor areas compare:
Philipsburg
Central, walkable, shopping and the boardwalk; cruise-day energy. Best for shoppers and a lively base.
Simpson Bay & Maho
Nightlife, restaurants, marinas and the plane-watching beach; close to SXM. Best for nightlife and convenience.
Cupecoy
Quieter, upscale, cliff-backed beaches on the west end. Best for couples and calm.
Official Sint Maarten resources
This is an independent travel guide by CustomsBreeze. Confirm current requirements with the official sources below before you travel:
- entry.sxOfficial Sint Maarten ED Card portal
- sintmaartengov.orgGovernment of Sint Maarten (immigration, Ministry of Justice & Customs)
- vacationstmaarten.comSint Maarten Tourism Bureau (entry requirements)
- sxmairport.comPrincess Juliana International Airport (SXM)
- netherlandsworldwide.nlDutch Caribbean visa applications (for visa-required nationalities)
