My experience so far. Quite easy, no worries (Oct 2021)
I am returning to my condo in Maho for the first time in over a year.
I am flying direct on Sunwing Oct 7 from YYZ Toronto an I am fully vaccinated.(Pfizer) Here is what you need to know.
To enter SXM from Canada as of this date (things can always change) you will require a Rapid Antigen test completed within 48 hours of departure. There are several options for this test here in Ontario. I chose Shoppers Drug Mart. Just walk in and takes about 20 minutes to get printed results. Check with the specific location to get times etc. I am traveling on Thursday so I got my test done at 4pm Tuesday. Cost was $40 CAD.
EHAS (Electronic Health Authorization System) for Sint Maarten. You must upload your proof of vaccination and negative Rapid Antigen test to the Sint Maarten EHAS along with the usual Passport information and where you will be staying. To complete filling out the EHAS system takes roughly 20 minutes. If you are from Ontario you upload a copy of the record of vaccination showing you have received 2 doses and the printout of your test results from Shoppers Drug Mart..Once you have completed filling out the EHAS it will prompt you to buy COVID insurance for $15 USD. VISA or Mastercard for the payment. Once you have paid you are finished. You will receive an email from them indicating they have received you application for review.
EHAS was submitted Tuesday at 5pm. At 8:30pm (same day) I received my Pre-Approved Authorization email. I received along with an email a PDF file which has my info and a QR code. Keep that electronically but also print it off in hard copy for customs. You will also receive a PDF file for your COVID 19 insurance. A portion of the insurance print out includes a card with a QR code. Cut it out and carry it on you.
You are ready to go to SXM.
I know it is a digital electronic QR code era where we keep everything on our phone but it is a good practice to print and have hard copies with you.
I have not done the return as yet but when returning to Canada, they require an RT PCR test (not the Rapid Antigen test) to return back into the country which must be completed no greater than 72 hours prior to departure. There are several options for getting the PCR test on the island which have already been covered in previous threads. Current prices range from $75 -$150 USD
Could you tell me the brand of antigen test that Shoppers drug mart is using? I live in a smaller city and the Shoppers here is still not doing testing for travel purposes so I may have to use the local Pharmasave.
The test completed by Shoppers Drug Mart in Ontario is the Abbott Panbio Covid -19 Rapid Antigen Test which has been approved by Health Canada and accepted by EHAS
"The list of acceptable rapid antigen tests includes the Abbott (CGIA Panbio COVID-19 Ag rapid test), Becton Dickinson (CGIA BD Veritor COVID-19 test), Roche (SD Biosensor F test) and Abbott BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card. The list is constantly being reviewed as government continues to seek the most accurate alternatives to the PCR test which remains St. Maarten’s gold standard testing method."
Thank you for you info. Very Helpful. You mention in your post that you are required to up load your proof of vaccination. That's the first time that I have heard that this is a requirement. We are booked to fly out on November 11th, both of us are double vaxed so it's not a problem but don't want any surprises.
November 11 will come along quick .. only a month away.
Yes if you are from Ontario, just upload the vaccination slip showing 2 doses plus the negative covid test as mentioned earlier. Carry paper copies as well when you are traveling. The uploads can be in JPG or PDF files. I uploaded in JPG form as a picture image and that was fine.
As you probably know, Westjet will start flying again to SXM that week Nov 7 -13, three times a week.. Sunwing from YYZ started flights last week on Thurs Sept 30 however for that flight they made a stop in Punta Cana. Tomorrow is Sunwing's first direct flight to SXM.which I will be on and In mid December 2021, both Air Canada and Air Transat start flying again to SXM. So options are opening up for flights now from Toronto YYZ to SXM.
Where is this found on the government website? I can’t seem to find it.
Originally Posted by bdeeley
From SXM government website:
"The list of acceptable rapid antigen tests includes the Abbott (CGIA Panbio COVID-19 Ag rapid test), Becton Dickinson (CGIA BD Veritor COVID-19 test), Roche (SD Biosensor F test) and Abbott BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card. The list is constantly being reviewed as government continues to seek the most accurate alternatives to the PCR test which remains St. Maarten’s gold standard testing method."
We are at Maho for 2 weeks.I think this will be our 15th trip to SXM, and 9th to Maho. I keep checking flight times for the weeks coming up and they haven't changed . I think the Sept 30th flight down was extended by about 2 hours at least 2 weeks before departure. George
Thank you. With a stat holiday on the 11th we were booked for a PCR test on Nov 12th but will switch to the much cheaper and quicker Antigen test. We fly on the 13th so timing is tight.
Your passport Your printed EHAS Approval Your original rapid Antigen test results from whatever you submitted
Once you clear customs. They are x-raying all bags.
The next morning you will receive an email from EHAS. You must self monitor for 5 days by replying to their email with your temperature and whether you have any symptoms. It is only for five days and takes 20 seconds.
Leagle--I didn't see them x-raying our bags at all. Perhaps just too excited to be here?? Our bag was in our hands VERY quickly. We were at the front of the line for immigration, but we were OUT of the airport I would say in under 15 minutes.. There was only one other plane in and it had been on the ground for a while, I think.
Regarding the X-ray of the bags. All bags off the Sunwing flight were x-rayed after immigration yesterday. You carried your bags to the machine and put them down on the Belt with the operator watching. I have been coming for years and this was the first time. Yesterday October 7th.
When my wife and arrived in Feb 2020 on Sunwing they did not x-ray our luggage. But on our flight home in March 2020 we watched our flight arrive from Toronto and while the passengers were leaving the plane a few custom's vehicles arrived and they took I assume the drug dog through the cargo hold which I found strange. Maybe it's because Marijuana is legal in Canada and we are allowed to fly domestically with a limited amount
Customs? Did you actually have to clear customs? Or just immigration? I do not remember ever having had to clear customs in SXM..
Welcome to SXM! We leave today..
You clear immigration then get your bags, customs is as you are walking out of the secure area, they do have xray machines there and customs officers, but have never seen anyone stopped there
I have been here 10 times between 2019 summer and now. First time for them to x-ray. The system looks permanent and not portable. Perhaps it's only used part of the time. It didn't look like anybody had anything to hide and it only took a minute or so per person. After the X-ray machine there were two desks with immigration staff waiting to look through luggage that was questionable. Not mine 😂.
There must have been some kind of a tip with regard to something specific going on with your flight. Yes, the customs equipment is there all the time, but I have never seen in manned, in all our trips since 1995.. I suspect it really depends on where the plane is coming from.
I do recall a number of years back that there was a long line to get out after getting luggage. After a few minutes they let passengers from US flight go out without waiting. Figured they must have had a tip and were looking for contraband.
I have seen it done a few times a couple of years ago. When you leave immigration, the scanners are there right before you exit the secure area into arrival area where car rentals are.
Thank you for the detailed information on what is required for us Canadians. We are coming back to the island in November for 5 weeks (retirement celebrations for DH and I) making this our 15th trip. Will follow along to see how your departure and arrival back to Canada goes. Enjoy your trip!! 😎🥂
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