TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin As of yesterday, there are NO Covid requirements to enter SXM!

I had the same question I contacted SXM EHAS there answer is the first location .

I also found in reading Jeff’s weekly letter in the 20th article at the bottom it stated that the standard PCR test done in the states is acceptable , I hope that I read it correctly , I’m sure if I didn’t I will hear about it .

Application and approval was a breeze.
Twenty minutes from application to approval.
Wahoo.
SXM here we come.
carib cheers,
doctorj

Good deal! Enjoy!!

Thanks Carol.
Can't wait.
carib cheers,
doctorj

We went together, got the test done at our local pharmacy, results in 20 minutes. Cool!! Right!!! Wrong!! For some reason, when Louise sent my results in, it was denied. After hours and hours of phone calls, asking what happened. Why did MY paperwork was denied??? Long long and short. Something to do with "PDF file vs J-PEG" !! All I know that this was a heart attack waiting to happen. Thank God we have a printer. We even printed the return paperwork. We had with no lie, a folder 1" thick!! The 72 hour turn around time is KILLER!! I pray that come in the near future that our Vaccine card will eliminate all this nightmare!! Did I mention that we were so happy to clear the arrival, that we walked out with out our luggage!! SMH LOL!!!

I was filling out my application for St Martin. When I got to the test results section and under the upload section it has 120/48.
I thought the rapid test could be within 72 hours. Our flight is 72 hours from now. Do I have to wait until tomorrow 48 hours before fight for rapid test. All info is appreciated

READ the link in the first post in this thread. LINK

The time frame for the ANTIGEN test always was 48 hours.

Well I thought if read that if coming from the US it could be 72hours. But ok thanks for the info.
No need for the caps on read and antigen. I was just asking a simple question for anyone that had the correct info without having to research that long thread at the top of the page.

No, it is 72 hours for the PCR test, UNLESS you are from the US or Canada, in which case it is 120 hours.

BTW, there is a change as of today, but it only applies to the ABC Islands--that is, Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao.

Thanks so much

stangied--No, you don't have to research the whole thread, just read the link in the first post.

We also had confusion regarding the number of hours in advance, as we are flying into SXM and staying on the French side. We inquired with the EHAS folks, here's the response:








From: EHAS <EHAS@sintmaartengov.org>
Date: May 24, 2021 at 11:00:04 AM CDT
T0
Subject: RE: Travel date arrival Saturday May 29th

Good day,

Thank you for your e-mail, For travelers from the USA, US territories and Canada the time frame remains 120 hrs. prior to departure. Although you are fully vaccinated negative COVID-19 test is required to travel to St. Maarten.



Kind regards,








Sent: Monday, May 24, 2021 10:52 AM
To: EHAS <EHAS@sintmaartengov.org>
Subject: Travel date arrival Saturday May 29th

Hi,

We are arriving from the US on Saturday May 29th and staying at a villa on the French side. We are all fully vaccinated.


We are confused on if we need to test 120hr or 72hrs prior to arrival?

Can you clarify for us?

Thank you!


___________________________



Hope this info helps!!

Please note--they did not really answer your specific question. It is 120 hours for travel to SINT MAARTEN for a PCR test. The EHAS folks do not care (and possibly don't even KNOW) what the requirements are for French St. Martin. Please note they also do not even address the timing for an antigen test.

It is my understanding that, depending on where you're staying, you may be required to take another test on the French side, because their requirement is 72 hours . Best to ask this question of the folks where you are staying.

I verified this with La Playa on Orient where we are staying. 72 hours

I want to thank you all for the valuable information you have shared.

I was tested at Walgreen on 5/30, received my results on 5/31 and within one hour of applying for the EHAS, I was approved. I'm all set to fly in on Friday!!

Great! Enjoy!

There has never been a holding pen, nor do they have room for one these days. The only thing that PJIA cares about is payment of Departure Tax. If it is paid then they really don't care what you do. If you are staying on French side but flying out of SXM on your return home then you can dispute the tax. I personally don't see that staying on French Side is In Transit. If you are truly "In Transit" then it is possible to fight the Departure Tax that you have already paid to your airline. My recommendation is to go have a cocktail and forget about it.

Has anyone heard that the 120/48 hr testing requirements have been changed to 48/48?
Their site still has it at 120/48.
Thanks for your help.
Ellen

Has not changed for US or Canadian travelers.

Thank you, that is what I see, but people on Trip Advisor and FB are saying it has.
One person cancelled their trip because of the misinformation.
Ellen

From stmaartenehas.com

AS OF JULY 1 THE rt-PCR TEST MUST BE PERFORMED ON A NASO-PHARYGEAL SWAB WITHIN 72 HOURS BEFORE DEPARTURE BY TRAVELERS ORIGINATING FROM THE USA AND CANADA. ALTERNATIVELY THESE TRAVELERS CAN ALSO PERFOM AN ANTIGEN TEST WITHIN 48 HOURS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE TO SINT MAARTEN.

Is this a change from the 120 hour requirement?

Looks like it just got more difficult to get to SXM with a PCR test.....and what happened to the take about removing the testing requirement?

Bogus....

Uhmn, yeah, what a PITA..

This thread is very confusing. As a trip draws near I see the change to 72 hours from SXM departure of July 1 and then I see another post saying doesn't apply to US or canada.

IMHO, It would be nice ii the most bestest reliable person(s) in this regard from TTOL-land kept up the latest/greatest requirements (with website links) and discarded the old stuff.

Just always refer to the first top posted link for most current requirements.

Right--just look at the top post, which shows the link to the most recent information.

Which is exactly why the title of the post SHOUTS that you should read the information in the first link.....

Georgia--yes, but apparently that isn't good enough. Still start another post...

Probably should close this one.

Sorry, intended to.

Quick question about a seeming contradiction on the Requirements page of EHAS
Children of age 10 and under are exempted from the mandatory rt-PCR or antigen test. As of the day after the 10th birthday, a rt-PCR or antigen test has to be submitted.

So are Ten year olds exempt while they are 10 but not when they turn 11 ? or exempt at 9 but not after the 10th Birthday?

Traveling next Friday with Daughter who is !0 now and would like to get clarity before we go to get our tests done Wed.

Exempt up until their 10th birthday, when they are 10 years and 1 day they need a test

Thank you. i planned on getting her the test regardless- finding out at the Airport that i guessed wrong would be Heartbreaking.

First vacation in 2 years- one more week and then 10 Days at la Playa on Orient Beach.

The EHAS site does need some editing to make that rule a little clearer.
perhaps:
Children of UNDER age 10 are exempted from the mandatory rt-PCR or antigen test. As of the day after the 10th birthday, a rt-PCR or antigen test has to be submitted.

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

No.

By the way, I think this is another change from what was announced around December 20 or so, but the booster must be at least two weeks old, in order to avoid having to test.

I thought I would update the info regarding children 4 and under and thus too young to be vaccinated.

I contacted EHAS directly via email asking about which test and the time frame for our preschooler who can not yet be vaccinated and got this reply within a couple of hours:

"My name is Sherry Richardson, and I am one of the EHAS administrators for the island of St. Maarten.

Your daughter will need a PCR test 48 hours, and then upload it to Ehas"


So I am assuming ANY child from birth up to 5 will need a PCR test.

Filling out EHAS form. Insurance amt per person is $125?? Somewhere I read it was $30 but wanted to be sure before I finished the EHAS form

No. It's $15 a person.

Thank you. I think I have it figured out!