Caribbean Travel: Latest Updates on Saint-Martin Arrival Requirements

Thinking about a trip to the Caribbean? It’s smart to get up to speed with the latest entry requirements, as tax obligations can vary widely by island. While some destinations charge a tourist tax, others impose a departure tax based on your mode of transport—whether by cruise ship, private yacht, or flight. These fees generally fund infrastructure, environmental, or tourism development projects.

Tourist Taxes Vary Across Caribbean Destinations

Several Caribbean nations have recently updated or raised tourism-related fees for 2025–2026. Here’s what’s new:

• The Bahamas: Introduced new departure taxes in 2025 for cruise passengers (US$23–30 depending on port and vessel) and raised fees for private yachts and boats up to US$3,000. Environmental and tourism development surcharges have also been added.

• The Cayman Islands: Launched a US$42 cruise passenger surcharge in 2025 to support infrastructure upgrades.

• Jamaica: Plans to gradually increase airport service charges between 2026 and 2030, funneling proceeds into a US$200 million modernization program.

• Barbados: Since 2025, introduced a 10% levy on short-term rentals—collected via platforms like Airbnb—while temporarily reducing inter-island travel fees to ease regional mobility costs.

Other islands, including the Dominican Republic, have raised airport fees to finance terminal renovations and modernization.

Saint-Martin’s Proposed Tourist Tax

Since August 2025, Sint Maarten has been developing a proposed new tourist tax—a stay tax—set to be 27 Xcg (about US$15) for adults and 18 Xcg (about US$10) for minors. Enforcement was initially slated for 1 January 2026, though the government noted the date might shift depending on legislative progress. On 27 November 2025, Finance Minister Marinka Gumbs highlighted significant progress on upgrading the stay-tax system in her year-end report, signaling enhanced revenue collection and national development support.

14. Tourist Stay Tax: Modernization of the stay-tax system has advanced to boost revenues and better support national development.

— Minister of Finance Marinka Gumbs, Year-End Report

Entry Requirements for Saint-Martin

What do I need to enter Sint Maarten? All visitors—tourists, transiting passengers, and residents—arriving by air or sea must complete the island’s digital e-Arrival Card. This online form is free and allows you to input personal and travel details, including passport and flight information. It replaces the traditional paper Embarkation/Disembarkation Card and is designed to streamline entry.

You can submit your card any time before travel, but authorities recommend filing it within seven days of your arrival date.

Where can I get one? The e-Arrival Card is available exclusively via the official Sint Maarten government portal: entry.sx/.

Who needs to use it? Everyone traveling to Sint Maarten for tourism, transit, or residence, regardless of whether you arrive on the French or Dutch side of the island.

Neighboring Antigua and Barbuda has also digitized entry with its own mobile-only system called ArriveAntigua.