Saint Barthélemy, St Barth to most visitors, is a dry former volcanic island of 24 km² in the French Caribbean, with the harbour town of Gustavia, built partly in the Swedish era, as its centre. It is a French overseas collectivity, but it is not part of the EU, so it is not covered by Roam Like at Home: even a French SIM roams here on whatever terms its operator offers. That makes St Barth different from the French side of Saint-Martin, a short hop away, where EU roaming rules do apply.
Key facts for Saint Barthélemy
- EU roaming: not covered by Roam Like at Home
- Local networks: Digicel (depending on the plan)
- Emergency numbers: 112, or 15 (ambulance), 17 (police) and 18 (fire)
- Embassies: none on the island; British and Canadian help is handled from Paris
Getting there: a famous runway and the Gustavia ferries
There are no direct long-haul flights. Most travellers connect through Saint-Martin and Sint Maarten, Guadeloupe, Antigua or Puerto Rico, then take a short flight or a ferry. The Rémy-de-Haenen airport, formerly Gustaf III, sits on the bay of Saint-Jean and is known for its short runway; it opens at 7am and closes 15 minutes after sunset, so late connections can strand you on the neighbouring island. Ferries link Saint-Martin and Sint Maarten with the port of Gustavia several times a day. French entry rules apply: British visitors can stay up to 3 months without a visa, with a passport that expires at least 3 months after they leave, and a yellow fever certificate is required if you arrive from a country with a risk of transmission.
Three roaming regimes in one short trip
Your route here may cross three different sets of rules. Princess Juliana airport is on the Dutch side, Sint Maarten, which is outside the EU, while Grand Case airport is on the French side, Saint-Martin, where Roam Like at Home applies. Then St Barth itself is outside it again. Watch the network name on your screen at each stop, and switch data roaming off on your home SIM whenever you are not sure what it will cost.
Healthcare, money and local rules
St Barth is not part of the EU for healthcare purposes, so no EHIC or GHIC treatment is available, and you should have travel insurance and funds for any treatment and for repatriation. Medical care is of a standard equivalent to mainland France, but some specialist treatment is only available in Guadeloupe or Martinique. French law applies, and you must be able to prove your identity when asked or within 4 hours at a police station, so keep your passport or photocard licence handy; a UK licence is valid for driving. Crime is low, but avoid isolated places, beaches included, after dark, keep valuables in a hotel safe and do not flash cash. June to November is the usual hurricane season.
A dry island and its marine reserve
St Barth has no natural source of drinking water, so its supply comes from desalinated seawater; use it sparingly. The Saint-Barthélemy Nature Reserve, created in 1996, protects 1,200 hectares of sea around the island, including Colombier Bay and Grand Cul-de-Sac, and the Territorial Environmental Agency regulates fishing and water activities inside it, so check the rules before snorkelling or casting a line. On land, look out for iguanas and hummingbirds, and in Gustavia for the old town hall and bell tower from the Swedish period.
Getting connected
A travel eSIM installed before you leave home works from the moment you reach the island. The St Barth plans run on Digicel, on 4G, and a Caribbean plan also covers Saint-Martin, Sint Maarten and Guadeloupe, which suits the connecting flights and ferries, while a World plan suits a longer journey. Keep your usual SIM for bank texts, but with its data roaming off.
Consular protection: who to call in Saint Barthélemy
- Call 112 for any emergency, or the French short numbers: 15 for an ambulance, 17 for the police and 18 for the fire service.
- There are no embassies on the island. British nationals are covered by the British Embassy in Paris, and Canadians by the Embassy of Canada in Paris, whose consular district includes Saint-Barthélemy.
- Use the Telcomia app to find the mission responsible for St Barth for your nationality, with its address and phone number.
- French is the official language.
Questions travellers ask about Saint Barthélemy
Will my EU SIM work in St Barth?
Only on roaming at your operator's own rates, because St Barth is outside Roam Like at Home. That can include French SIMs, depending on the operator.
Can I use my EHIC or GHIC there?
No. St Barth is outside the EU's healthcare rules, so travel insurance is essential.
Which network does a Telcomia eSIM use in St Barth?
Digicel, on 4G.
Can I fly in after dark?
Normally not. The airport closes 15 minutes after sunset unless special permission is given, so allow plenty of time for connections, or take a ferry.
The short version
Install the eSIM before you fly, check which side of Saint-Martin you connect through, plan your last flight before sunset, carry ID, buy insurance because the EHIC does not apply, follow the marine reserve rules, watch the hurricane season, and save 112 and 15.
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