Sint Maarten is the southern, Dutch part of an island it shares with French Saint-Martin, and for most visitors it is the front door: big jets land at Princess Juliana International Airport, and cruise passengers walk from the terminal straight into Philipsburg, the capital. It is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands but not a member of the European Union, so Sint Maarten is not covered by Roam Like at Home. Any European SIM, a Dutch one included, pays its operator's roaming rates on Dutch-side networks, while across a border with no checkpoints, on the French side, Roam Like at Home applies.
Key facts for Sint Maarten
- EU roaming: not covered by Roam Like at Home
- Local networks: varies by plan
- Emergency numbers: police and ambulance 911; fire 919; coastguard 913
- Embassies: none on the island; the UK covers it from The Hague, the US from Curaçao, and the Netherlands has a representation in Philipsburg
Before landing: the ED form
Sint Maarten sets its own entry rules and uses a digital embarkation and disembarkation form, known as the ED form, which you fill in before travelling. The tourism bureau links to the official form, so use that route rather than a search result, and enter the passport you will actually travel on. Approval is not the last word: immigration officers make the final decision when you land.
British visitors can stay up to 90 days without a visa, with a passport valid for at least 6 months from the arrival date. A yellow fever certificate is required if you come from a country with a risk of transmission.
Maho Beach and the jet blast
Maho Beach sits at the end of Princess Juliana's runway, right under the aircraft coming in to land. The warning signs on the sand are blunt about it: the jet blast from the aircraft can cause serious injury or death. Watch from further back along the sand, keep children close, and hold on to your phone if you are filming.
Philipsburg, taxis and traffic
Port St. Maarten's cruise terminal gives walking access to Philipsburg. Registered taxis show the word "taxi" on their number plates; they have no meters, but standard routes have fixed rates, so confirm the fare before the car moves. Traffic can be heavy and road signs are scarce, and after rain the roads turn slippery and potholes open up, especially on unsurfaced stretches. Drink-driving is a serious offence: more than two-thirds of the legal limit in England and Wales can bring a fine and possibly a prison sentence.
ID, drugs and the law
Carrying photo ID, such as a passport or a photocard driving licence, is a legal requirement, and a printed copy is not usually accepted. The island is a transit point for drugs travelling from South America to Europe and North America. The violence linked to that trade rarely touches tourists, but passengers go through body scanners and baggage screening, penalties for possession and trafficking are severe, and you should never carry a package for someone else or leave a bag unattended.
Petty theft and street crime do occur, although the main tourist areas are generally safe: stay out of isolated places after dark, put valuables in a safe rather than on your beach towel, and keep bags zipped. Sint Maarten is generally accepting of LGBT+ travellers.
Health, hurricanes and money
St Maarten Medical Center runs an emergency room that never closes, with English-speaking staff. Dutch GPs also practise on the island. Zika and dengue are present, so pack repellent. The hurricane season normally lasts from June to November; the FCDO suggests following the Meteorological Department Curaçao and the US National Hurricane Center. Since 2025 the legal tender has been the Caribbean guilder, but US dollars are widely used.
Getting connected
No dedicated plan: Sint Maarten is reached through regional plans, either a Caribbean plan, which also works on the French side, St Barts, Saba and Sint Eustatius, or a World plan for a longer journey. Install it at home so that it connects as you land at Princess Juliana. Your usual SIM can stay active for bank codes, provided its data roaming is off.
With an EU SIM: Dutch-side networks bill you at your operator's roaming rates, while on the French side Roam Like at Home applies. Because nothing marks the border, a phone can move between the two sides' networks by itself, so check which one you are on before streaming or downloading.
Consular protection: who to call in Sint Maarten
- Call 911 for the police or an ambulance, 919 for the fire service and 913 for the coastguard. If you are over on the French side, dial 112 instead.
- British nationals get consular help from the British Embassy in The Hague, and US citizens from the US Consulate General in Willemstad, Curaçao. Dutch nationals who do not live in Sint Maarten, Curaçao or Aruba can turn to the Representation of the Netherlands in Philipsburg.
- In the Telcomia app you can look up your own country's embassies and consulates, with address and phone number; check before departure which of them is responsible for Sint Maarten.
- Dutch and English are the official languages.
Questions travellers ask about Sint Maarten
Does my EU or Dutch SIM work in Sint Maarten?
Yes, but on roaming: Sint Maarten is not covered by Roam Like at Home, so Dutch-side networks are billed at your operator's own rates, Dutch SIMs included, unless your plan states otherwise.
Is it safe to stand behind the planes at Maho Beach?
No. The signs on the beach warn that the jet blast from the aircraft can cause serious injury or death.
Which network does a Telcomia eSIM use in Sint Maarten?
Sint Maarten is covered through a Caribbean or a World plan, and the network depends on the plan.
Can I walk over to the French side?
Yes. There is no border between the two sides, and people move freely; take your passport or photocard licence with you, because carrying photo ID is compulsory on the Dutch side.
The short version
Fill in the ED form before you fly, carry your passport rather than a copy, watch the planes at Maho Beach from well back, confirm taxi fares first, choose a Caribbean plan if you will visit the French side or St Barts, and save 911, 919 and 913.
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