Month: November 2021

AMERICAN VISITORS TO ST. MAARTEN

Are you an American citizen that’s planning on visiting St. Maarten as a tourist and wondering how long you can stay here? BrightPath Caribbean is your most reliable source for up-to-date information regarding travel requirements to Sint Maarten. As of this publication in July 2020, American citizens do NOT need a visa to visit St. Maarten and can stay up to six (6) months uninterrupted. As an American citizen, you may also be able to extend your stay, but you must apply first, and also have valid health insurance that covers you for your entire stay in Sint Maarten. There are many various sources that mention a different amount of days an American can stay in St. Maarten, however, 6 months is the official duration from Sint Maarten government officials.

Entry Requirements for American Citizens. Upon arrival in St. Maarten by air or sea, you must present:

• American passport that is valid upon entry, and for the entire duration of your stay;
• Completed and signed Embarkation and Disembarkation card (ED card);
• Valid return ticket;
• Valid hotel/resort reservation, or proof of owned property while staying;
• Proof of sufficient financial means for travel ($100 to $200USD per day)

Please note, that the final entry to St. Maarten remains with the border control officer. The Immigration and Border Protection Service (IBP) reserves, at all times, the authority to grant or refuse your entry.

Duration of Stay for American Citizens

The maximum amount of days that an American can visit St. Maarten is six (6) months, uninterrupted, with a possibility to extend stay to up to 6 months.

Extension of Stay for American Citizens

All American visitors who wish to stay longer than 6 months can apply for an extension of stay, however, the approval is not always guaranteed. If you do get approved to stay in St. Maarten for longer than 6 months as an American citizen, you must have valid health insurance that covers you for the entire stay here on the island.

Source: Sint Maarten Goverment

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VISITING ST. MAARTEN AS A TOURIST

St. Maarten is a top Caribbean destination for travelers coming from Canada, United States, Netherlands, France, United Kingdom and many other places! If you’re hoping to visit St. Maarten in the near-future, you may be wondering to yourself, “How long can I stay in St. Maarten as a visitor?”

How long can visitors stay in St. Maarten?

Most visitors may remain in St. Maarten for a maximum of 30 uninterrupted days. Dutch nationals and American nationals are allowed to stay for a maximum of 6 months uninterrupted with a possibility for extension.

Canadians, European Union nationals, Australians, New Zealanders and Japanese nationals have an allowable stay of maximum 3 months uninterrupted with a possibility for extension.

Requesting an extension of stay

Any tourist who wishes to stay longer than their allowed time may request an extension; however, the possibility to obtain an extension can differ for those travelers who require a visa to enter St. Maarten.

All tourists who have received an approved extension of stay must have medical insurance valid for the duration of the extended stay.

Source: The Government of St. Maarten

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WONDERING IF YOU NEED A VISA BEFORE TRAVELING TO SXM?

With all of St. Maarten’s beautiful beaches, fantastic restaurants, and lively nightlife, it’s no surprise that many people are thinking to themselves, “Do I need a visa to visit St. Maarten?” It’s a top Caribbean destination for many reasons and BrightPath Caribbean can help make your next visit to the “Friendly Island” a breeze!

St. Maarten is a frequent destination for tourists coming from Canada, United States, Netherlands and France. While BrightPath Caribbean specializes in permanent and temporary relocations to St. Maarten, as the island’s leading immigration specialists, we would like to provide future tourists with important St. Maarten visa information.

Most visitors to St. Maarten do not require a visa to enter St. Maarten, but if you are required to obtain one, please visit your nearest Dutch Embassy or Consulate. You will be provided with an application form to apply for a visa to St. Maarten, which must be returned to the Dutch Embassy or Consulate with several important documents. The cost of a visa to enter St. Maarten is approximately EUR €35 (USD $42).

If you need a visa to enter St. Maarten, please attach the following documents to your completed application form:

1. A passport, which should be valid for three months after departure from St. Maarten.
2. One recent passport-size colored photo.
3. Proof of booked return tickets/itinerary from travel agency.
4. For tourist/family visits: legalized invitation (from friends or family with a copy of his/her passport and residence permit if non-national) and guarantee declaration.
5. For hotel booking: copy of confirmed booking and sufficient funds USD $100.00 – USD $200.00 per day.
6. For business: invitation letter from company you are visiting.
7. If you are a student, please submit a recent and original letter from your school, college or university confirming attendance.
8. Bank letter: evidence of sufficient funds to cover the cost of your intended stay (e.g., original recent bank statement, travelers’ checks).
9. A valid medical insurance or travel insurance which also covers medical costs with a minimum coverage of USD $15,000.00 or EC $41,000.00.

Please note: You cannot apply for a visa for St. Maarten more than three months in advance and the whole process takes approximately 2-3 weeks.

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WORKING IN ST. MAARTEN

If you are a Human Resources Manager within an organization or a business owner alike, you can understand the importance of sourcing the right candidate for a vacant or upcoming position. At BrightPath Caribbean, we specialize in immigration and work permit services to assist you in legalizing the indicated candidate for the position if the same cannot be filled by a resident or national. Interested in a specialized and confidential consultation? Email us to schedule yours at info@brightpathcaribbean.com

An employment (work) permit is a legal document granting an employer permission to hire non-Dutch citizens, as well as non-nationals of the United States of America, to work in a specific function for a specific period of time.

Any employer who wants to employ a non-Dutch citizen or a non-citizen of the United States must request an employment permit from the Department of Labor Affairs. The process for an employment permit may take a maximum of 6 weeks (although turnaround times vary) and applications may either be first-time requests or renewals/extensions of already existing employment permits.

The following is a general list of requirements applicable to First-Time Requests for the (prospective) employee:

1. A copy of the entire passport evidencing the applicant remains abroad
2. A recent (Dutch-sized) passport picture
3. Information on the education background of the non-national supported with notarized copies of diplomas, certificates, and reference letters from country of origin
4. An off-island declaration signed by the employer

For renewals or extensions of work permit requests the following apply:

Employers who wish to extend an employment permit or change an employee will need the following:

1. Registration form from the Census Office of the Employee
2. Copy of the present residence and employment permit of the Employee
3. A copy of a valid passport, a recent passport picture of the Employee
4. A valid medical insurance of the Employee
5. Information on the educational background of the non-national supported by notarized copies of diplomas, certificates and reference letters from country of origin
6. The crib number for the non-national

Requirements to obtain an Employment Permit from the (business) Employer:

1. Proof of the labor registration of the current year
2. Proof of notification of vacancy supported by relevant job description
3. Proof that the ad was placed in the local newspapers and if possible other territories of the Dutch Antilles
4. A copy of the labor agreement which must indicate the salary, duration, working hours and position
5. Summary form of monthly taxes stating (wage tax/AOV/) receipts confirming no outstanding

Note – The following persons DO NOT need to obtain an employment permit for the purposes of employment on St Maarten:

1. Persons married to a Dutch citizen with legal residency on Sint Maarten
2. Persons in possession of an indefinite residence permit
3. Dutch citizens
4. US nationals with legal residency on Sint Maarten
5. Residents 18 years old with five years’ previous (uninterrupted) consecutive resident permits guaranteed by a parent or guardian.

Do you have any questions?

Contact us today for a free consultation and let us guide you throughout the process!

 

MOVING TO SXM

If moving to St. Maarten is at the forefront of your plans, then you have come to the right place! Our regional and renowned expert in all things Caribbean @thetravelingislandgirl has put together a very informative video on ten things you should know before moving to St. Maarten.

Are you moving to St. Maarten in the near future? Or, is moving to St. Maarten more of a long-term goal? The Traveling Island Girl gives you the full scoop – or as the team at BrightPath calls it, “The good, the bad, and the ugly” of moving to St. Maarten! No detail is spared in this must-see video.

Moving to the Caribbean can often be a big change in lifestyle and yes, that includes moving to St. Maarten as well. With its 37 amazing beaches, hundreds of A-rated restaurants, lots of bars and entertainment, moving to St. Maarten can be one of the best choices in lifestyle change for you.

If you have ten minutes to spare, you should definitely check out the full video on the Top Ten Things You Should Know Before Moving to St. Maarten. It’s the best free information on moving to St. Maarten that’s available to those who want to live the island dream.

For more information about moving to St. Maarten and how the team at BrightPath can support you with immigration, business, and banking services, contact us at info@brightpathcaribbean.com Our friends at BrightFuture Realty Group can also assist with you in finding the property that’s right for you hello@brightfuturecaribbean.com

Do you have any questions?

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RETIRING IN ST MAARTEN: THINGS YOU SHOULD CONSIDER

Falling in love with Sint Maarten is so easy, that almost everyone that visits the island wishes to retire here.

If you have been thinking of moving to the friendly island and live your Caribbean dream, listen to our podcast in collaboration with Island92 for more information.

And complement the information by reading the latest article in our blog in How to Retire in St. Maarten.