Author: BrightPath Caribbean

QUESTIONS BEFORE MOVING IN ST. MAARTEN

Do your future plans include moving to St. Maarten and possibly investing or starting a business on the island? Before you take the plunge and buy your plane ticket, there are some important questions you should ask yourself before you move to St. Maarten. As the island’s leading immigration service, BrightPath Caribbean believes that it is important that anyone moving to St. Maarten truly understands what making this decision means.

Relocating to the Caribbean and starting a business in St. Maarten are not easy tasks, but it can be a great opportunity to generate foreign currency revenues and experience a unique lifestyle. Sint Maarten is a great place to invest, start a business and retire, however a great deal of planning is involved. Before you start searching for flights, you should know how much capital you plan to invest, the type of business you wish to start, local market conditions, and many other things. To help you along the way in your new adventure, we’ve put together a list of five questions to ask yourself before moving to St. Maarten.

1-Why do I want to move to St. Maarten?

St. Maarten is a constituent country that is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The island has more than 100 nationalities speaking mainly English and French, however, there is a large Spanish-speaking population. St. Maarten also offers investors a range of benefits, which can be found below.

Benefits of investing in St. Maarten:

• Airport and cruise port with highly developed infrastructures
• Revenues in US dollars and euros
• More than 2.5 million tourists visiting annually
• Island is a duty-free zone
• Economic stability
• Great quality of life

2-What type of business do I want to open in St. Maarten?

The advice we give to entrepreneurs is to stick to what they know. Managing a business that relates to your field of study or professional experience generally has better chances of becoming a success, generating profits, and realizing on your investment. Do your research and check to see if the local market could benefit from what you have to offer. If your business idea seems feasible on the island, contact BrightPath Caribbean for helpful advice and guidance through the business incorporation process in St. Maarten.

3-How much money can I afford to invest?

To open a business in St. Maarten – just like elsewhere in the world – you have to make a financial investment. You need to know how much you are willing to invest in your new venture to determine the type of business you will open in St. Maarten. Typically, there are two types of investors: those who have capital resources readily available and those who are in the process of gathering their start-up capital. Either way, we do not recommend investing all of your financial resources into your new business! It’s important to consider that before your company starts to operate, you will have pre-operating expenses, and some common ones can be found below.

Pre-operating expenses for a business in St. Maarten:

• Travel costs to visit St. Maarten
• Translations and/or legalizations of documents
• Local immigration consulting firm fees
• License and permit fees
• Inventory acquisition
• Equipment and installation
• Commercial and/or residential real estate rental
• Shipment of personal belongings from abroad

It is also important to save some of your financial resources so that you have a backup fund in case your business is not as profitable as planned at the start.

4-How soon do I want my business open in St. Maarten?

Once you have decided on the type of business you want to open in St. Maarten and have gathered some of the necessary funds, you need to finalize your timeline. Without a defined timeline, your plan to start a business in St. Maarten could quickly turn into a dream if you procrastinate. Once you know your timeline, you can start completing the forms and gathering all of the required documents for your new business.

5-Do I know enough about St. Maarten?

If you feel like St. Maarten is the place for you to start your business, invest or retire, BrightPath Caribbean recommends visiting St. Maarten in advance to make an informed decision. While it may be primarily a fact-finding mission, make sure to enjoy the amenities our beautiful island offers! Hit the beach, check out restaurants, visit historical sites and dance the night away while you’re visiting St. Maarten!

Once you’re on the island, schedule a meeting with BrightPath Caribbean to discuss the following:

• The feasibility of your business in the local market
• Market benefits
• Potential risks
• Competitors
• Minimum investment capital requirement, based on the type of business you desire
• Commercial real estate rental or purchase
• Logistics
• Business licensing and banking requirements

Since you will have some time to explore St. Maarten, make sure to gather information relevant to your personal lifestyle and needs, such as:

• School for kids: public, private, monthly fees, location
• Important areas: financial zone, commercial zone, residential hot spots
• Cost of living: supermarkets, gas, utilities, rent, leisure
• What to do: concerts, cultural events, clubs, restaurants, sports, beaches

To have peace of mind in your decision, know as much as you can about your new country of investment.

BONUS QUESTION: Is my family ready to move to St. Maarten?

This question may not apply to everyone, but it could be the most important question for some individuals. Unfortunately, if your loved ones are unable to adapt to their new surroundings and are unhappy, your investment could be in jeopardy.

The best way to make the move to St. Maarten with a family is with good preparation and planning. It is important to involve your family members in the process from the start, so that they feel included in this new chapter and will go on to support your venture and make it a successful one. Once everybody is on board with the decision to move to St. Maarten, it becomes easier to make the right decisions.

BrightPath Caribbean is a firm focused on providing immigration services and attracting sustainable investments to St. Maarten. We can help you with as suite of corporate services such as business incorporation, licensing, banking services, architectural design and construction.

A new and exciting life is ahead of you, so relax enjoy the ride with BrightPath Caribbean on your side!

Do you have any questions?

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WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT IN LIGHT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

At BrightPath, not only do we promote investments to the Caribbean – whether through retirement, company formations, or real estate holdings – but in most instances, we also offer immigration services to the individuals by way of the same investment.

It’s common knowledge that many business owners and/or company directors in St Maarten have been able to successfully obtain their temporary residency permit on island under the Managing Director immigration program. Regardless of nationality or trade, a great majority of business owners that are foreign nationals in St Maarten likely obtained their legal stay on the island under this program. However, with unemployment rates significantly increasing, mainly as a result of the negative global economic effects from COVID-19, tighter immigration controls are also being implemented to mitigate any possible loopholes that may exist in the system.

If you obtained your residency permit under the Managing Director program and you are now preparing for an upcoming extension of your residency permit, aside from the current renewal criteria, here’s a list of additional items that you should have readily on hand in the event that further due-diligence is required in order to substantiate that your business is in fact operating and fully compliant with the local authorities:

1. Business profit tax filings for fiscal year(s) ending 2018 / 2019 and/or 2020
2. Business bank statements for the past 12 months showing financial activity
3. Statement of compliance from the tax department
4. Evidence of business operating address by way of current utility bills
5. Evidence of payroll slips and supporting evidence of salary payments to the Director
6. Evidence of sufficient funds for the continued business operations and/or personal reserves

It is important that we all do our part to protect the economic and social well-being of the island. Whether we agree to the increased scrutiny in the extension of the residency permits for Managing Directors or not, full compliance by ensuring that the business under which the permit being requested for the foreign national pertains to a business that is truly operational, contributing to the local economy, and not just a “paper” company is vital.

Do you have any questions?

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COPING WITH THE COVID-19 CRISIS: WHAT TO EXPECT MOVING FORWARD?

Let’s face it, COVID has shrunk the global economy and St. Maarten and the Caribbean have been affected as well. As a business owner, what can you expect to see moving forward? While it’s difficult to predict at this point, here are some tips that you can rely on to support you throughout the uncertainty.

1-Compliance is key

Make sure your company documents are up to date. It’s likely that with the current economic and health climate, you can expect enhanced government controls and inspections.You should ensure that you have properly displayed on the walls of your business the following documents for the current year:

– Chamber of Commerce Registration
– Business License
– Director’s License

Your CRIB number should also be displayed to confirm that your business has been registered at the tax office.

 

2- Keep your records on hand

If you’re faced with a visit from the Inspectorate, aside from the documents above, ensure you have your Labor registration and SZV registration on hand for the current year. Your personnel list should also be up to date and reflect all persons currently employed at the business establishment. It’s also important that all documentation showing that the employees have legal stay on the island are on file. This includes passports and applicable residency or work permits, as well as labor agreements, and past payroll records.

3-Treat employees like they make a difference, and they will

Most businesses have seen a decline in revenues and that’s because our economy is primarily tourism based. Consider an action plan involving your employees in a manner that can sustain both the business and their employment through these times. Open communication and transparency build trust and can help support both employers and employees in maintaining the relationship for the long run.

4-Consider registering your business as temporarily inactive

If you currently have no employees and your business is not actively operating at this time, consider a temporary inactivation. This can be done by way of a Board resolution and registered at the Chamber of Commerce, Tax Department, and SZV. You can choose to retain your licenses once the annual fees are maintained and you can reactivate your business once you decide to become operational again.

Do you have any questions?

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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, the United States, the Netherlands, France, the 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 a 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 of obtaining 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 you in finding the property that’s right for you hello@brightfuturerealtors.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.