Saint-Martin (French part)
Phone Code
+590
Capital
Marigot
Population
32,000
Native Name
Saint-Martin
Region
Americas
Caribbean
Timezone
Atlantic Standard Time
UTC-04:00
On This Page
Saint-Martin occupies the northern portion of a small Caribbean island shared between two nations since the 1648 Treaty of Concordia — the world's smallest island divided between two sovereign countries, with French Saint-Martin (54 square kilometres) on one side and Dutch Sint Maarten (34 square kilometres) on the other. The border between them is open and unmarked, so the two sides function as one island in practice despite being governed, and entered, separately. As a French overseas collectivity outside the Schengen Area, entry follows its own rules: EU/EEA/Swiss citizens enter freely, and most other nationalities — including the US, Canada and Australia — enter visa-free for up to 90 days.
Visa Requirements for Saint-Martin (French Part)
Saint-Martin's entry requirements are distinct from mainland France because the island sits outside the Schengen Area — a Schengen visa for mainland France does not automatically grant entry here, and entry here does not grant access to Schengen countries. EU/EEA/Swiss citizens enter freely with a national ID card or passport for stays of any duration. Most other nationalities, including the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, enter visa-free for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. In practice, most travellers arrive via Princess Juliana International Airport on the Dutch side, where Sint Maarten immigration processes entry for the whole island regardless of which side you're headed to — French Saint-Martin retains its own separate immigration authority, but checks at the open Dutch-French boundary are rare in routine tourism. Travellers who need a visa must apply specifically for French overseas territories, not a standard Schengen visa, through a French consulate. See the visa categories below for the specific requirements.
Common Visa Types
Visa-Free Entry (EU/EEA/Swiss Citizens)
For citizens of EU member states, EEA countries, and Switzerland seeking Caribbean sun while maintaining EU convenience.
Visa-Free Entry (90 Days - Select Countries)
For nationals of ~60 countries including USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, UK, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and many Latin American countries for tourism or business.
French Overseas Territory Visa
For nationals requiring visas to enter French overseas territories (distinct from Schengen).
Extended Stay / Residence
For foreign nationals seeking extended stays or residence through property ownership, business investment, family reunification, or retirement.
Essential Travel Information
Discover Saint-Martin (French part)
The 1648 Treaty of Concordia divided the island between France and the Netherlands without ever building a physical boundary — the two colonial powers agreed to share the island rather than fight over it, and the arrangement stuck for over 375 years, with only a handful of small monuments marking where French Saint-Martin becomes Dutch Sint Maarten. Immigration is processed once, at Princess Juliana International Airport on the Dutch side, for the whole island; French Saint-Martin technically maintains its own separate immigration authority, but in practice a visitor can cross to Marigot for lunch and Philipsburg for the evening without showing a passport again.
Money & Currency
Euro (EUR)
Currency code: EUR
Practical Money Tips
Euro on the French Side — USD Also Accepted
The French side of Saint Martin (Saint-Martin) uses the euro. US dollars are accepted at virtually all businesses given the island's mixed French-Dutch tourist economy. The Dutch side (Sint Maarten) uses the Netherlands Antillean guilder, but USD circulates freely on both sides.
ATMs in Marigot and Grand Case
ATMs are available in Marigot (BNP Paribas, Caisse d'Épargne) and Grand Case. They dispense euros. International Visa and Mastercard work reliably. Cross the border to Philipsburg for additional banking options on the Dutch side.
Cards Widely Accepted Island-Wide
Visa and Mastercard are standard at hotels, restaurants, and boutiques. American Express is accepted at upscale properties. Apple Pay and Google Pay work at modern terminals on the French side. The island is highly tourist-oriented with strong card infrastructure.
Keep Cash for Local Vendors and Tips
Cash is useful for local market stalls, small beach bars, and tipping. Service is not automatically included — 10–15% is the norm. Euros are most efficient; USD also works everywhere.
Note: Always check current exchange rates before traveling. Currency exchange is available at airports, banks, and authorized money changers.
No — the border is open and unmarked, with only small monuments showing where one side becomes the other; entry to the island is processed once, at the airport, and covers the whole island regardless of which side you're visiting.
Most Western nationalities — including the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand — enter visa-free for up to 90 days, and EU/EEA/Swiss citizens enter freely with no time limit; a Schengen visa for mainland France does not cover Saint-Martin, since the island sits outside the Schengen Area.
Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) on the Dutch side has by far the most international connections and is where most visitors arrive, regardless of which side of the island they're staying on; the French side's Grand Case Airport only handles regional flights to nearby islands.
Treat this Visaja page as your starting point: verify the current rules directly with the official source before you submit an application.