Nationals from 122 countries
need visas to enter St. Maarten
PHILIPSBURG--The issue of visa requirements and visa restrictions has the full attention of the local Immigration Department, which announced that 122 countries needed visas to enter St. Maarten.
Police spokesman Chief Inspector Johan “Janchi” Leonard said persons travelling from countries, which include Colombia, Cuba, Botswana, the Dominican Republic, the Philippines, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Lebanon, Kenya, Cameroon, Madagascar, Pakistan, Peru and Sri Lanka, were required to have a valid passport, visa, airline ticket showing the passenger is scheduled to return before or on the day the visa expires, and “show money” to verify that the person entering the island can sustain themselves.
Persons from Schengen Territories, US citizens and persons with a residence permit and persons travelling from some Caribbean islands are exempt from visa restrictions.
Leonard said this information was based on the revised instructions to the Lt. Governor regarding the application of the Federal Ordinance on Admittance and Expulsion as amended and the Admittance Decree as amended, given by the Minister of Justice in June 2006.
Persons in possession of a visa are not permitted to work and a Dutch visa is not valid for entry to French St. Martin. As for Dutch St. Maarten, persons younger than twelve years travelling to the island from visa-restricted countries can enter legally as long as they are travelling with their parents. They aren’t allowed to enter French St. Martin as all persons coming from visa-restricted countries require a visa to travel to French St. Martin.
Leonard said the Immigration Department would no longer accept entry of children under 12 travelling from visa-restricted countries with persons other than their parents unless they had legal documents from the Court of Guardianship in their country authorizing a third party to travel with them, and a visa.
He said no letters from the Consulate of the Dominican Republic would be accepted as replacement for the letter from the Court of Guardianship. He said persons entering also had to provide the address where they would reside while here, and would be required to notify the Immigration Department of any changes.
Leonard also explained that persons with a visa could be refused entry into St. Maarten if the Immigration Department found that they had intentions of living on the island or if they were aggressive. Once on the island, one can be detained and repatriated immediately if a crime is committed or if false information about the person’s place of residence has been given.
Visas are issued for a maximum of three months by the Dutch Embassy in the country where the person is travelling from, and the Embassies are all controlled by the Netherlands.
