Am I correct in understanding that we need to have pre-approval of our EHAS forms to go through St. Martin that require negative Antigen tests, and the Antigen test needs to be less than 48 hours old? Sounds tough to navigate.
Thanks. The devil is in the details.
I assume the EHAS form can be submitted electronically? (I tried to scroll through it to the end to find out, but I can't advance the pages because I cannot yet fill in all the blanks).
Yes the details I would rather be chatting about the wonderful food Cheryl and I will be enjoying. So please don’t scold me. I see traveling from JFK to SMX they require 120 hour prior to arrival according to the SMX website from USA and USA territories. I see SBH needs 72 hours to enter. We just wish to have all the necessary documentation. If someone can pm me and explain then I won’t have to take up bandwidth on this wonderful site. Thanks
Sorry if I was scolding! It may all get even more confusing as the powers to be on the island have changed a few things from the mainland France version. Our crack team of translators is working on it as we speak! Stay tuned. Spoiler alert a word beginning with Q is featured.
Hello allActually, this may be helpful for others. The whole testing/submittal/approval process is confusing, but the key word is "within".
SXM offers greater latitude than SBH, but we need to abide by the SBH rules. (Ferry travelers may be able to skirt the SBH rules, but I'm not going there.)
You can enter and transit through SXM if you have a negative rt-PCR test taken within 120 hours (5 days), or a negative Antigen test within 48 hours (2 days) of the departure time of the last leg of your flight to SXM. You have to submit proof of that test through their EHAS system and get Pre-Approval, or your US airline will not allow you to travel.
For entry into St Barth, it is more restrictive. You must have a negative rt-PCR test within 72 hours (actually, 3 days) of your arrival. As of today, a negative Antigen test taken within 48 hours (2 days) of your arrival is again accepted.
3 days is less than 5 days, so a test that conforms to SBH rules will be accepted by SXM.
The choke point for both SXM and SBH is the turnaround time between testing and getting results, and then submitting the results to SXM EHAS and getting Pre-Approval before your flight time.
For St Barth, proof of COVID vaccination is also required. It appears that entry may be possible without proof of vaccination, but a 7-day self-quarantine and an on-island test after the 7 days will be required. Proof of vaccination appears to be less time critical, and can be submitted to your villa rental agency or hotel at any time.
As to hours vs. days, everything that I am seeing anywhere is that they're not counting hours either in SXM or SBH, they're counting days.
Good up to date info. ThanksHello all
We transited through SXM this afternoon. I filled out the SXM electronic health form on monday right after we did our antigen tests at CVS. Either a 72 hr PCR or 48 hr antigen test is acceptable for entry to SXM connecting to SBH. Having filled out the SXM form a few times this past year, it continues to change slightly. They now ask for you to attach vaccine card as well as test results. I filled out our forms monday late morning and had the pre approval email within an hour or two. I printed that out for each of us, also printed out copies of our test results. We flew united from EWR to SXM in late april and United checked SXM forms and test results at checkin in Newark. Today we flew Jet Blue from EWR and JB checked both at the gate prior to boarding. We connected via SBC so then showed both forms (SXM approval form and test results) at SBC check in at SXM. We then only needed passports and vaccine cards upon arrival/immigration at SBH. In April we also had to show our tests at SBH (right after immigration) but did not today—perhaps because they know SBC checks prior to check in/boarding in sxm? I know it sounds confusing but it really isn’t difficult. Tedious yes! The change to 48 hr antigen tests being accepted (at both SXM and SBH)is much easier. If anyone wants to message me I’m happy to help further.
Sorry if I was scolding! It may all get even more confusing as the powers to be on the island have changed a few things from the mainland France version. Our crack team of translators is working on it as we speak! Stay tuned. Spoiler alert a word beginning with Q is featured.
Finally got some clarity. Thanks to all on this wonderful site for your help. Minute Clinics are available to get PCR test results within 24 - 48 hours. Which saves our butts. Cheryl and I booked appointments through Alliance right here in Port Washington the Friday before we travel on Monday morning. See you on the beach
We got ours done at a CVS Minute Clinic and we had results within 11 hours!! They were super fast.
Was looking at CVS online and they use the term "rapid result testing". I assume that is the antigen test and also acceptable for entry to SXM?
I think SXM has a slightly higher bar for which Antigen tests are accepted than the US or SBH, who seem to take any. From the SXM EHAS website:
" obtained from a naso-pharyngeal swab performed within 48 hours prior to departure to Sint Maarten. All FDA approved antigen tests including those with Emergency Use Authorization only (EUA) are accepted. Tests performed outside of the 48 hours period and home tests will not be accepted."
I'm not saying people haven't been permitted entry if they haven't complied with any or all of the below, but "officially" SXM requirements include:
1) "home tests will not be approved" - note this is also the rule for PCR tests at SXM according to the website
2) Note the use of the term "naso-pharyngeal" which is a much deeper probing. It's the one that feels like it is going into your brain. I'm not sure any rapid anitgen tests are actually naso-pharyngeal. I wasn't able to find any. So it seems this rule in particular is ignored.
3) FDA approved including those with emergency use authorization only. I believe this goes for both the test and the lab