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Entering by boat: Sint Maarten (Dutch side)

What to do to enter Sint Maarten (Dutch side) by sea: the procedures, the papers to present and the ports where you can clear in.

Check with the authorities before you leave (last checked on 28 October 2026).

The steps

  1. Enter at Simpson Bay (bridge) or Great Bay (Philipsburg).
  2. Report to Immigration then Customs with previous clearance, crew list, passports, papers and insurance.
  3. At Simpson Bay, pay bridge and lagoon fees at the SLAC office.
  4. Clear out at the same port with proof of payment.

Papers to have on board

  • Passports for the whole crew
  • Crew list
  • Boat papers (registration certificate)
  • Insurance certificate
  • Outward clearance from the previous country

Good to know

  • Clear in person on arrival; no pre-arrival step for the boat.
  • Clear out at the same port you cleared in; leaving via Great Bay costs far more than via Simpson Bay.
  • Entry is refused without an outbound clearance (zarpe) from the last port.
  • The online embarkation/disembarkation (ED) card has been mandatory for air travellers since 15 October 2024 and may soon apply to yachts.
  • The Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority (SLAC) office announced a temporary move to the ferry dock: check its location.

Ports of entry

The ports where you can clear in, and the services available there.

Prepare your arrival with Hullteam

In the app, free: the map of every port of entry and its offices with their contacts, the crew list and the entry forms filled in for you, ready to print or send to an agent.

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Sources

This information is gathered from public sources and sailors’ experience. It does not replace the country’s authorities, whose word is final: check before you leave.