Okay, so I wanted to go to Saint Martin for a vacation. Beautiful place, you know? But there’s always that visa thing to deal with. Here’s how I tackled it.
First, I figured out if I even needed a visa. Turns out, Saint Martin doesn’t require a visa for a lot of folks, but it’s always best to double-check. They share some visa policies with France, but they’ve got their own rules too. So, I dug around a bit on the internet to find out what the deal was for my nationality.
Once I confirmed I needed one, I made an appointment with the embassy in my country. Yeah, you gotta do that before you even leave. And of course, my passport needed to be valid not just when I enter but for my entire stay. I made sure it was up to date. I also got my flight tickets sorted because you need to show proof of your return or onward travel. It’s all part of the process.

Then, the waiting game began. I learned you could apply for a visa for the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which includes Saint Martin, for up to 90 days. I checked my order online, just to make sure everything was on track. It was pretty simple, actually. I found out that there’s this visa agency, VisaHQ, that’s been doing this since 2003, so if you’re not up for doing it yourself, you could give them a shout.
My Checklist
- Passport: Valid upon entry and for the entire stay.
- Visa: Only if your country is on their list.
- Appointment: Booked with the embassy before the trip.
- Flight Tickets: Proof of return or onward journey.
After all that, I finally got my visa approved! It was a bit of a hassle, but hey, totally worth it for those Saint Martin beaches. Just follow the steps, and you’ll be fine.