Order a Saint Barthelemy Passport: What You Need to Know Before Applying

Man, getting a passport for Saint Barthelemy was a real adventure, let me tell you! I’ve always been fascinated by this beautiful island and I figured, why not take the plunge and try to get a passport? Sounds crazy, I know, but where’s the fun in life without a little bit of crazy, right?

So, I started digging around, trying to figure out how one even goes about getting a Saint Barthelemy passport. Turns out, it’s not something just anyone can get. Saint Barthelemy is a collectivity of France. So, it doesn’t have a formal way for foreigners to become citizens. If you’re a resident there, you’re basically considered a French citizen.

But I wasn’t deterred! I found out that tourists from the US, Canada, and the EU can stay in Saint Barts for up to 90 days with just a regular passport. But, if you want to stay longer or become a resident, that’s a whole different ball game. You’d have to go through the French immigration process, which, let me tell you, is not a walk in the park.

First, I had to make sure I had all my ducks in a row. My current passport had to be good for at least three months after I planned to leave Saint Barts. Then, I had to show them that I had a ticket to leave the island. It’s like they don’t trust you to ever want to leave that paradise!

• Get a valid passport: This was the easy part. I already had one, so I just had to check the expiration date.
• Book a round-trip ticket: This was a bit more of a commitment. I had to decide when I wanted to go and for how long. It was exciting, but also a little nerve-wracking!

Then came the real challenge. I had to fill out a bunch of forms, write letters explaining why I wanted to go to Saint Barts, and provide all sorts of documentation to prove I wasn’t some kind of international spy. Okay, maybe not that dramatic, but it felt like it! The form was super long and had all sorts of questions I had to answer truthfully. I spent a whole afternoon just making sure I filled everything out correctly.

Once I had all of that sorted, I gathered all my paperwork, double-checked everything about a million times, and sent it off to the powers that be. The waiting game was the worst part. I kept checking my email and mailbox, hoping for some kind of response. I imagined them over there, reviewing my application, and deciding my fate. Finally, after weeks of waiting, I got a notification. My application had been accepted! I couldn’t believe it. I was going to Saint Barthelemy!

All in all, it was a ton of work, but it was totally worth it. The moment I stepped off the plane in Gustavia and felt the warm Caribbean breeze, I knew I had made the right decision. Now, I’m here, soaking up the sun, enjoying the beautiful beaches, and living my best life in Saint Barthelemy. I ended up spending a great 85 days there, just a little under the 90-day limit.

If you’re thinking about doing something like this, my advice is to go for it! Do your research, be prepared for some paperwork, and don’t give up. It might seem like a long shot, but you never know what could happen. Who knows, maybe I’ll see you in Saint Barthelemy someday!