The Friendly Island

The Isle of two! St. Martin is divided into two geographical zones.

St. Martin, or the French side, occupies two thirds of the island to the north and is an overseas collectivity of France.

The southern end of the island, the Dutch Side, Sint Maarten, a country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Although these are two very distinctly different countries by characteristics, only welcome signs and flags indicate that there is a border. Yes, everyone is free to travel across both countries without any hassle.

The island has beautiful landscapes, an array of beaches from lively to the quiet, and offers every watersport you love or dream of trying.

Marigot, the St. Martin capital is home to a sheltered marina, beautiful colorful houses, an open-air waterfront market and a variety of cozy, chic boutiques. It is also a base for shopping with many clothing, shoes, jewelry, cosmetics, and liquor shops.

After you’ve worked up an appetite, dine at any of the many restaurants and sample the fare – don’t miss a beat because you’re in one of the major gastronomic cities in the Caribbean.

A trip to St. Martin also offers the tantalizing opportunity to go island-hopping. You can take a ferry to Anguilla, St. Barts or Saba or a short flight to St. Eustatius or St. Kitts and Nevis. Be sure your visas are in order before leaving home and your visit could become quite an expedition to the neighboring British, French and Dutch islands.

Whether you choose to stay at a luxurious hotel, a charming villa, or a pretty guesthouse, there’s white sand, turquoise waters, and quiet romantic hideaways available for all. So, soak up the sun while you sip a fresh cocktail, enjoy the magnificent sunsets as you take a stroll with your loved one or delight in a romantic candlelit dinner just for two … after all St. Martin is a Lovers’ Paradise. Savor each moment!

St. Martin – Photo Gallery

Marriage Requirements for St. Martin

Civil ceremonies

Couples planning on getting married in St. Martin must be at least 18 years of age and their request must be submitted at least 14 days prior to the scheduled ceremony to be conducted by the Registrar. The following notarized original documents must be submitted to the Registrar with the request:

• Civil ceremonies are held exclusively at the Collectivité of St Martin Salles des marriages, the official “marriage hall” on the island.
• A letter stipulating the desired date of marriage and the names of the couple-to-be should be sent to the President of the Collectivité at the following address:
  Collectivité de Saint-Martin - BP374 - 97054 Saint Martin
  Tel. 05 90 87 61 80 - Fax 05 90 29 63 09

Before the ceremony requirements:

• Constitution of the wedding file (see list of documents needed below)
• Registration of the file at the “Service Etat Civil de la Collectivité”
• Publication of the wedding banns for a period of 10 days
  Please note that the ceremony cannot take place before the 10-day publication period.

Requirements by nationality

• French and French: At least one person must be a resident on Saint Martin for at least 1 month prior to the marriage on a continuous basis.
• French and foreigner: At least one person must be a resident on Saint Martin for at least 1 month prior to the marriage on a continuous basis.
• Foreigner and foreigner: Under Article 58 of the 27th of May 2009 which is an amendment of article 74 of the Civil Code, two foreigners who are not residents of mainland France may marry without the requirement that one or other of the couple-to-be is resident on Saint Martin.
• Ceremonies may be held 10 days after the date of publication of the marriage banns.

Please present (or send) the following to the President of the Collectivité:

• Photocopies of ID for both parties
• Full birth certificate issued within the last 3 months (for non-French nationals, it must be issued within the last 6 months and must be accompanied by a French translation). Apostil Stamp required
• Copy of proof of address (water, electricity or telephone bill)
• Photocopies of witness’s ID (address and profession)
• Marriage contract (Contrat de Mariage), if applicable
• "Certificat de coutume" - for foreigners only, a document stipulating the laws of the country regarding marriage
• "Certificat de Célibat" - certificate proving celibacy issued within the last 3 months – foreign nationals only
• Death certificate of former spouse, widow/widower
• Copy of previous marriage certificate with proof of divorce or death, if applicable
• Authorization from your superior (if in the military)
• Check that you have enclosed all the above documents before sending your file.

Important Links for St. Martin

To learn more about St. Martin, please see the important links below:

Entry Requirements for St. Martin:

https://www.st-martin.org/us/travel/formalities

How to Get to St. Martin:

https://www.st-martin.org/us/travel/transport-sxm

Places to Stay in St. Martin:

https://www.st-martin.org/us/experience-the-exceptional/outstanding-places-to-stay

Things to do in St. Martin:

https://www.st-martin.org/us/enjoy/activities-sxm

Getting Around St. Martin:

https://www.st-martin.org/us/stay/getting-around-the-island

Events in St. Martin:

https://www.st-martin.org/us/discover/an-event-for-every-day-of-the-year

Dining in St. Martin:

https://www.st-martin.org/us/experience-the-exceptional/surprising-the-taste-buds