Local Laws

CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While you are traveling on Sint Maarten, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own. In some places, you may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you. In some places, driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail. These criminal penalties will vary from country to country. There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States.  For example, you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States. If you break local laws in Sint Maarten, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution.

Persons violating Sint Maarten’s laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Local law is based on Dutch law, which allows for the detention of subjects during an investigation with the approval of a judge. Persons imprisoned on Sint Maarten do not have the option of posting bond for their release.

Arrest notifications in host country:  While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in that country, others may not.  To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas.

If you are a woman traveling abroad, please review our travel tips for Women Travelers.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Dutch law, in principle, does not permit dual nationality. However, there are exceptions to this rule. For detailed information, contact the Embassy of the Netherlands in Washington, DC, or one of the Dutch consulates in the United States.

LGBT RIGHTS: There are no legal restrictions on same-sex sexual relations or the organization of LGBT events in Sint Maarten. For more detailed information about LGBT rights around the world, you may review the State Department’s Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2013. For further information on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) travel, please read our Information for LGBT Travelers page.

ACCESSIBILITY: While on Sint Maarten, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation very different than in the United States. Sidewalks and crossings in some areas are not wheelchair accessible, and many public buildings lack ramps.