Promote:
Invest in Saint Martin
A short guide for companies expanding into Saint Martin: the economy at a glance, the rules and steps to set up, and who can help, each with its source.
1. Saint Martin at a glance
Population
31,160
The population was 31,160 on January 1, 2023, the municipal population authenticated by decree no. 2025-1362 and in force from January 1, 2026.
Source: Insee, populations of overseas collectivities, 2023 census (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of January 1, 2023
The currency is the euro (EUR).
Source: IEDOM, annual economic report on Saint-Martin, 2025 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 2, 2026
2. Before you set up
The investment agency, any one-stop route, the sectors reserved for nationals and the zones, as the guide found them.
No investment promotion agency was found for the island. The Collectivité and the CCISM support businesses.
Source: IEDOM, annual economic report on Saint-Martin, 2025 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 2, 2026
No investor one-stop shop was found. Businesses register online through INPI's business formalities portal, and the CCISM's formalities center advises and assists.
Source: Impôts Saint-Martin, new business tax booklet, 2026 edition (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of March 27, 2026
No list of sectors reserved for nationals was found on the official pages read.
Source: IEDOM, annual economic report on Saint-Martin, 2025 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 2, 2026
IEDOM's 2025 report and the business and tax pages read name no investment zone, so the zone count is zero.
Source: IEDOM, annual economic report on Saint-Martin, 2025 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 2, 2026
3. Steps to set up
The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.
Setting up in Saint Martin
- Register the company online through INPI's business formalities portal, which informs the tax office; the CCISM can advise and assist.Institut national de la propriété industrielle; Chambre Consulaire Interprofessionnelle de Saint-MartinOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Impôts Saint-Martin, new business tax booklet, 2026 edition (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of March 27, 2026
- Receive the TGCA number, then file TGCA and corporate tax returns by email as PDFs and pay by bank transfer on the tax calendar's dates.Centre des Finances Publiques - Pôle fiscalGenerally within two months of registrationOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Impôts Saint-Martin, new business tax booklet, 2026 edition (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of March 27, 2026
- Arrange work access for foreign staff with the Collectivité and residence permits with the State.Collectivité de Saint-Martin; Préfet de Saint-Barthélemy et Saint-MartinOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: IEDOM, annual economic report on Saint-Martin, 2025 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 2, 2026
- Check building, planning and land rules with the Collectivité before you commit to a site.Collectivité de Saint-MartinOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: IEDOM, annual economic report on Saint-Martin, 2025 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 2, 2026
Show 1 more set-up step
- Open a bank account with one of the five banks on the island; IEDOM handles the right to an account.Institut d’émission des départements d’outre-merOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: IEDOM, annual economic report on Saint-Martin, 2025 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 2, 2026
4. Organizations that help investors
Start with Collectivité and French customs. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
- The island has 31,160 residents, so this guide lists every national body found with evidence dated 2025 or later; it has 11 organizations. Source (opens in a new tab)
Investment and business setup
Territorial government
Collectivité
Collectivité de Saint-Martin
Sets the island's tax code, runs the port, issues work access for foreigners and building rules, and publishes business guides and aid rules.
Visit Collectivité (opens in a new tab)Source: IEDOM, annual economic report on Saint-Martin, 2025 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 2, 2026
- Get advice
State representative's office
Préfecture
Préfet de Saint-Barthélemy et Saint-Martin
Represents the State on the island, handles residence permits and business domiciliation, and hosts the State's territorial units.
Visit Préfecture (opens in a new tab)Source: Préfecture of Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Martin, home page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
Show 1 more organization
Business formalities portal operator
INPI
Institut national de la propriété industrielle
Runs the online portal where businesses on the island register, change or close, and keeps the national business register.
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
Customs authority
French customs
Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects
Answers customs questions for the island through its Guadeloupe regional directorate and lists the island's marinas approved as clearance points.
Visit French customs (opens in a new tab)Source: French customs, approved clearance points list (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
- Meet requirements
Tax administration office
Pôle fiscal
Centre des Finances Publiques - Pôle fiscal
Receives tax returns, issues the TGCA identification number and answers business tax questions for the island.
Visit Pôle fiscal (opens in a new tab)Source: Impôts Saint-Martin, taxes for businesses (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
Chambers and industry associations
- Get advice
Chamber of commerce and trades
CCISM
Chambre Consulaire Interprofessionnelle de Saint-Martin
Helps people define a business project and assists with company formalities and tax filing obligations.
5. Worth knowing
Local tax code
Saint-Martin sets its own taxes: the Union's VAT system does not apply, and a 4 percent TGCA covers retail sales and services.
What to do: Confirm your tax regime with the Pôle fiscal before you register.
Sources: Impôts Saint-Martin, taxes for businesses (in French) (opens in a new tab); IEDOM, annual economic report on Saint-Martin, 2025 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
Sellers based abroad
The tax office may require a local representative from sellers based outside the island and a bank guarantee from those outside the Union.
What to do: Ask the Pôle fiscal whether either applies before you sell on the island.
Source: Impôts Saint-Martin, taxes for businesses (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
Climate and water
Drinking water comes only from seawater desalination at Galisbay, a dependence IEDOM calls a vulnerability; Hurricane Irma badly damaged the supply system in 2017.
What to do: Check water and power supply arrangements for your site with the Collectivité.
Source: IEDOM, annual economic report on Saint-Martin, 2025 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
Labor market
Unemployment was 27.0 percent in 2023, and the population fell 2.1 percent a year from 2017 to 2023.
What to do: Check hiring needs and training options with the DEETS unit before you set staffing.
Source: IEDOM, annual economic report on Saint-Martin, 2025 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
6. How Promote:Global helps
- Compare Saint Martin with other countriesSet Saint Martin beside other countries on investment momentum, fundamentals and trade access, before site, tax and legal work.
- Find advisors and service firmsAsk an advisory firm a scoped, paid question, or browse firms that list their own services, from legal work to logistics.
- Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.
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Promote:Saint Martin is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of November 1, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.