Promote:
Invest in Sint Maarten
A short guide for companies expanding into Sint Maarten: the economy at a glance, the rules and steps to set up, and who can help, each with its source.
1. Sint Maarten at a glance
PopulationEstimate
43,923
The World Bank reports a population of 43,923 in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, Sint Maarten population, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDPEstimate
US$1.89 billion
GDP was US$1,887,728,480 in 2025 in current dollars, the World Bank reports.
Source: World Bank WDI, Sint Maarten GDP, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP per personEstimate
US$42,978
GDP per person was US$42,978.13 in 2025 in current dollars, the World Bank reports.
Source: World Bank WDI, Sint Maarten GDP per person, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Real GDP growthEstimate
3.4%
The World Bank reports real GDP growth of 3.4 percent in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, Sint Maarten real GDP growth, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Inflation
5.5%
Consumer prices rose 5.45 percent in the second quarter of 2026 against the second quarter of 2025, STAT reports.
Source: STAT, Sint Maarten inflation page, second quarter 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2026 Q2
Foreign direct investment inflows
US$35.4 million
UNCTADstat reports foreign direct investment inflows of US$35.419 million in 2025.
Source: UNCTADstat, Sint Maarten foreign direct investment inflows (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
The currency is the Caribbean guilder, shared with Curaçao.
Source: Common monetary system of Curaçao and Sint Maarten (in Dutch) (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 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.
Sint Maarten has no investment promotion agency, and in July 2025 the economic affairs department asked for proposals to assess one.
Source: Sint Maarten TEATT, investment promotion agency proposals request, July 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of July 16, 2025
No investor one-stop shop was found, and the government pilot called a one-stop shop covers employment permits only.
Source: Government of Sint Maarten, permits one-stop shop pilot page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
The ordinance names no reserved sectors, and it exempts public bodies, public markets, farming and fishing, craftsmen and small traders from the permit.
Source: Sint Maarten establishment of businesses ordinance, 2015 (in Dutch) (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
Economic zones are created by national decree under the 2015 economic zones ordinance, and no decree creating a zone or official count was found.
Source: Sint Maarten economic zones ordinance, 2015 (in Dutch) (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
3. Steps to set up
The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.
Setting up in Sint Maarten
- Incorporate the company at a notary; the Chamber guide lists the notaries and the legal forms.St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce & IndustryOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Sint Maarten Chamber of Commerce, starting a business guide (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
- Apply for the business license and the director license, and ask whether your sector needs an extra license.Department of Economic LicensesNAƒ 1,550 for an NV or BV, including the NAƒ 150 processing fee paid on applicationOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Government of Sint Maarten, business and director license page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
- Register the company in the Chamber of Commerce and Industry commercial register.St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce & IndustryFls. 315 / US$175Official page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Sint Maarten Chamber of Commerce, starting a business guide (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
- Request your CRIB tax number at the Tax Administration.Tax Administration Sint MaartenOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Sint Maarten Chamber of Commerce, starting a business guide (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
Show 5 more set-up steps
- Register the business with the Department of Labor Affairs if you will have employees.Department of Labor AffairsNAƒ 250 to NAƒ 1,000; 3 daysOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Government of Sint Maarten, business registration page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
- Register with SZV for health insurance, which the law requires of every employer.SZVOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Sint Maarten Chamber of Commerce, starting a business guide (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
- Apply for employment permits for non-national staff.Department of Labor AffairsOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Government of Sint Maarten, new employment permit page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
- Apply for residence permits through Immigration and Border Protection Services.Immigration and Border Protection ServicesOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Government of Sint Maarten, Immigration and Border Protection Services page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
- Open a business bank account at one of the local banks the Chamber guide lists.St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce & IndustryOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Sint Maarten Chamber of Commerce, starting a business guide (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
4. Organizations that help investors
Start with TEATT and Customs. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
- Sint Maarten has 43,923 people, so this guide lists every national body found with evidence dated 2025 or later; it has 9 organizations. Source (opens in a new tab)
Investment and business setup
Economic affairs ministry
TEATT
Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication
Its economy department develops Sint Maarten's investment policy, and its 2022 strategy keeps any investment promotion agency within the ministry.
- Get advice
Chamber of commerce and registry
COCI
St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Keeps the Commercial Register, issues certificates of origin and extracts, and runs business training.
Visit COCI (opens in a new tab)Source: Sint Maarten Chamber of Commerce, about page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
Show 1 more organization
- Meet requirements
Immigration and border service
IBPS
Immigration and Border Protection Services
Handles residence admission, naturalization and visas, and publishes a 2025 requirements list for residence permits.
Visit IBPS (opens in a new tab)Source: Government of Sint Maarten, Immigration and Border Protection Services page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
Customs authority
Customs
Controls goods, animals and hazardous items moving in and out of Sint Maarten, and says its only tax is excise on unleaded gasoline.
Visit Customs (opens in a new tab)Source: Government of Sint Maarten, Customs department page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
- Meet requirements
Tax authority
Tax Administration
Tax Administration Sint Maarten
Collects and audits taxes, and publishes the yearly tax return forms and filing deadlines for individuals and businesses.
Visit Tax Administration (opens in a new tab)Source: Government of Sint Maarten, 2025 tax documents notice (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
Chambers and industry associations
- Get advice
Business membership association
SHTA
Sint Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association
Represents member businesses in hospitality, trade and other sectors in Sint Maarten, and offers them member services.
Visit SHTA (opens in a new tab)Source: SHTA, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
5. Worth knowing
Currency and settlement
Only the Caribbean guilder (XCG) has been accepted for guilder payments at the Receivers Office since July 2, 2025, yet licensing pages still print fees in Netherlands Antillean guilders.
What to do: Confirm the currency of each fee, contract and invoice before you pay or price.
Sources: Government of Sint Maarten, Caribbean guilder payments notice, June 2025 (opens in a new tab); Government of Sint Maarten, business and director license page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
Fuel and consumer prices
STAT reports consumer prices up 5.45 percent in the second quarter of 2026 on a year earlier, with transport up 21.50 percent.
What to do: Check current fuel and freight costs before you fix long-term prices.
Sources: STAT, Sint Maarten inflation page, second quarter 2026 (opens in a new tab); STAT, consumer prices first quarter 2026, May 15, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
Licensing backlog and portal
In May 2026 TEATT reported the licensing backlog down from over 400 matters to about 60, and the online portal pilot closed on May 9.
What to do: Check the department's page for the current application route before you file.
Sources: Government of Sint Maarten, licensing backlog news, May 20, 2026 (opens in a new tab); Government of Sint Maarten, Department of Economic Licenses page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
No investment agency yet
The government asked for proposals in July 2025 to assess an investment promotion agency, and none exists yet.
What to do: Ask the Ministry of TEATT which office handles investor questions.
Sources: Sint Maarten TEATT, investment promotion agency proposals request, July 2025 (opens in a new tab); Sint Maarten TEATT, Investment Policy and Diversification Strategy, December 2022 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
Show 1 more
Business permit rules
The establishment ordinance requires a ministerial permit, and non-Antillean-born applicants need TEATT's finalization letter before registering at the Chamber.
What to do: Confirm your applicant category with the Department of Economic Licenses before you incorporate.
Sources: Sint Maarten establishment of businesses ordinance, 2015 (in Dutch) (opens in a new tab); Sint Maarten Chamber of Commerce, starting a business guide (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
6. How Promote:Global helps
- Compare Sint Maarten with other countriesSet Sint Maarten beside other countries on investment momentum, fundamentals and trade access, before site, tax and legal work.
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- Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.
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Promote:Sint Maarten 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.