Saint Martin
Key advice
The entire island of Saint Martin is a bilateral free trade zone — no customs duties on your camera gear on either the French or Dutch side. No formalities for dive photographers. The French side is outside the EU customs territory and benefits from free port status.
- Customs authority
- DGDDI (côté français) / Customs Sint Maarten (côté néerlandais)
- Personal duty-free allowance
- 0
- ATA Carnet
- Accepted
- Official website
- douane.gouv.fr ↗
Practical scenarios
You're traveling to Saint Martin with a GoPro Hero 11 and its waterproof housing, valued at approximately €600. As the entire island is a free trade zone, you have no specific customs procedures to follow. Your equipment is considered personal and will not be subject to any import duties, whether you arrive on the French or Dutch side. There's zero risk, so enjoy your dives!
Your equipment includes a Sony A6600 mirrorless camera, an Ikelite housing, and a macro lens, with an estimated total value of €3,500. Upon arrival in Saint Martin, you have nothing to declare. As the island is a bilateral free trade zone, your personal underwater camera gear is exempt from customs duties. There's no effective monetary threshold for this type of goods. No risk of taxation.
You're carrying a complete setup: a Canon R5 full-frame mirrorless camera, a Nauticam housing, and two lenses (macro and fisheye), valued at approximately €12,000. In Saint Martin, you will have no customs formalities for your equipment. The island benefits from full free port status, on both the French and Dutch sides. Your personal equipment is completely exempt from duties and taxes. An ATA Carnet is not necessary but can serve as proof of possession for your return.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to declare my underwater camera equipment upon arrival in Saint Martin?
No, the island of Saint Martin is a bilateral free trade zone. Your personal underwater camera equipment is not subject to any customs duties or declaration formalities upon arrival, whether you land on the French or Dutch side.
Is there a value threshold for my camera equipment in Saint Martin beyond which I would have to pay taxes?
No, there is no effective monetary threshold for personal camera equipment in Saint Martin. As a complete free trade zone, no import duties are applied, regardless of the value of your equipment.
Is an ATA Carnet useful for Saint Martin, even if the island is a free trade zone?
While not mandatory for entry into Saint Martin due to its free trade zone status, an ATA Carnet can be useful as proof of possession for your equipment when returning to your home country, especially if your gear is of high value. For more information, consult the official website directly: https://www.douane.gouv.fr/fiche/cas-particuliers-de-lile-de-saint-martin-et-de-lile-de-saint-barthelemy.