I’ve been meaning to get my hands on an ID card from Saint Barthelemy for a while now, and I finally did it! It wasn’t as straightforward as I thought, but I figured it out eventually. I thought I’d share my experience here, step-by-step, in case any of you are curious or want to do the same.
Figuring Out the Requirements
First thing I did was to try to figure out what the requirements were. This took a bit of digging around. I found out that St. Barts is a French territory, so the rules are pretty much like France. That made it a bit easier, I guess.
I learned that you don’t actually need a visa to enter St. Barts if you’re from the US, Canada, any EU country, and most of Central and South America. But, if you plan to stay there for more than 90 days, you need to have some sort of longer-term visa. Also, if you’re not from one of those places, you definitely need a visa.

Gathering My Documents
Once I knew what the requirements were, I started gathering my documents. I needed a valid passport, of course. I made sure it wasn’t going to expire anytime soon. I also needed a return ticket or proof that I was going to leave St. Barts at some point. I booked a return flight to be safe.
- Passport: Checked!
- Return ticket: Got it!
Then, I needed to show that I had a place to stay while in St. Barts. I booked a hotel room and printed out the confirmation. That was my proof of accommodation.
- Proof of accommodation: Done!
Filling Out the Forms
Next up was filling out a bunch of forms. There’s an entry form that every traveler has to fill out. I found that form and filled it out carefully. It was pretty straightforward, asking for basic information like my name, passport number, and travel dates.
- Entry form: Completed!
Since I wanted an ID card, I knew I’d be staying longer than 90 days. So, I needed to apply for a long-stay visa. I found the application form for that too. It was a bit more detailed, asking for things like my reason for staying long-term and proof that I could support myself financially while in St. Barts.
- Long-stay visa application: Filled and signed!
Getting My Photo Taken
I also needed a passport-style photo for the visa application. I went to a local photo shop and got that taken care of. It’s important to follow the specific photo requirements for visas, like the size and background color. Make sure you check them before getting the photo taken.
- Passport photo: Taken and printed!
Submitting Everything
With all my documents ready, I had to submit everything. I learned that I could do this online, which was super convenient. I scanned all my documents and the photo, then uploaded them through the online portal.
After submitting, I just had to wait. It took a few weeks, but eventually, I got an email saying my visa was approved! They sent me a sticker to put in my passport.
Getting the ID Card
Once I arrived in St. Barts with my visa, I went to the local authorities to apply for the ID card. I had to fill out another form, but it was pretty simple since I already had the long-stay visa. They took my fingerprints and another photo, and then told me to come back in a few days to pick up the card.
A few days later, I went back and got my ID card! It felt good to finally have it in my hands after all that work.
So yeah, that’s how I got my Saint Barthelemy ID card. It was a bit of a process, but totally worth it. Now, I can stay in St. Barts as long as I want! If any of you are thinking of doing the same, I hope this helps. Just be patient, follow the rules, and you’ll get there!
