Saint Martin's Travel Pass 2026-27: How to Get It, What You Need, What to Show at the Jetty (Step by Step)
You still can't visit Saint Martin's without a travel pass. What the pass actually is, whether you register separately, who to buy from to get a valid pass, which documents you need, how to spot a fake ticket, and where the official site and ticket sales stood on 1 November 2026.
- What the pass is
- A QR code printed on your ship ticket
- Separate registration
- Not needed; buy a ticket, get the pass
- Official site
- travelpass.gov.bd (Tourism Board)
- Carry
- Printed ticket and ID
- Updated
- 1 November 2026
Trip ticket
The first question anyone planning Saint Martin's asks is: "Where do I get the travel pass?" Since last season you cannot visit the island without one, and the rule continues for 2026-27. Many people think the pass needs a separate application or a queue somewhere. In fact it is much simpler.
This post walks through it step by step: what the travel pass is, how to get it, what details and documents you need, what to show at the jetty, and which mistakes to avoid.
At a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is the travel pass | The QR code that comes with your ship ticket; that code is your pass |
| Separate application? | No. Buy a ticket from an approved ship or approved seller and the pass is created |
| Who runs it | Bangladesh Tourism Board, site travelpass.gov.bd |
| Details needed | Each traveller's name, mobile number and ID number |
| Show at the jetty | Printed ticket with QR code, plus ID |
| Ticket without a QR code | Treated as fake |
| Daily limit | 3,500 on average at most; passes are capped to match |
| Extra cost | Tk 100 environmental conservation fee per person |
What the travel pass is and why it exists
Saint Martin's is a government-declared ecologically critical area. The travel pass exists to control how many people go each day, who goes, and to stop anyone going beyond the limit.
The environment ministry's directive of 22 October 2025 said tourists must buy tickets through a web portal recognised by the Bangladesh Tourism Board, every ticket must carry a travel pass and QR code, and a ticket without a QR code will be treated as fake. The new notice of 25 October 2026 says all of those earlier directives stay in force this season.
Put simply: the QR code printed on your ship ticket is your travel pass.
Do you need to register separately?
No. Last season the ship companies said plainly that tourists do not need to apply separately for the travel pass. When you buy a ticket from an approved ship's counter, its website or an authorised travel agent, the QR-coded pass is created automatically with the ticket. This year too, Prothom Alo reports that the ship operator handles the pass after you book.
One thing to note: some earlier news mentioned a separate registration with your national ID on a Tourism Board app. What actually launched was the pass issued with the ticket. If the system changes this year, we will note it here.
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Step by step: how to get the pass
- Fix your dates. Decide when you are going and whether you will stay overnight. This year overnight stays are allowed from November.
- Choose an approved ship. Only tickets on government-approved ships carry a valid pass, so check which ships are approved. Ship names, fares and times are in our Cox's Bazar to Saint Martin's ship guide.
- Buy from an approved seller. The ship company's website or hotline, its counter, or its authorised agent.
- Enter every traveller's details. The pass is per person, so give each person's name and ID details separately: national ID card for adults, birth registration certificate for children, passport for foreigners.
- Pay. A Tk 100 environmental conservation fee per person is added to the fare.
- Download and print the ticket. Check that it has a QR code. If it doesn't, contact the seller straight away.
- QR scan at the jetty. Before boarding at Nuniachhara jetty, your QR code is scanned to check you in. You may also be asked for your ID.
What to carry
- The printed ticket with its QR code (keep a photo on your phone too, but a printout is safer; the network at the jetty can be weak)
- National ID card, a birth registration certificate for children, a passport for foreign visitors
- The mobile number you gave on the ticket, switched on; schedule changes are sent there
- Your hotel booking confirmation if you are staying overnight
What travelpass.gov.bd shows
The Tourism Board's travel pass site (travelpass.gov.bd) is live. It shows:
- Today's pass limit
- How many passes have been issued today
- How many people have checked in at the jetty
- Ship schedules and seats for the next 7 days
When we checked on 1 November 2026, the site showed no ship schedules from 1 to 7 November and zero passes for the day. In other words, passes won't be issued until the ships get permission. A major online ship-ticket site also returned "this route is temporarily closed" for Cox's Bazar to Saint Martin's.
Before buying, check this site to see which ships run on your date and whether seats are left.
Mistakes to avoid
- Don't buy "confirmed tickets" from touts. Tickets from unapproved sellers, or handwritten at the jetty, carry no valid QR code and you will be stopped. Last season a ship was even fined for selling tickets illegally.
- Don't pay advances to Facebook page offers until you are sure they are an approved ship's agent.
- Don't put a whole group on one person's details. The pass is per person; everyone's details are needed.
- Don't try to go by boat from Teknaf or Shah Porir Dwip. This season too, ships leave only from Nuniachhara jetty in Cox's Bazar.
- Don't leave it to the last minute. With a 3,500-a-day limit, passes run out fast on holidays.
Once you have the pass: the island rules
The pass is not just permission to enter; it comes with conditions. Single-use plastic (polythene, chip packets, straws, small water bottles) is not allowed on the island, so bring your own water flask. Lights on the beach at night, loud music, barbecues, and motorbikes or sea bikes on the beach are banned. Don't enter the keya forest, pick keya fruit, or harm coral, shells, turtles or other sea life. The full list is in Saint Martin's new travel rules 2026-27.
What to see, where to stay and what it costs are in our Saint Martin's travel guide.
Questions and answers
How do I get a Saint Martin's travel pass?
Buy a ticket from an approved ship's website, counter or authorised agent; the QR-coded travel pass is created with the ticket, so no separate application is needed. The Bangladesh Tourism Board site travelpass.gov.bd shows schedules and the day's pass numbers.
What documents do I need for the travel pass?
Each traveller's name, mobile number and ID: national ID card for adults, birth registration certificate for children, passport for foreigners. On the day, carry the printed ticket and your ID.
Does the travel pass cost extra?
There is no separate fee for the pass. But this year every visitor pays a Tk 100 environmental conservation fee on top of the ship fare.
Can I travel with a ticket that has no QR code?
No. Under the government directive, a ticket without a QR code is treated as fake and you won't be allowed to board.
When can I get the travel pass?
As soon as ships get permission and ticket sales open. As of 1 November 2026 no ship had permission; ship owners hope to start between 4 and 6 November.
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