What it costs to buy property in Saint Barthélemy
A foreign buyer should budget roughly 6.0%–7.0% of the purchase price on top of the price itself. No licence or permit is required.
What you pay
- Registration duties (droits d'enregistrement)5.0% of the price$25,000
- Notaire's fee1.0%–2.0% of the price$5,000–$10,000
| On a purchase of | $250,000 | $500,000 | $1,000,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registration duties (droits d'enregistrement) | $12,500 | $25,000 | $50,000 |
| Notaire's fee | $2,500 – $5,000 | $5,000 – $10,000 | $10,000 – $20,000 |
| Total on top of the price | 6.0%–7.0% | 6.0%–7.0% | 6.0%–7.0% |
Can you buy as a foreigner?
No licence required
No licence, no permission, no nationality test — a foreign buyer acquires on the same terms as a resident. The purchase completes before a notaire, who is a public officer rather than the buyer's advocate, and whose fees are regulated rather than negotiated.
No approval to wait for
With no permission to obtain, the timeline is set by conveyancing rather than by a government queue.
Take it with you
These figures as a PDF, worked out at the price you enter, with every source and the date it was checked.
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Nearby markets compared
What a foreign buyer pays on top of a $500,000 price, here and in the markets around it nearest in cost.
- Sint MaartenNo licence5.0%–6.0%
- Saint BarthélemyNo licence6.0%–7.0%
- SabaNo licence7.1%–8.1%
- Sint EustatiusNo licence7.1%–8.1%
- Saint MartinNo licence9.0%–10.0%
An estimate for budgeting, not legal or tax advice. These rates are traced to published sources but have not been reviewed by a practitioner in this jurisdiction. Confirm the current position with an attorney before you commit.
Sourced from established local agencies rather than a government schedule; the 5% registration duty is consistent across every source checked, and the total is customarily quoted as 6–7% including the notaire.