Prior to Departing for The Bahamas:
Pre Departure
Last Updated on : 2 April 2022 11:26 AM EST
STEP 1: TESTING REQUIREMENTS
Please Note: Effective 27 December 2021, any person presenting test results older than three days (72 hours) will not be allowed entry into The Bahamas.
These protocols are subject to change at any time in response to new COVID-19 measures. Please check this website frequently for ongoing updates.
VACCINATED TRAVELLERS
- Effective 27 December 2021, fully vaccinated persons travelling to The Bahamas from other countries will be required to obtain a negative COVID-19 test (either a Rapid Antigen Test or RT-PCR Test —including PCR, NAA, NAAT, TMA, or RNA), taken no more than three days (72 hours) prior to the date of arrival to The Bahamas.
- Effective 2 April 2022, fully vaccinated persons travelling inter-island (domestic) within The Bahamas from New Providence (Nassau), Paradise Island or Grand Bahama Island (Freeport), will no longer be required to obtain a COVID-19 test prior to the date of travel.
UNVACCINATED TRAVELLERS
- Effective 27 December 2021, unvaccinated travellers, ages 12 and older, entering The Bahamas must obtain a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR Test (including PCR, NAA, NAAT, TMA or RNA) test taken no more than three days (72 hours) prior to the date of arrival.
- Effective 27 December 2021, children between the ages of 2 and 11 are required to obtain a negative COVID-19 test (either a Rapid Antigen Test or RT-PCR Test), taken no more than three days (72 hours) prior to the date of arrival to The Bahamas.
- Children under the age of 2 are exempt from any testing requirements
- Effective 2 April 2022, unvaccinated persons travelling inter-island (domestic) within The Bahamas from New Providence (Nassau), Paradise Island or Grand Bahama Island (Freeport), will no longer be required to obtain a COVID-19 test prior to the date of travel.
STEP 2: BAHAMAS TRAVEL HEALTH VISA APPLICATION
All visitors travelling to The Bahamas are required to apply for a Bahamas Travel Health Visa at travel.gov.bs.
- Effective 1 October 2021, a Travel Health Visa is no longer required for inter-island travel within The Bahamas.
- As of 13 December 2021, the Travel Health Visa requirement for citizens and residents was discontinued. Instead, Bahamian citizens and residents are required to present a negative COVID-19 test at check in prior to departure to The Bahamas.
VACCINATED TRAVELLERS
- Fully vaccinated visitors are required to upload negative COVID-19 test results (either a Rapid Antigen Test or RT-PCR Test) in addition to valid proof of vaccination confirming they have passed the two-week immunity period (such as CDC or government issued vaccine record card).
- At this time, the Bahamas Government will only be accepting vaccinations by AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria/Covishield), Janseen (Johnson & Johnson), Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty), Moderna (Spikevax), Sinopharm, Covaxin or Sinovac.
UNVACCINATED TRAVELLERS
- Effective 27 December 2021, all unvaccinated visitors, ages 12 and older, are required to upload their negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test results. Tests must be taken up to three days (72 hours) prior to the date of arrival.
- Effective 27 December 2021, Children between the ages of 2 and 11 are required to upload their negative COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test or COVID-19 RT-PCR test results. Tests must be taken up to three days (72 hours) prior to the date of arrival.
ALL BAHAMIAN RESIDENTS & CITIZENS
- All Bahamian citizens or residents planning to travel abroad for two (2) days or more must secure a test in the destination they visited before travelling back to The Bahamas. Any COVID-19 RT-PCR or COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test taken in The Bahamas prior to travel will not be valid for re-entry unless a person travels from The Bahamas and returns within a period of 24-hours.
ALL VISITORS
- As part of the Bahamas Travel Health Visa application, travellers will be required to opt in to the COVID-19 health insurance that covers them for the duration of their stay in The Bahamas, up to one (1) month. The cost of insurance is included in the Bahamas Travel Health Visa application fee.
- Bahamas Travel Health Visa applications can take up to 24 hours to process and should be completed with adequate lead time.
- The cost of the Bahamas Travel Health Visa is dependent on length of stay and vaccination status.
- All visitors eighteen (18) years and older are required to complete an individual Bahamas Travel Health Visa application.
- Persons seventeen (17) years and younger are to add a profile within the account of their parent or guardian and complete an individual Bahamas Travel Health Visa application.
While travelling to The Bahamas & once arrived the following protocols must be followed:
Wear a face mask:
- Entering and transiting terminals, at security and customs screenings, at baggage claim.
Comply with health monitoring procedures:
- Any visitor exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms at any time during their stay will be required to take a rapid antigen test and receive a negative result before being permitted to continue with their vacation.
- If a person test positive they will be required to follow up with a COVID-19 RT-PCR swab test.
VACCINATED TRAVELLERS
- Fully vaccinated travelers will be exempt from on-island rapid antigen testing requirements for the duration of their stay and will not be required to complete a daily Health Questionnaire.
UNVACCINATED TRAVELLERS
- Effective 6 August 2021, unvaccinated persons wishing to travel within The Bahamas, all persons, who are 12 years and older and who are unvaccinated, will still be required to obtain a PCR test five days prior to the travel date. This now applies to travel from the following islands: New Providence, Grand Bahama, Bimini, Exuma, Abaco and North and South Eleuthera, including Harbour Island.
- Day 5 Rapid Test: Unvaccinated travellers ages 12 and older who are staying in The Bahamas for longer than four (4) nights and five (5) days will be required to take a rapid COVID-19 antigen test:
- This also applies to unvaccinated residents and visitors who are travelling inter-island from Nassau & Paradise Island or Grand Bahama Island and are staying in their destination for longer than four (4) nights and five (5) days.
- Children between the ages of 2 and 11 will not be required to take the Day 5 test.
- Visitors departing on or before five days will not be required to obtain this test.
- The rapid tests are easy, quick and will yield results in 60 minutes or less with results being provided electronically via SMS text message and email.
- An island-by-island list of approved testing sites is available below.
- Effective October 1, 2021, non-vaccinated persons travelling inter-island for longer than four (4) night and five (5) days will no longer be required to take the Day 5 rapid test.
Daily Health Questionnaire:
Unvaccinated persons, ages 12 and older, travelling into and throughout The Bahamas will be required to complete a short daily Health Questionnaire during their stay.
- The questionnaire must be completed upon arrival and each day thereafter for up to 14 days, or the duration of their stay, whichever is shorter.
- This includes the day of departure if travelling less than 14 days.
CHILDREN & INFANTS
- All children, between the ages of 2 and 11, wishing to travel within The Bahamas will now be required to obtain a COVID-19 test (Rapid Antigen Test or PCR), with a negative result, five days prior to the travel date from the following islands: New Providence, Grand Bahama, Bimini, Exuma, Abaco and North and South Eleuthera, including Harbour Island.
- All children, under the age of 2, are exempt from any testing requirements.
Once on Island:
Wear a face mask and physical distance when in public places:
- When travelling in a taxi or on a bus, when standing in lines, when entering any establishment, while entering or exiting a restaurant.
- When entering and exiting beaches (not required on the beach).
- Before and after exercise (masks must be visible on your person during exercise).
Abide by all protocols and restrictions as outlined in the most recent Emergency Powers Order:
- Some islands may be following different orders than others, such as curfews and reduced operating hours and/or services for shops, restaurants and businesses.
- Travelers should check the status of their island destination before travelling below.
- Please note: Hotel guests must stay within hotel grounds for the duration of the curfew period; however, they are permitted to move about the property and access all available amenities.
https://www.bahamas.com/travelupdates
All Rules and Regulations Are Being Enforced
- Travellers who do not complete a Bahamas Travel Health Visa and present either a valid proof of vaccination or COVID-19 RT-PCR Test with a negative result will be denied entry.
- Travellers who show symptoms of COVID-19 may be transferred to an area away from others for further testing and evaluation, and quarantine may be required by health personnel.
- A $250 fine or a penalty of one month imprisonment, or both, is to be enforced for visitors or residents found not wearing face masks in areas where it is required.
- A $10,000 fine or a penalty of two years imprisonment, or both, is to be enforced for visitors or residents submitting falsified vaccination records.
- For unvaccinated travellers staying longer than four nights and five days, failure to take a rapid antigen test on the fifth day will result in a $1,000 fine or one month imprisonment.
- Citizens and residents who fail to complete the daily Health Survey will be required to submit to a mandatory quarantine at a government identified facility.
- Unvaccinated travellers who fail to complete the daily Health Survey will be subject to deportation.
Potential Changes For Requirements
What is the plan for the tourism industry should The Bahamas see a dramatic rise in cases?
Due to fluidity of the COVID-19 situation, both in The Bahamas and worldwide, protocols are subject to change.
The Bahamas is an archipelago with more than 700 islands and cays, spread over 100,000 square miles, which means conditions and instances of the virus can be different on each of the 16 islands available to welcome visitors.
Travellers should check the status of their island destination before travelling above.
Will persons wishing to travel from an island with a higher number of cases be permitted to enter an island with a low number of cases?
All travellers must follow appropriate testing, visa and insurance protocols based on vaccination status to be granted entry to any island.
Per the current Emergency Orders, there are restrictions for persons travelling from an island with mandatory lockdown orders in place.
A person should not be permitted to travel from an island for which notice has been given of an impending lockdown order or for which additional measures and restrictions have been imposed.
Travellers should check the status of their island destination before travelling above.
https://www.bahamas.com/travelupdates
