Bahamas COVID-19 Travel Protocols (Updated June 16, 2022)

To protect the health and well-being of all who live in or visit the Bahamas, the Bahamian government has implemented a number of COVID-19-related protocols and measures that apply to Bahamian citizens, residents and visitors.

BEFORE YOU TRAVEL

TESTING REQUIREMENTS FOR FULLY VACCINATED TRAVELLERS

• Effective June 19, fully vaccinated people, and all children aged 2-11, travelling internationally to The Bahamas are no longer required to submit a COVID-19 test result to enter the Bahamas.

TESTING REQUIREMENTS FOR UNVACCINATED TRAVELLERS

• 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 date/time of arrival. These results must be presented to your airline prior to travel to The Bahamas.

• Unvaccinated 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/time of arrival in The Bahamas. These results must be presented to your airline prior to travel to The Bahamas.

• Children under age 2 are exempt from any testing requirements

BAHAMAS TRAVEL HEALTH VISA

NOTE: Effective 12:01am on Sunday, June 19, an International Bahamas Travel Health Visa WILL NO LONGER BE REQUIRED for travel to the Bahamas. Instead, unvaccinated travellers must submit a negative COVID-19 test result (see above for testing requirements) and fully vaccinated travellers must present their proof of vaccination at check-in prior to departure.

• Visitors arriving prior to midnight on Saturday night, June 18 will still need to obtain an International Bahamas Travel Health Visa

• Bahamas Travel Health Visa applications can take up to 48 hours to process and should be completed with adequate lead time.

• A copy of your approved Bahamas Travel Health Visa with QR Code must be presented to airline agents/pilots and boat captains/operators before boarding takes place along with COVID-19 vaccination certificate/card (if you’re vaccinated) and COVID-19 test result. To be safe, also bring a copy for Bahamian customs & immigration, as they sometimes ask for it.

• Visitors eighteen (18) years and older are required to complete an individual Bahamas Travel Health Visa application. Visitors seventeen (17) years and younger can be added as a profile within the account of their parent or guardian. An individual Bahamas Travel Health Visa application should be completed for each child.

• No travel health visa is required for inter-island travel within The Bahamas. 

TRAVEL HEALTH VISA PROCEDURES FOR VACCINATED VISITORS (Until midnight, Saturday, July 18, 2022)

• 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 (such as CDC or government-issued vaccine record card) confirming they have passed the two-week immunity period.

• At this time, the Bahamas Government recognizes the following vaccines: AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria/Covishield), Janseen (Johnson & Johnson), Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty), Moderna (Spikevax), Sinopharm, Covaxin or Sinovac.

• Vaccinated travellers entering The Bahamas by sea must stop at a port of entry and present to the local authority a copy of their Bahamas Travel Health Visa, negative COVID-19 test result and proof of being fully vaccinated. Travellers entering the country by sea on a commercial or personal vessel after being at sea for a period of longer than three (3) days must prove at their point of entry into The Bahamas that their COVID-19 test result was valid at the time of their departure and that the trip was direct with no prior stops.

• Upon arrival, be prepared to present hard copies of your International Travel Health Visa, proof of vaccination and/or COVID-19 test results. Failure to produce these documents may result in denied entry.

TRAVEL HEALTH VISA PROCEDURES FOR UNVACCINATED VISITORS (Until midnight, Saturday, July 18, 2022)

• Unvaccinated visitors aged 12 and above are required to upload their negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test results. Tests must be taken no more than three days (72 hours) prior to the date of arrival. 

• 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.

• (Here’s a list of U.S. locations compiled by the Association of Bahamas Marinas, where you can get Covid-19 RT-PCR tests with quick turnaround.) Note that if you’re not fully vaccinated, your result must be from a RT-PCR test. Results from other types of Covid tests are not acceptable.

• Upon arrival, be prepared to present hard copies of your International Travel Health Visa, proof of vaccination and/or COVID-19 test results. Failure to produce these documents may result in denied entry.

• Unvaccinated travellers entering The Bahamas by sea must stop at a port of entry and present to the local authority a copy of their Bahamas Travel Health Visa, negative COVID-19 test result. Travellers entering the country by sea on a commercial or personal vessel who have been at sea for a period of longer than three (3) days must prove at their point of entry into The Bahamas that their COVID-19 test result was valid at the time of their departure and that the trip was direct with no prior stops.

DURING YOUR STAY IN THE BAHAMAS

• All Bahamians, residents and visitors must adhere to current Bahamian Covid-19 health measures including mask use as required, proper hand washing and sanitizer use and physical distancing. A $250 fine or a penalty of one month imprisonment or both, will be enforced for visitors or residents found not wearing face masks in areas where they are required.

• Should you require COVID-19 testing during your stay, here’s a list of sites in Abaco offering COVID testing:
  • SPANISH CAY– testing for guests only, call (242) 807-0317
  • GREEN TURTLE CAY: GTC Clinic – Contact Nurse Practitioner Trina Sasine at (229) 798-0233 for appointment.
  • GREEN TURTLE CAY: Green Turtle Club
  • TREASURE CAY: Abaco Health Services -Email pattialbury@abacohealthservices.com or message their Facebook page for appointment.
  • MARSH HARBOUR – Integrated Medical Centre – Call (242) 825-8854
  • MARSH HARBOUR – Access Bahamas Medical Labs – Call or WhatsApp (242) 809-5601
  • MARSH HARBOUR – St. Thomas Medical Center in the Josh-Hann Plaza on Don MacKay Blvd – Call (242) 367-7999 or (242) 367-0277 or (242) 802-7999
  • MARSH HARBOUR – Eden Well in the Resilience Plaza – (242) 816-8869
  • MARSH HARBOUR – Abaco Beach Resort & Boat Harbour, testing for guests and those who use marina as a point of entry. Call (242) 367-2158.
  • GUANA CAY – Baker’s Bay Resort & Marina, for members only. Call (242) 242-577-0325
  • WINDING BAY (members and guests only) Abaco Health Services Mobile Clinic. Call (24) 577-0744 or schedule through their Facebook page.
  • ELBOW CAY – Hope Town Clinic – Call (242) 577-4257 or (242) 436-5816 for appointment.

Please note that these protocols can and do change frequently. Please visit Bahamas.com/tourism-reopening or the Office of the Prime Minister’s COVID-19 page for the most up-to-date information.

For the most recent COVID-19 Statistics, visit the Bahamas Ministry of Health.

U.S. GUIDELINES FOR AIR PASSENGERS ARRIVING IN U.S.

Effective 17 December 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requires all airline passengers ages 2 years and older (regardless of vaccination status or citizenship) travelling to the United States from a foreign country to present a verifiable negative COVID-19 viral test (PCR or Antigen) taken no more than 1 day before you travel by air into the United States. You must show your negative result to the airline before you board your flight.

Effective 21 December 2021, U.S. non-immigrants (i.e., not a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent resident or traveling to the United States on an immigrant visa) must show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before travelling by air to the United States.

See the CDC website for latest guidance regarding testing and entry requirements.