The Islands of The Bahamas are currently open and welcoming visitors. Please note that entry protocols have been amended for vaccinated travelers. It is recommended that all travelers interested in visiting The Bahamas review requirements applicable to each member of their party at Bahamas.com/travelupdates before booking a trip, to determine what steps need to be taken to be granted entry.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: FULLY VACCINATED TRAVELLERS

PRE-TRAVEL PROOF OF VACCINATION

I have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19, do I need to take a PCR or Antigen test to travel to The Bahamas?
• Effective May 1, 2021, those travelling to The Bahamas from other countries who have been fully vaccinated, with proof they have passed the two-week immunity period will be exempt from COVID-19 testing entry requirements.
• Effective April 21, 2021, Bahamian citizens and residents who are fully vaccinated – after receiving their second dose – are exempt from COVID-19 testing requirements when travelling inter-island from New Providence, Grand Bahama, Abaco, Exuma and Eleuthera.
• Fully vaccinated travelers will still be required to apply for a Bahamas Travel Health Visa and upload proof of vaccination in lieu of the COVID-19 PCR test results.
• Visitors who have been fully vaccinated will not be required to take a Rapid Antigen test on Day 5 of their visit or complete the daily Health Survey, but must follow all other on- island safety protocols during travel, including wearing a mask, physical distancing and regularly washing hands.

 

What does it mean to be considered “fully vaccinated”?
• For Bahamian Residents and Citizens, a person is “fully vaccinated” after they receive their second dose.
• For travelers from other countries, people are considered fully vaccinated:
– 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or
– 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine
• When entering or travelling throughout The Bahamas, vaccinated travelers must be able to show valid proof of vaccination (such as CDC or government issued vaccine record card) that confirms they have received Moderna, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson or AstraZeneca vaccines.

 

What vaccines are recognized by The Bahamas to be considered “fully vaccinated”?
The Bahamas Government (Ministry of Health) will only be accepting vaccinations by Moderna, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca at this time.

 

BAHAMAS TRAVEL HEALTH VISA

Do I still need to apply for Bahamas Travel Health Visa application if I am fully vaccinated?
• Yes, all travelers, including visitors, returning citizens and residents arriving via commercial flights, as well as by private planes, private boats, yachts or pleasure craft, are required to apply for a Bahamas Travel Health Visa.
– Households are encouraged to use one email address per family/household to receive responses. Groups may opt to use the same method of collecting responses through one email facility.
– All travelers eighteen (18) years of age and older are required to complete an individual Bahamas Travel Health Visa and upload their individual proof of vaccination.
– Persons seventeen (17) years and younger are to add a profile within the account of the parent or guardian. Please ensure each application is submitted with the corresponding proof of vaccination.

 

How do I apply for a Bahamas Travel Heath Visa as a vaccinated traveler?
• All travelers must apply for a Bahamas Travel Health Visa at travel.gov.bs by selecting the International option and completing all required fields.
• Name of applicant must exactly match name on applicant’s valid passport.
• Fully vaccinated travelers will be required to upload proof of vaccination (such a CDC or government issued vaccine record card) confirming they have passed the two-week immunity period.
– This will be uploaded in lieu of the PCR test requirement for unvaccinated travelers.
– Name and date of vaccination(s) must be clearly stated.
• As part of the Bahamas Travel Health Visa application, all travelers – vaccinated and unvaccinated – will be required to opt-in to COVID-19 health insurance that covers them for the duration of their stay in The Bahamas. The cost of insurance is included in the Bahamas Travel Health Visa application fee.
• Bahamas Travel Health Visa applications take up to 48 hours to process and should be completed with adequate lead time.

 

Where should I apply for a Bahamas Travel Health Visa?
• Applicants should only apply for a Bahamas Travel Health Visa on travel.gov.bs, which is the official website developed by The Government of the Bahamas.
• Travelers should not use any third-party vendors claiming to have the ability to process Bahamas Travel Health Visas.
– No additional third-party vendors are authorized to issue Bahamas Travel Health Visas.
– The Government of The Bahamas is not responsible for any misfortunes that occur from using a third-party vendor including denied entry into the country or the loss of application fees.

 

Is a Bahamas Travel Health Visa required for domestic inter-island travelers?
• Yes, all those travelling inter-island – both residents and visitors – will be required to complete an electronic Bahamas Travel Health Visa, via the domestic or international sections, as appropriate.
– A person who has entered The Bahamas and is transiting through New Providence, Grand Bahama, Abaco, Exuma and Eleuthera to another island, within a period of less than 24-hours, does not need to apply for a second Bahamas Travel Health Visa.

 

Is there a fee for the Bahamas Travel Health Visa?
• Yes, there is a non-refundable fee for the Bahamas Travel Health Visa for vaccinated visitors, returning citizens and residents.
• All Bahamas Travel Health Visas include standard administrative costs, such as the application fee for the Health Visa, as well as related IT and distribution costs.
• The price of an individual Bahamas Travel Health Visa also includes insurance requirements.
   Domestic Travel (within The Bahamas):
– $10 for fully vaccinated citizens and residents
    International Travel:
– RETURNING BAHAMIAN CITIZENS/RESIDENTS:
– $40 (non-refundable) – for all returning citizens and residents of The Bahamas who are fully vaccinated
– U.S. & CANADIAN CITIZENS/RESIDENTS
– $40 (non-refundable) – for fully vaccinated visitors (Includes cost of Travel Health Insurance)
        – TRAVELLERS FROM ALL OTHER INTERNATIONAL COUNTRIES:
– $50 (non-refundable) – for fully vaccinated visitors (Includes cost of Travel Health Insurance)

Exemptions:
– Children ten (10) years and under (insurance coverage included) are free
– Pilot/crew of commercial airlines who remain overnight in The Bahamas are exempt

 

When will I receive a response about my Bahamas Travel Health Visa?
• Bahamas Travel Health Visa applications take up to 48 hours to process so they should be completed with adequate lead time.
• Applicants will receive an automated response within 1 hour of submission indicating the application is being processed. Travellers should not apply again unless they do not receive the automated response within the hour.
• An approved Bahamas Travel Health Visa will receive a green code, and proof of confirmation should be presented at check-in and upon arrival in the destination.
– If a Bahamas Travel Health Visa application is pending, visitor will receive a yellow code which means it requires additional review.
– If a Bahamas Travel Health Visa application is denied, visitor will receive a red color code and will not be permitted entry to The Bahamas.
• Travelers should not submit more than one application per person travelling (per trip). Do NOT submit multiple applications.
• For all questions regarding the Bahamas Travel Health Visa process, or to check on the status of your application, contact healthvisa@bahamas.com.

 

Why was my Bahamas Travel Health Visa application denied?
There are a number of reasons why Bahamas Travel Health Visa applications are not approved. Among the most
common are:

1. Invalid proof of vaccination: documentation submitted is not from a validated source (i.e. CDC or government issued vaccination card) as deemed by The Bahamas Ministry of Health upon review.
2. Does not prove 2-week immunity period: travelers from other countries must have proof their vaccination was completed at least 14-days prior to arrival to account for immunity period.
3. Does not clearly show approved vaccine: only vaccinations by Moderna, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca will be accepted at this time.

 

Is a print version of my electronic Bahamas Travel Health Visa required?
• Yes, please ensure you print your Approved (Green) Bahamas Travel Health Visa response issued electronically by the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and the Bahamas Ministry of Health.

What if I do not complete the electronic Bahamas Travel Health Visa application form?
• Travelers who fail to complete an electronic Bahamas Travel Health Visa application form will be denied entry to The Bahamas and are subject to fines and possible imprisonment.
– Vaccinated travelers must provide valid proof of vaccination

 

How long are Bahamas Travel Health Visas valid for? Will visitors and residents be required to get a new Bahamas Travel Health Visa each time they travel?
• For fully vaccinated travelers, Bahamas Travel Health Visas are valid for up to for six (6) months from the date of their last dose of the vaccine, so multiple trips can be had in this period without having to upload the vaccine certificate again.

 

 

COVID HEALTH INSURANCE

 

Does The Bahamas require separate COVID Health Insurance?
• All visitors entering The Bahamas – vaccinated and unvaccinated – are required to opt in to the Health Insurance coverage when applying for their Bahamas Travel Health Visa.
– The COVID Health Insurance will cover visitors for the duration of their stay, in the event they become ill with COVID-19, while in The Bahamas.

 

What is included as part of the COVID Health Insurance?
• Coverage includes:
– Medical expenses incurred on island due to COVID-19, up to $50,000 (USD)
– Trip interruption/delay for necessary quarantine or isolation due to COVID-19, up to $500 (USD) per day/$7,000 (USD) max
– Medical evacuation due to COVID-19, and subject to medical necessity, up to $50,000 (USD)

 

How much does the COVID Health Insurance cost?
• The cost of the required COVID Health Insurance is included in the Bahamas Health Visa and paid in advance of travel.

 

 

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: UNVACCINATED TRAVELLERS

PRE-TRAVEL TESTING:

I am an unvaccinated traveler, is a negative COVID-19 PCR (Swab) Test required to enter The Bahamas?
• Yes, COVID-19 PCR testing is required for all unvaccinated persons travelling to The Bahamas, as well as unvaccinated persons travelling inter-island from Nassau & Paradise Island, Grand Bahama Island, Abaco, Eleuthera or Harbour Island.
– Unvaccinated persons must obtain a negative COVID-19 PCR (swab) test taken no more than five (5) days prior to the date of arrival. The name and address of the lab where the test was performed must be clearly displayed on the test result.
– The day the test is taken is considered Day 0; for example, if a test was taken on Monday, travel must be completed by Saturday in order for the test to be valid for entry.
– Upon arrival, any person presenting a test older than five (5) days will not be allowed entry into The Bahamas.
– Children age ten (10) and under, as well as pilots and crew of commercial airlines who remain overnight in The Bahamas, are exempt from obtaining the PCR test.
– All travelers eighteen (18) years of age and older are required to complete an individual Bahamas Travel Health Visa. Those persons seventeen (17) years and younger are to add a
profile within the account of the parent or guardian.

 

Is this also true for domestic inter-island travelers?
• Yes, unvaccinated persons travelling inter-island from Nassau & Paradise Island, Grand Bahama Island,
Abaco, Eleuthera or Harbour Island to any other islands are required to undergo a PCR test no more
than five (5) days prior to travel and produce a negative result.
Can an unvaccinated Bahamas citizen or resident planning to travel abroad for five (5) days or less take a PCR
test in The Bahamas prior to travel and present that negative test result upon return?
• If an unvaccinated Bahamas citizen or resident travels internationally, they must secure a test in the
destination they visited before travelling back to The Bahamas. Any PCR test taken in The Bahamas prior
to travel will not be valid for re-entry.
Where can I get a COVID-19 PCR (swab) test prior to travel?
• Contact your health care professional to obtain a PCR.
Can I use my Antigen or Antibody Test to enter the Country?
• No, only a negative PCR (swab) test from a referenced lab will be considered a VALID test to be granted
entry into The Bahamas.