Bahamas: COVID-19-related domestic measures and international travel restrictions remain largely unchanged as of Dec. 14 vis-a-vis November /update 45

Event

As of Dec. 14, authorities in the Bahamas have kept the country's COVID-19-related domestic measures and international travel restrictions largely unchanged compared to those in place in November.

Domestic Measures
Bahamian authorities lifted previously imposed COVID-19-related lockdowns and curfews in mid-November. Officials require individuals to wear a facemask and adhere to social distancing protocols in public places. Indoor social gatherings remain limited to a maximum of 20 fully vaccinated people, provided adherence to COVID-19-related safety protocols; all attendees of outdoor social gatherings must also adhere to COVID-19-related safety protocols and either be fully vaccinated or have a negative result from a recently taken COVID-19 test. Public transport and taxi services may operate at a maximum of 50 percent capacity. Wedding ceremonies and funerals are limited to 33 percent of the capacity of the place of worship on Acklins, Berry Islands, Crooked Island, Eleuthera, Inagua, and New Providence. Indoor dining is permitted at up to 33 percent capacity in restaurants on New Providence and Grand Bahama, provided that all persons are fully vaccinated.

Vaccinated individuals engaging in interisland travel in the Bahamas must have a negative result from an antigen test taken no more than five days prior to the date of travel. Unvaccinated individuals engaging in interisland travel from Nassau, Paradise Island, or Grand Bahama must present a negative result from a PCR test taken no more than five days before the date of travel. Unvaccinated individuals engaging in interisland travel from any other island of the Bahamas must have a negative result from an antigen test.

International Travel Restrictions
Travelers to the Bahamas must adhere to the following international travel restrictions to enter the country:

• All nonresident foreign nationals aged 18 and older are required to apply for and receive an individual Bahamas Travel Health Visa before traveling to the Bahamas; applications take up to 48 hours to process. As part of the Travel Health Visa application, travelers must elect to purchase COVID-19 health insurance covering them for the duration of their trip. To access the application, click here.

• Fully vaccinated travelers (i.e., those having received a full series of the Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, or AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, as well as those having received a "mixed and matched" second dose of one of these approved vaccines, no less than 14 days ago) must upload proof of full vaccination and a negative result from a PCR or antigen test taken no more than five days before the date of arrival to their Bahamas Travel Health Visa application. Unvaccinated travelers aged 12 years and older must upload a negative result from a PCR test taken no more than five days prior to the date of arrival.

• Children between ages two and 11 must upload a negative result from a PCR or antigen test taken no more than five days before the date of arrival in the Bahamas. There is no pre-travel test requirement for children under the age of two.

• Unvaccinated travelers aged 12 and older must take an antigen test on day five of their stay and are required to fill out a daily health questionnaire on each of the first 14 days of their stay or for the duration of their trip, whichever is shorter.

Authorities could reimpose, extend, further ease, or otherwise amend any restrictions with little-to-no notice depending on disease activity over the coming weeks.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Abide by national health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions.

Resources

WHO Coronavirus Knowledge Base
Government COVID-19 Protocols
Bahamas Travel Health Visa Application
Bahamas Tourism Information