Bahamas: Authorities have slightly updated COVID-19 travel restrictions as of Jan. 14 /update 46

Event

As of Jan. 14, authorities in the Bahamas have made slight changes to their COVID-19-related travel restrictions. Under the current directives, travelers entering the islands must submit a negative COVID-19 test taken three days before their arrival, instead of the previous rule indicating five days. Additionally, travelers who spend more than 48 hours in the Bahamas must take a rapid antigen test, regardless of vaccination status. Domestic restrictions remain unchanged.

Domestic Measures
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. Places of worship may open at 25 percent capacity.

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

• All nonresident foreign nationals 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 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 three 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 (antigen is not accepted) taken no more than three 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 three days before the date of arrival in the Bahamas. There is no pre-travel test requirement for children under the age of two.

• All travelers staying in the Bahamas for more than 48 hours must take a rapid antigen test, regardless of their vaccination status.

For inter-island travel: Fully vaccinated individuals traveling within the Bahamas from New Providence, Paradise Island, Grand Bahama Island, Eleuthera or Inagua, must take a COVID-19 test (PCR or antigen) taken within three days before their arrival. For unvaccinated travelers, the test must be a PCR test.

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