Bahamas Will Drop COVID-19 Testing for Vaccinated Visitors
Last year, in October, the government of Bahamas opened their shores to travelers who are looking forward to a tropical vacation, but until October 31 when they launched their new travel and testing protocols, visitors were required to “vacation in place” for 14 days.
In the Beginning of November, the Bahamas removed their “Vacation in Place” requirement for all visitors. The protocols at the time required visitors, returning citizens and residents to obtain a PT-PCR (swab) test no more than 7 days prior to their travel to the Bahamas.
There is also a rapid antigen test that will be conducted on travelers to ensure that they remain COVID free, followed by another test four days after their arrival in The Bahamas. Children under the age of ten are exempt from rapid antigen tests.
Recently, the Bahamas Prime Minister announced that Bahamas will drop COVID testing requirements for its fully vaccinated travelers.
Details about Traveling to Bahamas for Vaccinated Travelers
The Bahamas has announced an updated public health measures and entry protocols for fully vaccinated travelers, so gone are the days of PT-PCR testing and “recent” COVID tests in order to visit the tropical island. Their travel guidelines have confirmed that “effective May 1, 2021, international visitors visiting to the Bahamas from other countries who are fully vaccinated and have passed the two-week immunity period will be exempt from testing requirements for entry and inter-island travel.”
Fully vaccinated travelers are still required to apply for the Bahamas Travel Health Visa and upload proof of vaccination along with their application.
As for unvaccinated visitors above the age of 10, existing entry testing requirements continue to apply, including providing proof of negative COVID-19 PCR test taken no more than five days before your arrival.
Anyone above the age of 18, and fully vaccinated, looking to travel to the Bahamas can apply for their Bahamas Travel Health Visa at travel.gov.bs (click on the international tab). The visa takes up to 48 hours to process and travelers must opt-in to COVID-19 health insurance that covers them for the duration of their stay in the country.
The Bahamas are not the only travel destination that grants a relaxed passage to fully vaccinated visitors, as Iceland and the British Virgin Islands are among many notable destinations making way for it.
Traveling From the United States
On April 2, the CDC released a statement citing that people who are fully vaccinated with a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized vaccine are allowed to travel safely within the U.S.
The CDC also suggests waiting until you are fully vaccinated with an FDA authorized vaccine before traveling outside the country. They also added that it is not mandatory to get tested before leaving the United States if you are fully vaccinated, unless your international destination requires it.
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