Traveling to The Bahamas Without a Health Visa
Travelers to The Bahamas need to have a valid health visa to enter the country. The health visa application is available on the government’s The Bahamas travel website and can be completed online. Visitors should also note that the application will be removed from the website at 00:01 on Sunday 19 June 2022. Adults who are fully vaccinated will no longer need to take a COVID-19 test in order to enter the country and travel between islands. They must however still provide proof of vaccination to prove their status.
COVID PCR test taken no more than three days prior to arrival in The Bahamas
For travelers intending to enter The Bahamas without vaccination, a negative COVID PCR test is required. The test must be either viral antigen (NAA or NAAT) or nucleic acid amplification (RNA). Children should have a negative test as well.
Travelers should make sure to have a COVID PCR test taken no more then three days prior to arrival in The Bahamas. The results are normally reported in 36 hours, though the testing process can take up to two weeks. If you plan to arrive in The Bahamas at any point in time, schedule your COVID PCR test and follow the instructions closely. If you don’t have time to visit a physician, you can order one online through AZOVA Digital Health Network.
COVID-19 Rapid Antigen test on day 5
If you have plans to visit The Bahamas, the first step is to obtain a negative COVID-19 Rapid Antigen test at least 72 hours before travel. Then, you must upload your test results to your online profile and Bahama health visa application. You must take your COVID-19 test at a licensed provider; do-it-yourself tests are not acceptable.
If you are traveling inter-island, you will also be required to undergo a COVID-19 Rapid Antigen test at the Ministry of Health on day five of your Bahama health visa. The testing is required for those who are not vaccinated. In addition, you will be required to complete a health questionnaire every day for 14 days. After your test, you must present the results from your health authority at check-in.
COVID-19 health insurance included in the application fee
As part of your Bahamas health visa application, you will need to obtain and print a copy of COVID-19 health insurance. This is a requirement for all visitors to the country. The insurance will cover you for a period of 30 days in case of any COVID-19 illness. The cost of COVID-19 health insurance is included in the fee for applying for a Bahamas health visa.
Vaccination against COVID-19 is also required. Upon arriving in The Bahamas, travelers who have not been vaccinated must take a Rapid Antigen Test. These tests are non-invasive and take less than 60 minutes. The test results will be sent to the applicant via email or SMS within 60 minutes. Vaccinated visitors will not need to submit a Daily Health Survey.
Vaccinated travelers exempt from the test
Vaccinated travelers are exempt from the Bahamas health visa test as of April 21. The government has implemented mandatory health-distancing efforts and require face masks for travelers, but they are not required to take the test if they are fully vaccinated. The country has reported over 10,200 cases and 198 deaths from COVID-19, yet has administered only 21,907 doses of vaccine to its residents – 2.8 percent of its population.
Vaccinated travelers who are traveling to the Bahamas from outside of the country are exempt from the test requirement. However, they must still apply for a Bahamas Travel Health Visa. They must upload proof of their vaccination, such as a CDC or government-issued vaccine record card. They also are not required to undergo the COVID-19 rapid antigen test or to complete the daily health questionnaire.