Updated travel guidelines

01 Sep 2020 / Bahamas

Commercial and private flights and sea vessels are now permitted to travel into, within and out of The Bahamas.

Travel between all islands of The Bahamas based on the following requirements:
- Before departure, a negative RTPCR COVID-19 molecular diagnostic test with a negative result within 5 days from the date of travel.|
- Upon arrival, mandatory quarantine at a government identified facility or any other appropriate facility as determined by the Ministry of Health, at traveler’s expense, for 14 days or for the duration of stay, if for a lesser period.
- Undergo a RTPCR COVID-19 molecular diagnostic test at the end of the quarantine period.

A negative test is not required:
- In respect of an emergency
- If traveling from an island where curfew is not in effect
- If traveling between islands where curfew is not in effect
- If traveling from an island into either Grand Bahama or New Providence (a negative test is required for travel between Grand Bahama and New Providence).
- For a child under 10 years of age (mandatory 14-day quarantine still required)
- Operators of flights or vessels carrying cargo and passengers

The Chief Medical Officer may exempt a person traveling within The Bahamas from the negative test requirement, however, mandatory quarantine is still required for 14 days upon arrival, at the traveler’s expense.

For international travel, the entry requirements for citizens, legal residents and visitors are:
- Before departure to The Bahamas, a Health Visa issued by the Government of The Bahamas. To apply, visit travel.gov.bs.
- Before departure to The Bahamas, a RTPCR COVID-19 molecular diagnostic test with a negative result within 5 days from the date of travel.
- Upon arrival, mandatory quarantine at a government identified facility or any other appropriate facility as determined by the Ministry of Health, at traveler’s expense, for a period of 14 day (hotels qualify as a quarantine site).
- Undergo a RTPCR COVID-19 molecular diagnostic test at the end of the quarantine period.
-A negative COVID-19 test result is not required for a child under 10 years of age (mandatory 14-day quarantine still required)

As a condition of entry into The Bahamas, a traveler must agree to monitoring by way of the HubbCat Monitoring Platform; the Ministry of Health; members if the COVID-19 Enforcement Unit; unscheduled visits by the Royal Bahamas Police Force.

Citizens and legal residents who refuse to be monitored must quarantine at a government identified facility as appointed by the Competent Authority, at the traveler’s expense, for a period of 14 days.

Visitors who refuse to be monitored shall be deported at the earliest opportunity and until deportation will be placed in mandatory quarantine at a government identified facility.

The CMO may exempt a person (international or domestic traveler) from the requirement of a RTPCR COVID-19 diagnostic test at the end of the quarantine period.

(For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in the Bahamas, contact the GAC Houston Hub Agency Center at [email protected])

Source: Elnet Maritime – GAC agent

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