Bahamas Entry and Travel Requirements
The Bahamas entry requirements define the rules that all visitors to the Bahamas must follow in order to enter the country easily. These requirements include necessary documents as well as restrictions put in place due to the current Covid-19 pandemic.
In addition to a valid passport, citizens of certain countries may need to apply for a Bahamian visa. Depending on the traveler's nationality, visa requirements may vary. The Bahamas' visa policy distinguishes between several types of visas or travel permits. Most visitors requiring a Bahamas visa do not need to visit an embassy for this purpose. However, all visitors wishing to stay longer in the Bahamas, either for work or to live, will be required to make an appointment at a Bahamian diplomatic mission and apply for the appropriate permit or visa.
Currently, citizens of 120 countries can visit the Bahamas for 3 months without a visa. Additionally, diplomatic or official passports issued to citizens of Haiti and Cuba allow them visa-free access to the Bahamas.
The Bahamas also offers visa-on-arrival services to Indian nationals holding a visa issued by the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom or a Schengen member state. They can stay in the Bahamas with VoA for up to 90 days. All arrivals to the Bahamas must also fill out an immigration form upon arrival.
The Bahamas remains open to vaccinated and unvaccinated international visitors. Depending on the vaccination status and age of the traveler, entry and travel requirements to the Bahamas may vary and may change at short notice.
Before traveling to the Bahamas, we strongly advise all travelers to check the latest information on entry requirements, including testing, vaccination and quarantine requirements, and any documents they may have may be needed to enter the Bahamas amid Covid-19. Important update! As of June 19, 2022, the Bahamas waived the Bahamas Travel Health Visa and pre-departure testing requirements for fully vaccinated travelers.
Checklist of documents for entering the Bahamas
- Passport valid for at least 6 months from intended date of travel
- Travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage
- Negative rapid RT-PCR or antigen test results (depending on vaccination status) taken within 3 days before arrival
- Proof of vaccination (if vaccinated)
Bahamas tourist health visa
All international visitors to the Bahamas (excluding Bahamian citizens and legal residents) must obtain a Bahamas travel medical visa before travel. As of October 2021, inter-island travel to the Bahamas no longer requires a health travel visa.
Citizens of all countries in the world are eligible for two types of Bahamas travel medical visas. Each category differs in terms of length of stay allowed in the Bahamas. Depending on specific travel requirements, applicants may apply for:
- Single entry visa for a stay of 5 days or
- Single entry visa for stays of more than 5 days (maximum 30 days)
Applications for a Bahamas Travel Health Visa must be submitted separately by each person 18 years of age or older. Travelers 17 years of age or younger must be added to the account of a parent or guardian, who must complete an individual medical visa application on behalf of the accompanying minor.
Testing, Vaccination, and Quarantine Requirements
Fully vaccinated travelers must provide a negative COVID-19 test result to enter the Bahamas. This can be a RAT or RT-PCR test performed no earlier than 72 hours before arrival. Unvaccinated travelers to the Bahamas must provide a negative RT-PCR test report taken no more than 3 days before the expected arrival date. Rapid antigen tests are not accepted for unvaccinated arrivals.
Children between the ages of 2 and 11 are also not exempt from the testing requirement. They can provide RAT or RT-PCR testing done within 72 hours of arrival.
All Bahamian residents and citizens planning to travel internationally for 2 days or more must provide the results of a COVID-19 test taken at the destination to return to the Bahamas. Any RT-PCR or RAT performed in the Bahamas prior to travel abroad will not be recognized as valid for re-entry unless the traveler leaves the Bahamas and returns within 24 hours.
Vaccination requirements
Travelers planning to visit the Bahamas do not need to be fully vaccinated. However, vaccinated travelers can use proof of vaccination to enter the Bahamas more easily and can access many tourist activities without difficulty.
The Government of the Bahamas accepts the following COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers:
- AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria/Covishield)
- Janssen (Johnson & Johnson)
- Sinopharm
- Sinovac
- Covaxin
- Modern (Spikevax)
- Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty)
Travelers must receive the required dose of coronavirus vaccine at least 14 days before their expected date of arrival in the Bahamas. This is the 2-week immunity period required to be recognized as fully vaccinated by the Bahamian government.
Quarantine requirements
Currently, there is no mandatory quarantine for travelers with a valid Bahamas travel health visa. However, any traveler experiencing coronavirus symptoms upon arrival or while in the Bahamas must undergo a RAT COVID-19 test before continuing with their trip.
People who test positive for COVID-19 must undergo a follow-up RT-PCR test. If the results are negative, they are allowed to continue their vacation. In case of a positive subsequent RT-PCR test, a person will have to quarantine for 7 to 14 days. The quarantine period is determined by the severity of coronavirus symptoms. To legally end quarantine, infected travelers must consult with a public health official.
Enter the Bahamas by sea
Travelers planning to enter the Bahamas by sea must stop at a port of entry and submit to local authorities a copy of a valid Bahamas travel health visa, a negative COVID-19 test report, and a certificate confirming that A person infected with Corona virus is fully vaccinated.
All passengers arriving in the Bahamas by sea, whether on a private or commercial vessel, for a period of more than 72 hours, must present a certificate proving that their COVID-19 test was valid at the time Their departure and arrival have not been tested before. stop before arriving in the Bahamas.
Entry Requirements for Children
- Essay:
Children 2 years of age and younger are exempt from all testing requirements; travelers 2 to 11 years old can provide a negative RAT or RT-PCR test (taken within 72 hours before arrival). - Vaccination:
There is no obligation to get vaccinated when entering the Bahamas. - BTHV:
All travelers must have a Bahamas Travel Medical Visa; Underage travelers must be added to the profile of their parent or guardian, who must register for BTHV on their behalf.
Local Travel Requirements
The Bahamas is an archipelago of more than 700 islands and islets spread over 100,000 square miles. In practice, this means that COVID-19 restrictions and situations may vary on each of the 16 islands accessible to visitors.
Depending on the island visited, restrictions imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic may vary for restaurants, establishments, beaches and other tourist attractions.
All public and private parks and beaches are open and operating under normal conditions. Restaurants located on most of the islands allow visitors to dine indoors and outdoors. Wearing a mask must be respected in all situations when necessary, including in public places.
Before traveling to the Bahamas, travelers should check the detailed restrictions that apply to a given island destination they plan to visit.
Travel insurance
Any traveler wishing to travel to the Bahamas, regardless of vaccination status, must have health insurance when applying for a Bahamas travel health visa. The insurance will cover travelers for stays of up to 30 days in the Bahamas and cover any potential COVID-19 treatment costs.