Coronavirus Travel Information

This page sets out our most up-to-date policies and information regarding Coronavirus / COVID-19 pandemic and it’s affect on our tours. Scroll to the bottom of this page for Official Bahamas Government Travel Information.

Latest Travel Information

Updated 15 Jan 2021

Bahamas Government official Tourism reopening information page: bahamas.com/tourism-reopening

• Miami Day Trips operating as normal.
  
• Nassau Day Trips operating as normal.
• Private Air Charter flights operating as normal. Please complete our Air Charter Request form here.
• For domestic travel within the Bahamas, including the Nassau to Exuma Day Trip or Charter Flight, a COVID-19 negative swab test result with 5 days validity and a Bahamas Domestic Health Visa is required to depart. See here for a list of testing sites within the Bahamas islands.
• For international travel entry into the Bahamas:
  1. All Travellers must have received a Bahamas Electronic Health Visa at travel.gov.bs [Requires 48 hours processing].
     See fees further below. All visitors will be required to opt-in to mandatory COVID-19 health insurance when applying for their Health Travel Visa.
  2. COVID-19 RT-PCR Swab Test with a Negative Result, must be presented upon arrival, no older than FIVE (5) days old: Day 0 being the day you took the test, therefore the test expires on the 5th Day. Children 10 and under are exempt.
  3. A Rapid Antigen test conducted on Day Five (96 hours after arrival).
  4.  For the duration of the visit, complete a daily online health questionnaire for symptom tracking purposes.
  5. For Miami Day Trips you will be provided with an Antigen Test at check-in, required for re-entry* into the US
• *Bahamas to the US Travel: from 26th Jan 2021: all air passengers arriving to the US from a foreign country to get tested no more than 3 days before their flight departs and to provide proof of the negative result. Read more in CDC Order here.
• All Customers must wear a face mask on the flights and when social distancing not possible.
• Appropriate Social Distancing in public places.
• Customers will need the following documentation on day of travel:
  • Miami to Bahamas Day Trip: copies of your COVID-19 test, Bahamas Electronic Health Visa, and Passport.
  • Nassau to Exuma Day Trip: COVID-19 Swab Test result with 5 days validity (you may need to get an additional RT-PCR test in Nassau to the one used to enter internationally, so that you have a valid negative result) and Bahamas Domestic Travel Health Visa at travel.gov.bs

Bookings & Reservation Information

All tours, bookings and reservations remain subject to our Booking Terms and Conditions. See sections 3 (Cancellations), 6 (Force Majeure) and 10 (Fitness to Travel).
We encourage all customers to have Travel Insurance to cover irrecoverable cancellation costs.
Each Customer and Passenger will have a Waiver to sign, this includes notice that Bahamas Air Tours or any of our Partners cannot be held responsible or liable for catching Coronavirus/COVID-19 on any of our Tours or Services. Customers accept there is a high risk of catching the virus despite all mitigating procedures that we put in place such as increased cleaning.

Fitness to Travel on our Tours

Any Customer with symptoms of COVID-19, or has been requested by authorities to self-isolate due to exposure with an infected person, must not travel on our tours.
There are Temperature checks for Customers. Should you have a high temperature you maybe denied boarding.

Health & Safety on our Tours

All tourism entities within the Bahamas must have in place Government approved health and safety guidelines to receive Clean & Pristine certification.

Please ensure everyone in your group brings their face mask or face covering for the day trip. These must be worn when social distancing is not possible.

Our partners and operators have in place the following protocols and guidelines:

• • Temperature checks for Customers and Staff.
  • Face masks are required to be worn when social distancing is not possible (i.e. on the aircraft and indoors).
  • Aircraft and boats to be sanitised daily.
  • Hand sanitiser provided onboard boat tours.
  • Snorkel gear and other communal use equipment are soaked, sanitized and disinfected after each use.

Official Bahamas Government Travel Information (updated 31 October)

For all official government information please visit:  Bahamas Government information page and for all FAQ’s about reopening.

The Bahamas has remained diligent in its efforts to minimize the spread of COVID-19 throughout the islands, and these measures are imperative to ensure that remains the case. The health and wellbeing of both residents and visitors remain the number one priority of public health officials.  It is important to note, however, that due to fluidity of the COVID-19 situation, both in The Bahamas and worldwide, protocols are subject to change.

Below is the most recent synopsis:

New Protocols Effective 1st November 2020:

Prior to Travel:

1.     COVID-19 RT-PCR Test

• • • All persons travelling to The Bahamas must obtain a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR (swab) test taken no more than five (5) days prior to the date of arrival.
      • The name and address of the lab, where the test was performed, must be clearly displayed on the test result.
    • NOTE: Requirement is for a RT-PCR Swab Test. This is NOT the same as a test at home PCR test kit. RT-PCR is generally taken in a clinic.

• • • Exemptions:
      • Children age ten (10) and under.
      • Pilots and crew of commercial airlines who remain overnight in The Bahamas.

2.     Bahamas Health Travel Visa

• • • Once in possession of a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test result, apply for a Bahamas Health Travel Visa at TRAVEL.GOV.BS
    • Click on the International Tab and upload test results and other required documents.
    • Fees for the Bahamas Health Travel Visa, inclusive of Day 5 Rapid Antigen Test and mandatory health insurance, are as follows:
      • $40 – Visitors staying up to four nights and five days.
      • $40 – Citizens and returning residents.
      • $60 – Visitors staying more than four nights.
      • Free – Children 10 years and under

Upon Arrival

1.     Comply with Monitoring Protocols:

• • • Any visitor who exhibits COVID symptoms at any time during their stay will be required to take a Rapid Antigen Test and receive a negative result before being permitted to continue with their vacation.
    • If a person tests positive they will be required to follow up with a COVID-19 RT-PCR swab test.

2.     Rapid COVID-19 Antigen Testing (if applicable):

• • • All persons who are staying in The Bahamas longer than four nights/five days will be required to take a rapid COVID-19 antigen test.
    • All visitors departing on or before five days will not be required to obtain this test.
    • The rapid tests are easy, quick and will yield results in 60 minutes or less with results being provided electronically via SMS text message and email.
    • Hotel properties will provide relevant information on testing arrangements, while others will facilitate the required rapid test for their guests.
    • All persons on yachts and other pleasure craft will be able to make arrangements for their required rapid tests at the port of entry or via the relevant website.
    • All other visitors, returning residents and citizens will be able to make arrangements for their required rapid tests at the port of entry or via the relevant website.

Notwithstanding any health restrictions that may be implemented from time to time, all travelers abiding by these new protocols will be permitted to move about and explore the beauty and vibrant culture of The Bahamas beyond the confines of their hotel or other accommodations.

The cost of the rapid tests on and after arrival will be included in the cost of the visa.

The rapid tests are easy, quick and will yield results in 20 minutes or less with results being provided electronically.

Many hotel properties will provide relevant information on testing arrangements, while others will facilitate the required rapid test for their guests.  

All persons on yachts and other pleasure craft will be able to make arrangements for their required rapid tests at the port of entry or via the relevant website.

All other visitors, returning residents and citizens will be able to make arrangements for their required rapid tests at the port of entry or via the relevant website.

Inter-island Travel

• Effective Monday, December 7, residents and visitors travelling from New Providence (Nassau) or Grand Bahama Island to any of the Out Islands will no longer be required to quarantine, however, the requirement to present a negative RT-PCR test, taken within five (5) days of the date of travel, will remain in place.
• Those travelling from Exuma to any other island will no longer have to provide a negative RT-PCR test.
• All travellers are required to follow all protocols for inter-island travel, which include obtaining a Bahamas Travel Healh Visa at travel.gov.bs, completing a daily health survey and taking a COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test on day 5 of their stay (if applicable).
• 7th Dec update here.

Electronic Health Visa Applications & Requirements:

• All travellers will be required to complete an electronic Health Visa at travel.gov.bs
• It may take upto 48 hours to be processed.
• No quarantine will be required upon arrival, however, travellers who show symptoms of COVID-19 may be transferred to an area away from other passengers for further testing and evaluation.
• All inter-island travellers must complete an electronic Domestic Travel Card at travel.gov.bs prior to departure and for any inter-island travel within The Bahamas. An automated response will be provided upon completion. All travellers must have their confirmation on hand upon arrival to their destination. This is a crucial step for contact tracing purposes.

Temperature Screening & Face Mask Requirements:

• At airports and seaports, healthcare personnel will conduct temperature screenings for all incoming visitors. Travellers will be required to wear a face mask in any situation where it is necessary to enforce physical distancing guidelines, such as when entering and transiting air and sea terminals, while navigating security and customs screenings, and at baggage claim.
• New fines for all persons, including Bahamians, residents and visitors, not wearing face mask of $200 or a period of one month imprisonment or both.
• Face Masks required on entry and exit of beaches, for all Bahamians, residents and visitors