The Latest Entry Requirements for Traveling to the Caribbean

The Latest Entry Requirements for Traveling to the Caribbean

By Gay Nagle Myers, Travel Weekly

Most Caribbean islands have reopened to international tourism, and several islands have begun adopting two-track entry regulations for vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers. Here are the latest developments for travel from the U.S. to each Caribbean country.

All international passengers flying into the U.S. from the Caribbean islands (with the exception of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) will need to provide proof of a negative Covid-19 test received no more than 72 hours prior to boarding the flight to the U.S. Airlines will deny boarding to those passengers who do not produce a test result. Since the rule was announced many hotels in the Caribbean region have stepped up to offer their guests pre-travel testing.

In addition, the CDC recommends that travelers get tested again three to five days after arrival and stay home for seven days after travel, unless they have been fully vaccinated.

Updated July 5.

Anguilla

Open to U.S. travelers. Only fully vaccinated travelers are allowed entry, effective July 1. U.S. travelers must apply through the visitor portal, submit a negative Covid-19 test result three to five days before travel and provide proof of medical insurance. Visitors will not be tested upon arrival or required to vacation in place. All travelers to Anguilla connecting through St. Maarten must comply with St. Maarten’s health screening application form. More information: ivisitanguilla.comUpdated June 22.

Antigua and Barbuda

Open to U.S. travelers. U.S. travelers must submit proof of a negative PCR test taken seven days before boarding and complete the Traveler Accommodation form upon arrival in Antigua. Visitors who complete a successful screening (temperature check) by health officials are not required to quarantine once booked at a certified accommodations (at least 160 hotels and villa properties are certified) and can participate in certified tours/activities, including destination weddings, dining out and certain land and sea activities. More information: www.visitantiguabarbuda.com.  Updated March 5.

Aruba

Open to U.S. visitors. All travelers are required to fill out an Embarkation/Disembarkation card between 72 and four hours prior to travel. U.S. visitors have the option of taking the PCR test at their own expense upon arrival at the airport in Aruba ($75) or can upload a negative test result from a test taken at within 72 hours at least 12 hours prior to departure. If they opt for a test upon arrival they must quarantine at their hotel until the test results are received. All visitors must purchase and pay for the Aruba Travel Insurance within 72 hours prior to departure; they can use their existing medical insurance to supplement the Aruba policy, but it cannot replace the Aruba Travel Insurance, which is $30 per person for those 15 and older, and $10 for those under 15. More information: visitaruba.com

Bahamas

Open to U.S. visitors. Fully vaccinated travelers are exempt from the Covid-19 PCR test for entry and all interisland travel. They must upload proof of vaccination confirming they have passed the two-week immunity period. Unvaccinated travelers must upload a negative PCR test result taken within five days of arrival in the Bahamas. All visitors must complete and upload a Bahamas Travel Visa and are required to opt into the mandatory health insurance plan when applying for the health visa. The fee is paid in advance and the price depends upon the length of stay. All visitors must complete a daily health questionnaire during their stay. All visitors staying more than five days must take a rapid antigen test on day five. Testing centers are located in many hotels, resorts, medical centers, marinas and municipal locations. More information: www.bahamas.com/travelupdatesUpdated April 29.

Barbados

Open to U.S. visitors. All visitors must complete the Immigration and Customs from form between 24 and 72 hours prior to arrival and present proof of a negative PCR test result taken with three days of arrival. Fully vaccinated travelers must take a free rapid or PCR test upon arrival and wait 8 to 12 hours for results at their approved accommodation (they are free to move about the resort, hotel or villa and go to the pool but not to the beach). Unvaccinated travelers must take the standard PCR test upon arrival, quarantine in their room at their accommodations for five days and take second PCR test on day five and await results before being released from quarantine. All travelers must take a rapid antigen test 24 hours prior to departing Barbados for the U.S. The test is $50 and can be done at one of several sites on the island. Many resorts offer on-site testing. More information: visitbarbados.orgUpdated June 21.

Bermuda

Open to U.S. visitors. Travelers are required to complete the Bermuda Travel Authorization process online within 48 hours of departure. The fee is $75, which includes the cost of all Covid testing in Bermuda. Children nine and younger do not have to be tested at any point, and their Travel Authorization fee is $30. Visitors ages 10 and up must submit proof of a negative Covid test taken no more than five days before departure. Visitors must take a Covid test upon arrival and quarantine in hotel room until results are obtained (usually six to eight hours). Visitors are required to wear a Traveler Wristband for the first 14 days of their stay; the wristbands will be distributed during testing at arrival. Tests also are required on day 4, on day 8 and on day 14 of their trip at pop-up testing centers, with immediate results. A stay-at-home order is in place as of April 13. More information: www.gotobermuda.comUpdated April 12.

Bonaire

Open to U.S. travelers. Visitors must produce proof of a negative PCR test done within 72 hours of arrival and take an antigen test within 24 hours of arrival; Bonaire has added the availability of rapid antigen testing at its Flamingo Airport to help travelers adhere to the current testing protocol. Travelers must complete a health questionnaire. All businesses, including hotels, car rentals, tour operators, watersports operators, taxis and restaurants, will carry a Bonaire Friendly Safety Seal certifying that they have been inspected and approved regarding health and safety standards. Updated May 27.

British Virgin Islands

Open to U.S. travelers. As of June 15, fully vaccinated travelers must provide a PCR test or an approved rapid antigen test taken within five days of arrival and show proof of vaccination. No quarantine period required for fully vaccinated travelers and no PCR testing is required upon arrival. Partially vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers must produce result of PCR test within five days of arrival and are subjected to a PCR test or rapid antigen test upon arrival and quarantine for seven days. All travelers must provide proof of medical insurance that includes coverage for Covid-19 and must register on the online portal within five days of their planned travel date and no later than 48 hours prior to travel to obtain the Traveller Authorization Certificate ($35 for fully vaccinated travelers; $105 for unvaccinated travelers). If visitors need a test to exit the BVI, the government will charge $70 per test. When fully vaccinated travelers are traveling with one or more unvaccinated child, children 5 to 17 will be tested upon arrival and will have a second test on day four. More information: bvitourism.comUpdated June 14.

Cayman Islands

The borders are not currently open to U.S. visitors. 

Cuba

Open to U.S. visitors. All arriving passengers must submit a health declaration, produce a Cuba Tourist Card (available from the airlines) and produce a negative PCR test result taken within 72 hours prior to arrival and take another PCR test upon arrival, with results available within 24 hours. The test upon arrival is free. All incoming travelers must have travel insurance that covers Covid-19 during their stay. Visitors must quarantine in accommodations until results arrive and be PCR tested at their own expense on Day 5. American visitors are barred from strictly tourist vacations to the all-inclusive resorts on the north coast but can travel to Cuba under 12 specific categories, the most popular of which is Support for the Cuban People. All regulations are detailed at https://cu.embassy.gov/covid-19-information

Curacao

Open to U.S. visitors. All visitors, including those fully vaccinated, must complete a Digital Immigration Card, fill out and upload a Passenger Locator Card within 48 hours of departure for the island (carry a printed copy as proof upon arrival). Unvaccinated visitors must upload proof of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of departure (and carry a printed copy, as well) and must take a rapid antigen test at a local lab on the third day of the stay. If test result is positive, the travel must quarantine per local guidelines. Appointments must be booked and paid for in advance. Travelers will receive a pre-confirmation email including a booking reference number, the local lab website and instructions after submitting their Passenger Locator Card. Children six and under are exempt from the test requirement. More information: curacao.comUpdated July 5.

Dominica

Open to U.S. visitors. All travelers must submit a health questionnaire at least 24 hours prior to travel and upload a negative PCR test taken between 24 and 72 hours prior to arrival. Fully vaccinated travelers must also upload a vaccination certificate or medical record as proof of previous infection of Covid-19. Prior to boarding and upon disembarkation in Dominica, all travelers must show proof of negative PCR test and notification of health clearance to travel. A rapid antigen test is administered upon arrival to all unvaccinated travelers. Fully vaccinated travelers will be transported to a government-maintained quarantine facility or a managed experience at a Safe in Nature-certified property for a minimum of two days. A PCR test will be administered on day two; results will be available in 24 hours. If negative, travelers will be medically cleared to travel about the island. Unvaccinated travelers must quarantine for five to seven days, with a PCR test on day five. If negative, travelers will be medically cleared. Travelers who test positive will be admitted to Covid isolation unit until released by medical professional, and hospital fees will apply. Visitors who transit in Antigua, Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and St. Lucia must follow the entry regulations of that island as well as adhere to the entry requirements for Dominica. More information: godominica.comUpdated June 22.

Dominican Republic

Open to U.S. visitors. All travelers are required to fill out a Traveler’s Health Affidavit. Travelers will get a temperature check upon arrival. A rapid Breathalyzer-style test will be performed on randomly selected travelers upon arrival. The test takes five minutes and detects if a traveler was exposed or infected within the last four hours. If positive, the traveler quarantines in a designated area within his hotel and is regularly tested until symptoms are gone. Health and travel insurance coverage that covers hospitalization for coronavirus in the DR, telemedicine services, costs for extended hotel stays and airline ticket changes is required and is free to travelers through July 30. More information: godominicanrepublic.comUpdated June 8.

Grenada

Open to U.S. visitors. Fully vaccinated travelers entering Grenada only have to quarantine for 48 hours, pending a negative PCR test upon arrival. They must book approved accommodations for a minimum of two nights, apply for a travel authorization and provide proof of a negative PCR test done 72 hours prior to travel. Unvaccinated travelers must provide proof of a seven-day booking in approved accommodations, provide proof of negative PCR test done 72 hours prior to arrival (for anyone aged five and over). All information must be entered digitally no later than 48 hours prior to the date of travel. Unvaccinated travelers must  quarantine at their approved hotel for the first five days of their visit; on day five, take a second PCR test. If negative, they can then move about the island. All travelers must prepay for the PCR tests in Grenada, which costs approximately $150 each. Updated April 23.

Guadeloupe

Open to U.S. visitors. Entry requirements for all travelers include proof of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of arrival or a negative antigen test done within 48 hours of arrival on the island.  Vaccinated travelers must show proof of vaccination by Pfizer, Moderna, Astra Zeneca or Johnson & Johnson vaccines and are not subject to quarantine measures. Unvaccinated travelers aged 11 and older must quarantine for seven days. More information. Updated June 21.

Haiti

Open to U.S. visitors. All visitors must produce a negative Covid-19 antigen or PCR test result taken no more than 72 hours prior to boarding a flight to Haiti. Passengers who have previously had Covid may present a positive test together with documentation from their attending physician as evidence of their recovery. For passengers traveling to the U.S., the departure terminal at Toussaint Louverture Airport offers the Covid-19 rapid test that meets CDC criteria for all airline passenger two years and older. Updated March 4.

Jamaica

Open to U.S. visitors. Travelers from the U.S. must get a negative Covid-19 PCR or antigen test taken within three days of travel. Arriving passengers are required to complete and submit the online Travel Authorization between two and five days prior to their planned arrival in Jamaica. Once travelers are approved, they receive a certificate that must be submitted during the airline check-in process. Once on the island, visitors must remain in the Resilient Corridors on the north and south coasts and must stay at a Covid-19 Protocol Compliant Approved accommodation. Updated March 15.

Martinique

Open to U.S. visitors. Entry requirements for all travelers include proof of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of arrival or a negative antigen test done within 48 hours of arrival on the island. Vaccinated travelers must show proof of vaccination by Pfizer, Moderna, Astra Zeneca or Johnson & Johnson vaccines and are not subject to quarantine measures. Unvaccinated travelers aged 11 and older must quarantine for seven days. Updated June 21.

Monserrat

The borders are not currently open to U.S. visitors.

Puerto Rico

Open to U.S. visitors Fully vaccinated travelers arriving from U.S. states do not need to provide a negative Covid-19 test result. They must present a valid vaccination card upon entry. Covid-19 test results continue to be required for all unvaccinated travelers and those arriving on international flights. The test must be done 72 hours prior to arrival, and a Travel Declaration Form must be filled out through the Puerto Rico Health Department’s portal to obtain an Airport Exit Confirmation Number and a QR code. Passengers arriving without a negative test will be fined $300 and will be required to obtain a molecular PCR or antigen test on the island within 48 hours of arrival; if negative, the fine will be dismissed. Since Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, a negative Covid test is not required for Americans on the return flight. Updated May 27.

St. Barts

Open to U.S. visitors. All visitors 18 and over must be fully vaccinated, and all those 10 and older need proof of a negative PCR test taken no more than three days prior to travel or a rapid antigen test done no more than two full days prior to travel. Visitors who transit through St. Maarten need to pre-register to enter and must show results of the negative PCR test. U.S. visitors traveling to St. Barts through San Juan must show results of the negative PCR test. More information: www.saintbarth.comUpdated June 8.

St. Kitts and Nevis

Open to U.S. travelers. Only fully vaccinated visitors can enter the country, effective May 29. Visitors must complete the Travel Authorization Form and submit a copy of their official vaccination card, along with their arrival date and KN number generated on their completed travel form via email or WhatsApp. Once these documents are accepted, travelers must upload their negative PCR test result taken with 72 hours prior to departure. Upon receipt, the traveler will receive the approval letter to enter the Federation. They must undergo a health screening at the airport on arrival, which includes a temperature check and a health questionnaire. Fully vaccinated travelers must “vacation in place” at one of seven Travel Approved hotels for nine days. Those travelers staying beyond nine days must be tested on day nine ($150). When a negative result is obtained, they are free to participate in tours, visit attractions, restaurants, beach bars and go shopping. Families traveling with nonvaccinated children under 18 who are staying 10 days or more must vacation in place until day 14 when the child will be tested. If negative, they are free to move about the destination. More information: www.stkittstourism.kn/travel-advisory-update and www.nevisisland.comUpdated May 27.

St. Lucia

Open to U.S. visitors. Fully vaccinated travelers must upload proof of vaccination when they fill out the pre-arrival travel authorization form. They must travel with their vaccination card. Upon arrival in St. Lucia, they are expedited via a dedicated Health Screening line and receive a non-electronic wristband which must be worn during their stay. Vaccinated visitors can book rental cars, dine at local restaurants, explore shops and markets and take part in additional activities on the island. Non-vaccinated travelers continue to be permitted to stay at up to two certified and approved properties for the first 14 days of their stay. All travelers ages five and up must obtain a negative PCR test taken no more than five days before arrival, submit the online travel registration form, stay at a Covid-19 certified hotel, submit to a health screening upon arrival and adhere to safety protocols in place, which include mask wearing in public places. More information: www.stlucia.org/covid-19Updated June 8. 

St. Maarten/St. Martin

Both the Dutch side and the French side of the island are open to U.S. visitors. A completed health declaration must be uploaded before departing for the island; U.S. visitors must submit proof of a negative Covid test result taken within five days of arrival or an FDA-approved rapid test taken within 48 hours of departure. The completed health declaration will include a QR code, which travelers must print out. It will be scanned at the airport in St. Maarten. Effective July 1, the negative Covid PCR test must be taken within 72 hours before arrival. The St. Maarten SXM Protection Plan is mandatory health coverage for visitors. The plan covers hospital costs, ICU costs, doctor consultations, Covid-19 tests and, if necessary, medical evacuation. For those 15 and up, the cost is $30 for visits up to 180 days; it is $10 for those under 15 years of age. More informationUpdated June 22.

Saba

Open to U.S. travelers. Travelers need to obtain approval before arriving in Saba. Fully vaccinated adults must provide proof of a negative PCR test taken 72 hours before arrival and are not required to quarantine. Nonvaccinated travelers must quarantine for five days and take a rapid antigen test on day five. Transit travelers connecting through St. Maarten prior to visiting Saba must follow St. Maarten’s entry requirements in addition to those for Saba. Updated: April 22. 

St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Open to U.S. travelers. All visitors must complete the pre-arrival form, show results of a negative PCR test done 72 hours before arrival and arrive with a fully paid reservation. Fully vaccinated visitors must show proof of vaccination, be retested upon arrival, quarantine for 48 hours and can then move to a “bubble protocol” hotel (three in Canouan, one in Bequia, one in Mustique and Petit St. Vincent Island & Resort. Unvaccinated visitors must quarantine for 14 days in a tourism-approved hotel at their own cost and be retested on day 4 and day 7 of quarantine. Updated May 18.

Turks and Caicos

Open to U.S. visitors. International travelers will be required to obtain certification using TCI Assured, an online portal. The portal will require travelers to submit the following information: a negative Covid-19 PCR test result taken within five days of travel; proof of medical/travel insurance that covers medical evacuation, costs related to quarantine, ambulance care or care at a local hospital; and a completed online health screening questionnaire. Once uploaded, the documents will be verified and a TCI Assured certification issued. The TCI Assured travel authorization must be presented at time of check-in. No quarantine is required for visitors once they have tested negative. More information: turksandcaicostourism.com Updated June 22.

U.S. Virgin Islands

Open to U.S. visitors. Every U.S. traveler 5 and older is required to use the USVI travel portal and submit either a negative Covid-19 test result or a negative Covid-19 rapid antigen test taken within five days of travel or a Covid-19 antibody (rapid) finger stick or blood draw test with a positive result received within four months of travel to the territory. Upon arrival travelers must submit the original test result and travel certification received from the portal. Travelers unable to produce the required test result are subject to a 14-day self-quarantine in their booked accommodations or until they a receive negative test result. Since the USVI is a U.S. territory, Americans returning from the islands do not have to produce proof of a Covid test as per the new CDC guidelines.

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