COVID-19 Information for The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands

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COVID-19 information for TB and TCI

COVID-19 Information
Last Updated: October 6, 2022

Please see below for country specific COVID-19 information for both The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, restrictions and regulations can change without notice; before traveling, please carefully and regularly review the guidance from the government of each country below.

The Bahamas

 COVID-19 Information

Last Updated: October 2022

***

The CDC’s Order requiring proof of vaccination for non-U.S. citizen nonimmigrants to travel to the United States is still in effect.  For more information see Requirement for Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination for Air Passengers.

Check the CDC website for additional information and Frequently Asked Questions.

Country-Specific Information

  • The Bahamian government has confirmed multiple cases of COVID-19 in The Bahamas. Due to the fluidity of the global COVID-19 pandemic entry requirements for The Bahamas are subject to change at any time.
  • As of October 1, 2022, masks are no longer required in public spaces in The Bahamas. Some local businesses may still require masks upon entry.
  • Restrictions and regulations can change with little or no advanced notice; before traveling carefully and regularly review the guidance directly from the Bahamian government on the Bahamas tourism page (and particularly that page’s FAQs), and your travel vendors (airlines, hotels, etc.)
  • This summary does not include information on retail, restaurants, social gatherings, and other areas.  To learn about current restrictions due to COVID-19, please regularly check the websites noted immediately above.
  • Each person must carry government-issued identification whenever they leave their residence or lodging.

Entry and Exit Requirements

Are there COVID-related entry requirements for U.S. citizens? No

Is a negative COVID-19 test (PCR and/or serology) required for entry? No

Are health screening procedures in place at airports and other ports of entry? Yes

Quarantine Information

Are U.S. citizens required to quarantine? No

While there is no quarantine requirement upon entry to The Bahamas, individuals who are symptomatic or test positive for COVID-19 are required to quarantine.

Should a visitor test positive for COVID-19 during their stay, they should inform their hotel immediately.  If a person tests positive, they are required to quarantine for a period of ten (10) days (if no test is performed).  A person may be released from quarantine requirements before the 10-day period has transpired if the person tests negative with a COVID-19 test after day of 5 of quarantine.

A person required to submit to mandatory quarantine must do so at one of the following locations:

    • A private residence or rented accommodation (such as Airbnb) where the person can quarantine in an unoccupied bedroom with its own connected bathroom.
    • A hotel or private club where the person can quarantine in an unoccupied bedroom with its own connected bathroom.
    • A private boat

COVID-19 Testing

Are PCR and/or antigen tests available for U.S. citizens in The Bahamas? Yes

If so, are test results reliably available within 1 day? Yes

  • A list of COVID-19 test sites is available at https://www.bahamas.com/travelupdates; scroll down to “DAY-FIVE COVID-19 TESTING SITES.” The rapid antigen costs on average $25 (U.S. or Bahamian dollars); the PCR test costs on average $140 (U.S. or Bahamian dollars).
  • Before you go to a testing center, we advise you to contact them in advance to obtain specific details as to days and hours of operation; cost; payment forms accepted; method of test results delivery (email, test message, physical copy); and the anticipated turnaround time of the test results.
  • More information on COVID-19 testing in The Bahamas is available at: https://www.bahamas.com/tourism-reopening.

 

COVID-19 Vaccine Information

Has the government of The Bahamas approved a COVID-19 vaccine for use? Yes

Are vaccines available in The Bahamas for U.S. citizens to receive?  Vaccines are available to residents of The Bahamas.

Which vaccines are available in The Bahamas?  AstraZeneca, Pfizer.

  • Information and guidance for residents of The Bahamas regarding the COVID-19 vaccine program is available at https://opm.gov.bs/vaccine/ and https://vax.gov.bs/.
  • Visit the FDA’s website to learn more about FDA-approved vaccines in the United States.
  • The U.S. government does not plan to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to private U.S. citizens overseas.  Please follow host country developments and guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination.

Fines for Non-Compliance

  • All dollar figures below refer to both Bahamian and U.S. currency.
  • Submission of a falsified vaccination record is $10,000 or up to two years imprisonment, or both.
  • Submission of a falsified result of a COVID-19 test is subject to a fine not to exceed $4,000 or up to two years in prison, or both.
  • For all other offenses, the fine is $500.

Consular Operations

What American Citizen services are being offered?

  • Passport, citizenship, and notary appointment availability is returned to full capacity.
  • Routine services are available by appointment only.  Each applicant requires their own appointment.  If you have urgent travel plans or another emergency need for a passport, please contact ACSNassau@state.gov.   All appointments are subject to change and cancellation based on local health conditions.

What visa services are being offered?

  • Nonimmigrant visa appointments are available in all categories; however, the wait time can be considerable for some categories.  We prioritize face-to-face interviews for student visas and for emergency travel involving life, health, safety, or the U.S. national interest.  The Embassy regularly reviews and adjusts its level of operation in response to changing circumstances.

Local Resources

For additional information on COVID-19 in The Bahamas, please contact the Ministry of Health at:  511, or +1 (242) 502-4700, 502-4877 or 502-7832 or by email at COVID19@bahamas.gov.bs.

Other links:

 

Turks and Caicos Islands 

COVID-19 Information

Last updated:   October 2022

***The CDC’s Order requiring proof of vaccination for non-U.S. citizen nonimmigrants to travel to the United States is still in effect.  For more information see Requirement for Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination for Air Passengers.

Check the CDC website for additional information and Frequently Asked Questions

Country-Specific Information

Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, restrictions and regulations can change without notice; before traveling, please carefully and regularly review the guidance directly from the TCI government at the TCI Tourism TCI Assured page, as well as from your travel vendors (airlines, hotels, etc.) 

Entry and Exit Requirements:

Are there COVID-related entry requirements for U.S. citizens? Yes

All visitors, aged 18 years of age and above, must be “fully vaccinated”. Fully vaccinated means that the person has received 2 doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccine and 14 days has elapsed since the second dose.

Is a negative COVID-19 test (PCR and/or serology) required for entry? No

Are health screening procedures in place at airports and other ports of entry? No

Quarantine Information

Are U.S. citizens required to quarantine? No

  • While U.S. citizens are not required to quarantine automatically upon arrival, all visitors should be advised that upon arrival, a person suspected of having been exposed to, or having symptoms of, or tested positive for COVID-19 will be placed under quarantine in a specified place for 14 days or until that person is found to have a negative PCR COVID-19 result or unless approved for medical repatriation, and shall be monitored by a health officer for COVID-19 during such period.

COVID-19 Testing

Are PCR and/or antigen tests available for U.S. citizens in the Turks and Caicos Islands? Yes

If so, are tests results reliably available within 1 day? Yes

  • Please contact your accommodation’s health provider. Many resorts offer the antigen test to their guests at no cost.
  • A list of testing locations is available at https://www.visittci.com/travel-info/turks-and-caicos-coronavirus-covid-19-testing
  • Before you go to a testing center, please contact them in advance to request specific details such as cost; forms of payment accepted; method of test results delivery; and the anticipated turnaround time of the test results.
  • The Ministry of Health COVID-19 hotline at 649-232-9444 or 649-333-0911, or COVID19@gov.tccan be used for further information.

 

COVID-19 Vaccine Information:

Are vaccines available in Turks and Caicos for U.S. citizens to receive?  Yes

Which vaccines are available in Turks and Caicos?  The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

  • Information and guidance for Turks and Caicos residents regarding the COVID-19 vaccine program is available at:  https://covidvaccineregistration.gov.tc/
  • Visit the FDA’s website to learn more about FDA-approved vaccines in the United States.
  • The U.S. government does not plan to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to private U.S. citizens overseas. Please follow host country developments and guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination.

 

Consular Operations

  • The Consular Agency in Turks and Caicos Islands is closed. Please direct all inquiries to the U.S. Embassy Nassau (The Bahamas) American Services Unit at ACSnassau@state.gov.
  • What American Citizen services are being offered?
    • U.S. Embassy Nassau provides passport, citizenship, and notarial service appointments, in Nassau.
    • U.S. Embassy Nassau’s routine services are available by appointment only, in Nassau.  If you cannot find an open appointment and have urgent travel plans (within the next month) or another emergency need for a passport, please contact ACSNassau@state.govto inquire about an emergency appointment in Nassau.
  • What visa services are being offered?
    • Nonimmigrant visa appointments are available in all categories; however, the wait time can be considerable for some categories.  We prioritize face-to-face interviews for student visas and for emergency travel involving life, health, safety, or the U.S. national interest.  The Embassy regularly reviews and adjusts its level of operation in response to changing circumstances.

Local Resources

U.S. Entry requirements

Effective November 8, 2021, all non-immigrant, non-U.S. citizen air travelers to the United States are required to be fully vaccinated and to provide proof of vaccination status prior to boarding an airplane to the United States.

For the full list of requirements and exemptions, please review the language in the Order.

Requests for waivers (also referred to as Request for exceptions)

Exceptions (waiver requests) will be considered on an extremely limited basis. Please contact your nearest embassy or consulate to apply for an exemption. Please visit the CDC webpages for more information about exemptions.

U.S. and non-immigrant, non-U.S. citizen air travelers may request a waiver to the testing requirement through an overseas Embassy or Consulate.  Non-immigrant, non-U.S. citizen air travelers persons may also request a waiver of the vaccination requirement through an overseas Embassy or Consulate.  The Embassy or Consulate will submit the request to the CDC on behalf of the requesting individual.

To facilitate the review of a humanitarian or emergency exception (waiver) request, the following information should be provided by email to U.S. Embassy Nassau for each passenger traveling from either The Bahamas or the Turks and Caicos Islands to the United States. The Embassy will transmit the exception (waiver) request to the CDC.  U.S. citizens and Legal Permanent Residents should submit any such requests to ACSNassau@state.gov.   Non-immigrant, non-U.S. citizens must submit their requests to VisaNassau@state.gov.

For each passenger requesting an exemption, the following must be submitted:

Type of humanitarian or emergency request

  • Exception from predeparture testing requirement; and/or
  • Exception for requirement for proof of being fully vaccinated

Name (family name/surname, given name), passport number, and nationality

Cell phone number, including country code, of passenger or head of household if family unit

Email address of passenger or head of household if family unit

U.S. destination address

  • Is U.S. destination home address?

Flight itinerary, including any connecting flights

  • Airline
  • Flight #
  • Departure airport and date of departure
  • Arrival airport and date of arrival

Vaccination Status

  • Fully Vaccinated
    • Name of vaccine product (or products if a combination)
    • Date of first dose
    • Date of second dose (if a two-dose series)
    • PDF or photograph of vaccination record
  • NOT Fully Vaccinated

Purpose of travel to the United States (provide brief explanation of why urgent travel is needed, and how travel will contribute to the health and safety of passengers(s))

As applicable:

  • Justification for humanitarian exception for testing requirement (e.g., no testing available where passenger is located)
  • Justification for humanitarian or emergency exception to providing proof of being fully vaccinated (e.g., vaccine availability, passenger ineligible for vaccine at location, insufficient time to become fully vaccinated)

Documentation to support justification for exception if provided (e.g., medical records or orders for medical evacuation)

Information regarding any other solutions that were sought prior to application (e.g., flight changes, testing en route, assistance in obtaining testing/vaccination, etc.)

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