The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism introduced the new protocol for vaccinated travelers over the weekend.
Beginning Saturday, the island nation started allowing visitors who’re fully vaccinated and have passed the two-week immunity period to enter the nation and travel around the islands without being tested, according to the website.
However, there are some stipulations.
The Bahamas is only accepting 4 vaccines: Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, and AstraZeneca.
Travelers should upload a valid proof of their vaccine to their Bahamas Travel Health Visa.
Meanwhile, unvaccinated travelers will still have to show proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test to enter the Bahamas.
Those PCR tests have to be completed at most, 5 days before arrival within the nation, and uploaded to the Bahamas Travel Health Visa, the website says.
Regardless of vaccination status, the Bahamas is still requiring all travelers who’re 18 or older to apply for the Bahamas Travel Health Visa and to opt-in to the nation’s COVID-19 health insurance.
According to the tourism website, the Bahamas Travel Health Visa applications can take 48 hours to process and the cost of the visa depends on how long visitors plan to stay and their vaccination standing.
Despite the Bahamas’ eased restrictions, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends against traveling to the islands, according to an April 19 update.
The Bahamas have been labeled “Level 4: Very High” on the CDC’s COVID-19 levels, according to the agency.
“Due to the current situation within the Bahamas, even fully vaccinated travelers may be at risk for getting and spreading COVID-19 variants and will avoid all travel to the Bahamas,” the CDC says on its website.
“If you must travel to the Bahamas, get fully vaccinated before travel,” the agency adds. “All travelers should wear a mask, stay 6 ft from others, avoid crowds, and wash their hands.”
