The good news is that many Caribbean islands have reopened to tourists or have relaxed travel restrictions. The bad news is that it’s a lot to keep track of for travel agents and travelers alike.
Which places have abandoned all COVID-19 protocols? Which countries still need pre-arrival testing, quarantine, and vaccination proof? We’ve compiled a list of the region’s best locations to give travel agencies with the most up-to-date entrance criteria as of April 7, 2022. For the most up-to-date information, please visit each destination’s official website.
To enter Anguilla, all tourists must be at least 18 years old and properly vaccinated. If a passenger has received the last dosage of a two-dose vaccine or a one-dose vaccine 14 days before arriving in Anguilla, they are deemed fully immunised. Unvaccinated youngsters under the age of 18 are only allowed to enter if they are accompanied by fully vaccinated passengers.
Fully vaccinated travellers do not need to apply for entry, but they must show proof of full vaccination with an approved vaccine and a negative COVID-19 test result. A nasopharyngeal swab is required for all assays. An RT-PCR test done within 3 days of arrival to Anguilla, an NAAT conducted within 3 days of arrival, and an RNA or molecular test taken within 3 days of arrival are all acceptable tests.
Travellers who have been fully vaccinated within the last 6 months, or who have taken a booster dose more than 14 days before arrival, will not be tested. Adults and minors who have been completely vaccinated with a complete primary course but have not had a booster dose are subject to testing upon arrival at their own expense.
Arriving passengers must show proof of full immunization with a 2-dose COVID-19 vaccine approved by the World Health Organization or the Ministry of Health, Wellness, and the Environment, or a single dosage vaccine. At a port of entry, children under the age of 18 are excluded.
PCR or fast antigen negative test results are not required for entrance for fully vaccinated arriving travelers, including transiting passengers. Passengers who have been fully vaccinated but are experiencing signs of infection may be forced to pay for an RT PCR test when they arrive.
Unvaccinated minors between the ages of 5 and 18 must have a negative RT PCR or fast antigen test within four days of the date of testing. Minors who are not staying at a registered resort/accommodation may be asked to quarantine at home for 10-14 days if they are not vaccinated. A COVID-19 RT-PCR test is not required for children under the age of five.
As of March 19, 2022, all travelers are no longer required to present a COVID-19 negative test result or proof of vaccination to enter Aruba. However, all travelers are still required to complete Aruba’s Embarkation/Disembarkation Card prior to arrival and purchase Aruba Visitors Insurance.
When I was in Aruba in January 2022, visitors and locals alike were wearing masks so be prepared.
A negative COVID-19 test (either rapid antigen or RT-PCR) must be obtained no more than three days prior to the date of arrival in The Bahamas for fully vaccinated travelers. Unvaccinated travelers aged 12 and up must have a COVID-19 RT-PCR test that is negative no more than three days prior to their arrival date.
A negative COVID-19 test (either quick antigen or RT-PCR) done no more than three days previous to arrival is required for children aged 2 to 11. Children under the age of two are not required to take any tests.
All visitors are required to apply for a Bahamas Travel Health Visa at travel.gov.bs, and opt in to the COVID-19 health insurance, which covers them for the duration of their stay. The cost of insurance is included in the visa application fee.
The Bahamas also eliminated the need for on-island COVID-19 rapid testing for all travelers.
Travelers can use a quick test performed by a healthcare provider no more than one day before to arrival in Barbados as of Feb. 26, 2022. COVID-19 PCR tests that were taken no more than three days before to arrival are also approved. Swabs from the nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal, nasal, anterior nares, or mid-turbinate can be used to perform tests. LAMP tests, self-administered or home kits, and saliva sample tests are all prohibited.
Fully vaccinated travelers will no longer be necessary to provide a negative COVID-19 test, but will be required to show proof of vaccination for admission into Belize’s airport, land borders, or sea ports as of March 1, 2022. If proof of vaccination is not available, or if the traveler is unvaccinated, he or she must show proof of a negative PCR test result obtained within 72 hours of arrival, or a negative antigen fast test obtained within 48 hours of arrival. When entering Belize by air, land, or sea, children under the age of five are excused from testing.
All travelers entering Belize must acquire Belize travel insurance beginning February 15, 2022. It is strongly advised that you purchase it before arriving in Belize.
Fully vaccinated travelers will no longer be needed to test for COVID-19 upon arrival as of November 24, 2021. Travelers must, however, show proof of a negative RT-PCR or approved rapid antigen SARS CoV-2 test done no later than 48 hours prior to arrival. Pre-registration on the Hummingbird portal is no longer required for fully vaccinated passengers who produce proof of vaccination and a negative test result. Fully vaccinated travelers with a negative test older than 48 hours, on the other hand, will be needed to pre-register on the site and take a quick antigen test on the day of arrival.
Travelers who are fully vaccinated, including children, can enter the Cayman Islands without having to go through quarantine if they are coming from a country where the first dose of the vaccine has a vaccination rate of 60% or higher and where they have spent at least 14 days prior to the date of travel. Canada and the United States are two of these countries. Children aged 11 and under will inherit their parents’ vaccination status. At this moment, unvaccinated travellers aged 12 and up are not permitted to visit the Cayman Islands unless they have a strong connection to the area (ie. they own a business or property in destination or have a close family tie).
All travellers must apply for an official Certificate to Travel through the Travel Cayman portal by requesting a Travel Declaration and be properly vaccinated with a WHO-approved vaccination. Travellers aged five and up must also take a certified quick test or PCR test with a negative result the day before departure.
Securely certified travellers are no longer required to perform on-island testing on days 2, 5, and 7 as of February 18, 2022. Travelers who have been vaccinated are no longer required to test before to visiting Cayman Brac and Little Cayman.
The Cayman Islands are currently at Phase 6 of its reopening, which means cruise ships can dock, allowing fully vaccinated and symptom-free guests, as well as unvaccinated children under the age of 11 who are accompanied by a fully vaccinated adult, to exit.
Travelers will no longer be required to complete a Health Pass as of April 1, 2022. Visitors who have not been vaccinated are no longer required to purchase medical insurance; nevertheless, travel insurance that covers medical and hotel costs in the event of catching COVID-19 is still recommended.
CUBA
For entry into Cuba, visitors must present a valid passport, tourist card, and COVID-19 medical insurance. There is no requirement for a COVID-19 test or quarantine prior to entering Cuba. Only travellers who show symptoms will be subjected to on-island testing. If a traveller becomes unwell while on vacation, they will be isolated at the same hotel they booked, but in a separate block of rooms from the other visitors, with 24-hour room service.
Within 72 hours of arriving in Cuba, visitors must visit https://www.dviajeros.mitrans.gob.cu/ and complete the health and customs declaration forms. If they are unable to complete the documents prior to arrival for any reason, they can get printed copies onboard or at the Cuban Consulate.
On March 10, 2022, Curaçao will no longer require COVID-19 testing for entrance, regardless of immunization status or country of origin. Travelers must still complete Aruba’s usual entry process, which includes filling out a digital immigration card online before departure and a digital Passenger Locator Card (PLC) form 48 hours before departure, using the entry portal at https://dicardcuracao.com/portal. Travelers must have a printed copy of the PLC with them at all times.
Travelers will no longer be needed to fill out and submit a pre-travel online form as of April 4, 2022. Additionally, pre-arrival testing and on-arrival testing for vaccinated travellers at all ports of entry have been eliminated. However, pre-arrival testing for sick travellers is still in practise. Positive travellers will be quarantined according to local isolation protocols.
Unvaccinated travelers must produce a negative PCR test result from a nasopharyngeal swab obtained within 72 hours of their projected arrival time in Dominica, or a fast antigen test result from a nasopharyngeal swab done within 48 hours. Unvaccinated travelers were previously sent to a quarantine.
To enter the Dominican Republic, most visitors, including Canadians, do not need to submit a negative COVID-19 test upon arrival. A brief aleatory test will be administered to a percentage of travellers and all those who display symptoms upon arrival at airports and other points of entry. Passengers under the age of seven are not subject to this procedure. Passengers who provide a vaccination card or a negative PCR or antigen test within 72 hours of arrival will be exempt as well. Every passenger is obliged to check their temperature. Those who exhibit symptoms or have positive test results will be isolated in designated areas.
Grenada has removed all COVID-19 entrance restrictions for all travelers, regardless of vaccination status, effective of April 4, 2022. This means that travelers coming in Grenada, both vaccinated and unvaccinated, are not required to perform a COVID-19 test before to or upon arrival, nor are they required to quarantine. They don’t have to fill out a Health Declaration Form either before or after they arrive.
Regardless of vaccination status, all travelers must get a negative antigen or PCR test result from an accredited lab within three days of travel to enter Jamaica. Children under the age of 12 are not required to pay. All visitors must fill out an Immigration/Customs C5 card, which can be done online at https://enterjamaica.com or on paper during the flight.
There are no travel restrictions, including self-quarantine, when visiting the Mexican Caribbean. To enter Mexico, citizens must have a valid passport and fill out the appropriate entry forms (Migratory Form for Foreign Tourists, Transmigrates, Business Visitors, or Councilor Visitors). Travel agencies, airline offices, and all points of entry into Mexico have forms.
To enter Nicaragua, travelers must provide a negative COVID-19 PCR/Serology test taken no more than 72 hours previous to admission at the Augusto C. Sandino International Airport. Prior to the date of travel, the results should be transmitted electronically to the airline. Those who arrive with respiratory symptoms or a fever will not be allowed to enter the nation. All visitors to Nicaragua must fill out an online form or download and complete one and send it to solicitudes@migob.gob.ni at least seven days before their arrival.
Visit https://www.visitnicaragua.us/what-should-you-know-to-travel-to-nicaragua/ to learn how to arrange and examine the results of a COVID-19 test in Nicaragua.
Visitors from all countries are welcome to visit Panama, and they are not required to have a negative COVID-19 test if they can show physical or digital proof of at least two doses, or complete a vaccination scheme endorsed by the WHO, MA, and FDA that is equal to or greater than 14 days after the last dose.
Non-vaccinated or partially vaccinated visitors must show proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR or antigen test done within 72 hours of their arrival in Panama. If a test cannot be completed within that time frame, a COVID-19 quick test will be required at the airport at a cost of $50 to the traveler. If the results are positive, the tourist will be required to stay in a hotel for 14 days at his or her own expense. If accompanied by an adult, children aged 17 and younger are not required to provide a negative COVID-19 test or vaccination record.
Before boarding a flight to Panama, all passengers must produce their completed Electronic Health Affidavit to their airline or carrier, in either physical or digital form.
All passengers flying internationally must have a negative COVID-19 test (antigen or PCR) within one day of their arrival. Before leaving, make sure you have proof of immunisation. Those who must test positive while on the island must quarantine themselves and pay for their own medical fees and possible longer stay.
All passengers 12 years of age and older must be completely vaccinated with an FDA- or WHO-approved vaccination before ships can enter Puerto Rico. Except for children under the age of 12, travelers who have not been vaccinated are not permitted to disembark in Puerto Rico.
As of April 2, 2022, Saint Lucia removed all pre-entry COVID-19 testing requirements for fully vaccinated travellers. As of April 5, 2022, all travellers are no longer required to pre-register online prior to arrival in Saint Lucia at www.stlucia.org/covid-19.
Fully vaccinated travelers must still provide a valid vaccination record upon check-on, boarding and entry to Saint Lucia. To qualify as fully vaccinated, travelers must have had the last dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine, or a one-dose vaccine, at least two weeks before travel.
Unvaccinated travelers aged five and up must have a valid COVID-19 PCR test result five days prior to arrival. A self-swab antigen or PCR test performed without supervision is not acceptable.
Only fully vaccinated travelers and unvaccinated children under the age of 18 travelling with fully vaccinated parents or guardians are permitted to enter St. Kitts & Nevis at this time. A traveler is fully vaccinated 14 days after taking the second dosage of a two-dose vaccine series, or two weeks after receiving a single-dose vaccine. AstraZeneca/Oxford, Bharat Biotech-Covaxin, Covishield, Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, Sinovac, and Sinopharm accept mixed vaccine doses of two-dose regimens.
All travelers must submit a rapid antigen negative test (nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal) result one day prior to arrival, or a COVID-19 RT-PCR or NAAT negative test result within three days of arrival, along with the required embarkation form and all other supporting documentation, beginning April 1, 2022. Regardless of age, an embarkation form is necessary. Fully vaccinated travelers must provide a copy of their official Vaccination Record card to https://www.knatravelform.kn/, along with the dates when doses were given. Incoming travelers must have hard copies of their negative RT-PCR, NAAT or fast antigen test results, and Vaccination Record card on hand, as well as present their travel approval letter to the relevant airline and health officials via their mobile device or printed format.
Canadians flying into Sint Maarten Juliana Airport (SXM) must complete the Electronic Health Authorization System (EHAS) and purchase obligatory health insurance. COVID-19 testing is not required for fully vaccinated travelers (with or without a booster injection) or children under the age of five. Unvaccinated passengers over the age of 5 must have a negative PCR test result obtained within 48 hours of departure (antigen tests are not accepted).
If you recovered from COVID-19 during the last 9 months, you must upload one of the following approved proofs of recovery: a signed and stamped COVID-19 recovery letter from a physician accompanied by a positive COVID-19 PCR test result; a lab-issued positive COVID-19 PCR test result indicating a Ct value of 35 or higher; or a government/public health authority issued proof of recovery (digital Covid recovery certificate or letter); or a lab-issued positive COVID-19 PCR test result indicating a Ct value of 35 or higher.
ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
Travelers from Very High-Risk, High-Risk, Medium-Risk, and Low-Risk countries, including Canada, must have a negative RT-PCR COVID-19 test or a negative SARS-CoV-2 fast antigen test result before March 3, 2022. PCR testing must be completed within three days of arrival, while fast antigen tests must be completed within 24 hours. Fully vaccinated travelers will not be retested for COVID-19 upon arrival unless the Port Health Officer determines otherwise, and they will not be required to quarantine for 48 hours in a Tourism Authority/MOHWE-approved quarantine hotel at their own expense unless the Port Health Officer determines otherwise.
Unvaccinated travelers from High-Risk Countries, such as Canada, must have a COVID-19 (RT-PCR) test result of negative no more than 3 days prior to arrival, and may be retested for COVID-19 on arrival. They must also stay in an approved Transition/Quarantine Hotel for 10 days at their own expense and show documentation of a fully paid reservation when they arrive. They must also pay for their own transportation to the Transition Hotel in a permitted taxi or vessel, and they must be retested between days 7 and 10 of quarantine.
Non-nationals who have received a WHO-approved COVID-19 vaccine are welcome to visit Trinidad & Tobago. It is permissible to use mixed doses of WHO-approved vaccinations. Prior to arrival, all passengers, including children, must get a TTravel Pass. Passengers must also show airline agents proof of a recent negative PCR or antigen test, full vaccination in accordance with WHO standards using WHO-approved vaccines, and fully-paid, state-supervised quarantine at an approved hotel facility, if applicable, before boarding any flight to Trinidad and Tobago, as well as upon arrival.
At this time, non-nationals who are not completely vaccinated are not permitted to enter Trinidad and Tobago.
All international visitors ages 2 and up who arrive in the US Virgin Islands by air or water after March 7, 2022 must utilise the USVI Travel Screening Portal to obtain approval to visit the island.
A negative antigen or NAAT (RT-PCR) test result is required for international travelers. The number of tests required is determined by vaccination, manner of travel, and age. Non-U.S. citizens flying must take a test within 24 hours of departure, and all passengers must be fully vaccinated and show documentation of immunization status. Vaccines are not required for travelers aged 2 to 17.
