Mexico & Caribbean Entry Updates

April 26, 2021

The entry requirements are always changing as we emerge from COVID-19. Here are the latest updates from Mexico and the Caribbean.

In the Mexico/Caribbean region, several destinations no longer require negative test results prior to arrival. All attendees re-entering the U.S. from a foreign country must adhere to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) order that they be tested no more than 3 days before their flight departs and present the negative result or documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 to the airline before boarding the flight. Air passengers will be required to confirm that the information they present is true in the form of an attestation. Fully vaccinated people arriving in the United States are still required to get tested within 3 days of their flight (or show documentation of recovery from COVID-19 in the past 3 months) and should still get tested 3 to 5 days after their trip, according to the latest CDC guidance.

Following are updated requirements from several destinations:

Anguilla

From July 1 through August 31:

In in the Caribbean, all visitors to Anguilla who are eligible to be vaccinated against COVID-19, are required to be fully vaccinated at least three weeks before arrival (i.e. persons 18 and older).
Fully vaccinated persons will not be tested upon arrival.
Persons with evidence of full COVID-19 vaccination will not be required to quarantine on arrival if the final vaccine dose is administered at least three weeks before date of arrival.
All persons entering Anguilla will be required to produce a negative COVID-19 test 3 to 5 days before entry.
Multi-generational families and/or groups with a mix of individuals who are not eligible for the vaccine (i.e. children), will not need to quarantine, but they will need a negative PCR test 3 to 5 days ahead of arrival, and may be tested on arrival and subsequently during their stay.

The Bahamas

Despite the CDC updating its travel warning to the highest level only days ago, The Bahamas has just eased restrictions for those that have been fully vaccinated. Fully vaccinated visitors are exempt from testing; the only guideline is that they have passed the two-week immunity period after receiving the last dose of the vaccine. individuals who have not been fully vaccinated are still required to show a negative RT-PCR test prior to entry.

The news from the government is good news for the cruise industry, which has moved ships to Caribbean ports, and The Bahamas in particular.

Barbados

Effective May 8th, travelers who are fully vaccinated are required to:

Provide proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test result 3 days prior to travel
Provide a vaccination certificate upon arrival to Barbados
Have a standard or rapid COVID-19 PCR test done at the airport or their approved accommodation
Use specially designated transportation providers for their transport to their approved accommodation and while awaiting their COVID-19 PCR test result
Stay at their approved accommodation where they are free to move around in accordance with the guidelines of that property

All fully vaccinated travelers will be required to quarantine for approximately 1 to 2 days.

Any traveler who has not been fully vaccinated, or has not been vaccinated at all, does not have any evidence of vaccination, or has traveled from or transited through a country where the prevalence of certain variants of COVID-19 are deemed of particular concern to Barbados, are required to:

Provide a negative COVID-19 PCR test on arrival 3 days prior to travel
Use specifically designated transportation providers for their transport from the airport to approved accommodation
Stay within their rooms/suites before receiving a 2nd negative COVID-19 PCR test. Travelers will not be allowed to leave their rooms/suites.
Take their second test 5 days after their arrival to Barbados

All unvaccinated travelers will be required to quarantine for approximately 5 to 7 days.

British Virgin Islands

Fully vaccinated persons arriving from overseas, will be required to take a PCR test upon arrival and again within five days of travel to the Territory, as well as provide proof of full vaccination. Once they receive a negative test result from the test, they are free to participate, and can forgo the four-day quarantine still required for arriving passengers who have not been fully vaccinated.

Cancun, Mexico

Mexico is fully open to visitors, with no requirement o provide a negative PCR test or quarantine on arrival. Many resorts still require that visitors complete a health questionnaire.

The CDC has issued a Level 4 Health Notice advising against travel to Mexico but recommends those who do visit get fully vaccinated prior to departure, wear a mask, social distance, wash their hands frequently during travel and undergo additional testing upon their return.

Curacao

Curacao has updated the entry requirements with a required antigen test required on the third day for all travelers entering the island. This is in addition to the already mandatory PCR test. The PCR test must be taken within 72 hours before departure from an accredited laboratory.

Making an appointment for the antigen test is an integrated step to successfully register for the Passenger Locator Card. This is the last step of the registration process on dicardcuracao.com. Travelers can choose between several local laboratories for their test.

On dicardcuracao.com, visitors will fill out the Digital Immigration Card, and then the Passenger Locator Card within 48 hours of departure, and upload the negative test result for the pre-departure PCR-test.

Dominican Republic

In the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic has reopened for tourism and is one of the few international destinations that doesn’t require a negative COVID-19 test result for U.S. travelers. Many resorts still require that visitors complete a health questionnaire.

Some of the information in this article was originally published at Recommend.com.