Current Bahamas travel - Clearance procedures

[zigzag930]

Guys,

We are planning to depart SW Florida 5/23 bound for the Exumas. I am having a hard time getting a straight answer regarding clearance requirements, specifically the "72hr" window.

I've been told at least three different versions of the 72hr window:

1) Must arrive and clear in within 72hrs of the PCR test
2) Arriving outside the 72hr window is acceptable if the boat has not made any stops
3) The 72hr window is actually between taking the PRC test and submitting it for health visa and the it has nothing to do with when you actually clear in.

We are on a slow moving 58LRC and depending on weather, we might make it in the 72hrs, but on the other hand - it may take 4-5 days or more.

Don't want to arrive in Chub to be told go home. We were planning to bypass Bimini, but maybe that is the only way to shorten or travel time....

Appreciate any assistance on this.

[Hat52MY]

Are you leveraging the Click-2-Clear? I'm looking to make the same voyage leave out of FLL and check in at Chub. This is my understanding based on THE BAHAMAS website and validated with the US Embassy. You get 72 hours. If it takes more than 72hrs, its their call to either make you take an additional test, quartile you, or send you packing.... Given the islands, I would suspect, they would just make you take another test.

Vaccinated Travelers:  Those traveling to The Bahamas from other countries will be required to obtain a negative COVID-19 test (either a Rapid Antigen Test or RT-PCR), taken no more than three days (72 hours) prior to the date of arrival to The Bahamas.

Unvaccinated Travelers:  Unvaccinated travelers, ages 12 and older, entering The Bahamas must obtain a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR (including PCR, NAA, NAAT, TMA or RNA) test taken no more than three days (72 hours) prior to the date of arrival.


Additional Resources:
https://www.bahamascustoms.gov.bs/vi...ising-permits/
https://www.bahamas.com/travelupdates
https://bs.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/

[Hat52MY]

two additional pieces of information per US Embassy:

- For questions, contact the Ministry of Tourism COVID-19 Travel Compliance Unit at 1-786-471-5898 (USA) or at +1 (242) 604-7200 or +1 (242) 502-0829 (The Bahamas) or via email to healthvisa@bahamas.com.

- Vessels other than cruise ships: Anyone who is at sea on the second day of his stay is required to undergo a Rapid Antigen test at the first port of call thereafter and submit the result via the travel health visa website at https://travel.gov.bs. If a visitor traveling by boat is symptomatic, they must go to the first port of call and submit to a RT PCR COVID-19 test and mandatory isolation until the test results are available. If the RT PCR COVID-19 test result is positive, the individual must remain in mandatory isolation for 7 days, however if they test negative on Day 5, they may be released from isolation. or the duration of stay, whichever is shorter.

[Pascal]

We ve been going a dozen time in the last 18 months since this red flu hysteria started, last trip was in March. We re heading back to the Exumas in a couple of weeks

You have 3 days to arrive in the Bahamas from the day you take the test. So if you take the test on Monday, you need to arrive no later than Thursday.

When travelong by private boat, if you arrive afterr 3 days, you may need to show that you were underway using GPS track for example.

If vaxed you can take a rapid antigen test with almost immediate results. If not vaxed you need a RT-PCR test. Usually this takes 24-36 hours but there some testing sites which get you 3 hours results. I ve done the last two in Key Biscayne with Curative and I got results right away.

I apply for visas right after getting the test results and get the visas the same day.

Since March, follow up testing after arrival has been eliminated.

Click2Clear is irrelevant for the health visas but is pretty much mandatory and a PITA to use

[Scarlett]

What ever you do, do not call the Bahamas health number. 1 they are not very helpful and 2 the call cost us $50.00.

[zigzag930]

I have spoke to the Bahamas consulate, ministry, etc. Each of these institutions has provided me with a different answer. Even the websites read differently with some saying "72 hours before departing for the Bahamas" and others saying "72 hours before arriving in the Bahamas. I'm thinking they most likely assume that departure and arrival will be on the same day.

I have posted my question (via email) to the department responsible for issuing the health visa, hoping to obtain a written statement of what they will accept in specific terms (as it relates to my situation of possibly arriving outside the window)

Pascal, I believe you have confirmed my understanding of how things work. I will have a GPS track, but still concerned about being turned away for some ridiculous reason. What I'm wondering is if they're going to look specifically at the hour of the test or is it basically 3 days?

We will take our PCR tests Monday morning, then send the results in so that we can obtain the health visa (hopefully) Monday afternoon or Tuesday. At that point we plan to head over to the Bahamas on Tuesday giving us until Thursday to get to Chubb.