BARBADOS REMOVES TESTING FOR FULLY VACCINATED TRAVELLERS (EFFECTIVE MAY 25TH, 2022) 

Ahead of the exciting summer season, the Government of Barbados has announced a key change to its travel protocols. Effective Wednesday, May 25, 2022, fully-vaccinated travellers to Barbados will no longer have to take a COVID-19 test to enter the country.

In a press conference on Saturday, Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley advised that the change comes as over 70 percent of the eligible population in Barbados is fully vaccinated. She added that removing the entry test will have positive implications for the country’s tourism experience, including speedier processing times at the Grantley Adams International Airport.

Offering a brief update about the position of the country’s tourism industry, she said that “We had a ninety percent decline in the number of visitors… in the last two years. [Now] we are significantly on our way back up.”

With the removal of the entry test, Barbados remains competitive in the global tourism landscape, and tourism officials are confident that it will be well received by travellers in its source markets at a critical time as they are making their summer and winter holiday plans.

Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Senator the Hon. Lisa Cummins, spoke on the significance of the update to the travel protocols, commenting that “What this signals to our travellers is that it is safe for them to come to Barbados, and we are in a position where we can comfortably accommodate many of the same measures they are experiencing at home, such as the protocols for mask wearing and testing for certain activities.”

Masks optional outdoors

The change in protocols also states that masks will now only be mandatory indoors and on public transportation. Outdoors, masks are optional.

Unvaccinated travellers

Prime Minister Mottley noted that the changes announced pertain to vaccinated travellers only. Currently, unvaccinated travellers will still be required to present a negative COVID-19 test to enter Barbados.

TRAVELLERS ENTERING BARBADOS BEFORE MAY 25TH, 2022:
 
ALL travellers must travel with an accepted valid negative COVID-19 PCR Test OR Rapid Antigen Test result.

Travellers are permitted to travel to Barbados with a valid negative Rapid Antigen test OR Rapid COVID-19 PCR test result done within 1 day prior to arrival in Barbados OR a negative RT-PCR COVID-19 test result done within 3 days prior to arrival.

Travelers who are unable to complete the online travel ED form can complete their travel to Barbados and use the Immigration kiosks on arrival in Barbados.

Accepted tests include tests which were taken at an accredited or recognized laboratory by a healthcare provider via any of the below:

1. Nasopharyngeal sample
2. Oropharyngeal sample
3. Nasal sample
4. Anterior nares sample
5. Mid-turbinate sample

LAMP tests, self-administered tests or home kits and tests using saliva samples will NOT be accepted.

With specific reference to the type of test required and accepted for entry into Barbados:

Specific Requirements:

1. The specimen must be taken at an accredited or recognized laboratory by a healthcare provider via any of the below: nasopharyngeal sample, oropharyngeal sample, nasal sample, anterior nares sample or mid-turbinate sample.
2. The sample must be taken within 1 day prior to arrival for Rapid Antigen Test OR Rapid COVID-19 PCR Test or 3 days prior to arrival for RT PCR test.
3. The laboratory performing the test must be an accredited, certified or recognized facility

Please note that the following will NOT be accepted:

1. Shallow nasal swab samples
2. Saliva samples
3. Self-administered tests (even if the sample was taken under the supervision of a healthcare provider)
4. Home kits

The COVID-19 Protocols are sanctioned by the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MHW)