No requirements to fly from PR to the mainland.

Jason..booking tomorror please let me/us know if you hear of any changes from the meeting today..first drinks on me!

I am not expecting any changes. Possibly a late curfew to curb the club activity but hopefully now immigration changes.

What are the updated requirements in the BVI's for 2022 with covid vaccinations etc.

There are no changes for 2022 in the requirements. The BVI does not require vaccinations.

Here is a great entry summary from Dolphin Water Taxi web page if entering from the USVI.

https://www.dolphinshuttle.com/covid-19-restrictions

It's a great summary except point 3 is incorrect. The test results must be 1-3 day prior to travel not 1-5 as stated.

Thank you Jason for the expert eye! Much appreciated.

But if you are not vaccinated you have to quarantine for 14 days; am I correct? Also even though BVI's requirement is to test 5 days prior if you are flying into STT and taking the ferry over then you have to test 3 days before correct on that as well? thank you.

I've been checking this - https://bvi.gov.vg/travel-protocols - and Jason Helmbrecht's excellent posts.

Nope; 7 day quarantine. If you test positive on your arrival test, it becomes 14 days.


Correct, that is the USVI requirement to transit thru St. Thomas.

I see where the official site also states you need the following to enter BVI:

travel insurance (visitors) which includes minimum approved coverage for:

o COVID-19 medical costs including hospitalisation, doctor’s visit and prescriptions

o medical repatriation

o quarantine accommodation costs

Does anyone know specifically what is required to satisfy this travel insurance requirement? Does this require a separate travel insurance policy, or does your standard healthcare insurance card satisfy this?

Also, when departing BVI back to US a PCR test is required within 24 hours of departure back to US. Does anyone know specifically where in BVI they conduct the PCR tests such that you can get results back quickly?

Most (if not all) people have reported that their health insurance card has sufficed to get in, however, this is a personal decision based upon your comfortability with paying for staying an extra ten or so days in a government approved hotel for quarantine (assuming you don't own a boat or lodging on island), just in case you test positive when preparing to return to US.

The U.S. and USVI also accept a fast antigen test as long as it is proctored (ex: Abbott BinaxNow, but there are a few others out there that meet the requirements.) One of the benefits of a proctored rapid test is in case you test positive you can do it again. If you take an on-island PCR test, and test positive, that is it. Enjoy your extended stay.

A group of us are flying from the U.S. to STT and then taking the ferry to Road Town. All of this on March 11. Questions just to confirm the latest:

1. Is it correct that if we take a Abbott BinaxNow test (or any qualifying test) on the morning of March 10 (and test negative) that this result will be good to get us into STT on March 11, onto the ferry and into Road Town on the same day without having to test in neither STT or Road Town (less than 48 hours)?

2. Are the ferry providers websites accurate (Native Son, Smiths, Road Town Fast Ferry)? And how far in advance should we reserve those tickets?

1. Correct.
2. Websites are accurate as to schedules as of last week. I have already reserved and paid for a June departure (both ways), however, it was for a pretty large group, better safe than sorry. If it is a weekend date, definitely reserve farther in advance, at least a few weeks. They offer travel insurance if you are concerned.

You will need a taxi from airport to ferry dock. Call ferry provider now and see if you can pre-book taxi. I know Smith's does this, can not speak to other two. Nice to have the ferry company's taxi waiting for you, sign and all, just in case you are running late.

One more question please: I am seeing conflicting information as to whether or not we are required to apply for entry through the BVI Gateway Portal. We are fully vaccinated and will take the rapid test the day before arrival (within the two day window to not have to retest on arrival). The BVI government site says (as of Nov 16, 2021) that under those circumstances we do NOT have to apply through the portal. However, the BVI Airports Authority page says that all fully vaccinated travelers still have to apply in the portal. Anyone know for certain which one is correct or should we just do it regardless to avoid entry problems?

I've been looking for the same information. Here is what is posted on the US Embassy site:

https://bb.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/covid-19-information/

Again, I see some discrepancies..

chippero - No portal required in your case. You'll be asked to show your vax card and a neg pcr or antigen test (taken within 2 days of arrival). They will also take your temperature. This was the case when we flew into EIS a couple weeks ago. I don't think anything has changed since then.

US Embassy refers you to this site : https://bvi.gov.vg/travel-protocols

Katey - If you don't have a test to show, they will test you at the airport. I think in that case you register for the test (thru the hummingbird site). You may be able to just register when you arrive at the BVI airport.

Thanks Huskey. It looks like your advice is correct and follows https://bvi.gov.vg/travel-protocols

Testing requirements as a fully vaccinated traveller upon arrival

Fully vaccinated travellers are not required to retest upon arrival into the Territory once a RT-PCR or approved rapid antigen SARS COV-2 negative test result taken no later than 48-hours before arrival is presented. Failure to present the results for any reasons such as delays and overnight layovers will be required to undertake a SARS COV-2 test on the day of arrival into the Territory.

We are flying from San Juan to EIS and are vaccinated. Does it matter how long ago we had our vaccination? Thank you

No

Your vaccine must have been long enough ago to have taken effect (memory says two weeks). It does not need to be recent.

If you are vaccinated, I believe you must test within five days. I don't think you can just show up relying on them to do the rapid test.

better answer than mine...I thought they were asking if it was too old...it has to be outside of two weeks before arrival

Sorry to ask but does anyone know what types of rapid Antigen" tests are approved for entry into BVI? I don't have much faith in a PCR coming back in time. An I sure don't want to rely on BVI repaid test at entry.

Frank - 10 days ago we took "rapid antigen tests" at CVS and our kids took the "rapid diagnostic test (ID Now)" at Walgreens. Both were acceptable for entry. We each got results within an hour.
Alternatively you could buy the proctored Binax Now tests from emed.com and test at home. Those are also acceptable.

Thanks CottageGirl!

Hello TTOLers, we hope to get to the BVI to start our charter with Sunsail on Arp 2nd. Just 13 more days from now. So many obstacles to overcome especially with the newest potential vessel regulation impact.

I think I have figured out all of the corvid testing requirements but am still uncertain in one area. I understand that as of March 7th, flying in from the mainland to St. Thomas does not require a test however it seems as if we are still required us to register and clear through the USVI portal site. Here is what it reads:

"All Domestic travelers ages 5+ in your travel party who enter the U.S. Virgin Islands by air or sea are required to use the USVI Travel Screening Portal and get cleared to travel to the USVI."

Does anyone know the turn-around time is to be cleared through the USVI Portal? We fly St. Thomas on the 1st of April. Can I get a jump start on this go through the registration/application process as soon as today? Went through all the FAQs which only speak to deadlines when applying.

Thank you,

First off, you can't register any sooner than five days before your flight arrival at St. Thomas. No jump starting there.

Second, turn around time is related to when you will arrive. Best to wait until the day before or day of your arrival date - the closer dates receive precedence. Response time is pretty quick when you do it then.

Third, yes, you only need to be fully vaccinated (or have negative test) to complete USVI travel portal, however, if you will be continuing on to BVI, you will need to have negative test results, either proctored rapid antigen (like BinaxNow) or PCR.

As of now you will also need to test negative to return from BVI to USVI. Same types of tests. Hope this helps.

It does. Thank you. We have eMeds (BinaxNOW) test that we plan on using both ways.

CarolinaSailor - I understand that if you are fully vaccinated and uploading vax cards and not tests you can apply to the USVI portal earlier than 5 days before your trip. This is for the entry from the mainland into STT.

Uploading early will not speed up their reply. I was not aware that you could do this more than five days prior, but from what I have seen, the replies to early requests seem to be delayed anyway, so why do it and worry about them not replying? Also, it does not make sense that they would let you complete the form with the screening questions that far in advance? Makes the screening questions kind of meaningless? I still think it best the day before travel, just my opinion for what it is worth.

We’ve been in and out of there so many times since all this started. Applying the day before (unless you have to) is iffy in my opinion. Certainly applying more than a week or so is a stretch as you are correct, they do tend to approve by arrival date but we applied y today for an arrival this Sunday just to see how the response time varies from all our previous trips. Will be interesting.

Can the eMed.com rapid Rapid antigen which as been recommended to be used as a travel test to get back to the states also work to clear through BVI when coming into the BVI. I do realize the 48 Hrs thing but these would work nicely if we are delayed. Also,

I have ab extra 2 if anyone needs them while in the bvi we are there Arp 2 to the 10th #30 a piece. -Mike

Yes. BinaxNow tests through Emed will work for both entry to BVI and re-entry to USVI.

Carolina - update on USVI approval. We applied late yesterday afternoon and our approval came in at 2:30am this morning. Arrival 3/27. Looks like approval process is improving.

We uploaded our docs on Saturday and received our green QR code in less than 20 minutes

I think timing is everything - I put ours in yesterday at 10:13am and received the approval back at 12:19am (14 hours later). Travel date 3/26. Definitely not bad - kept anyone from getting concerned. Much better than last summer!