Don't get rid of them too early. I just tested to travel to the US and the first box I opened did not have a swab. If I hadn't had an extra, it would have been a real pain.

Sage advice..my last one was outdated!

Entry to BVI with Children (not vaccinated/too young to vaccinate).

They require neg test before entry as well as portal. They then require re-test on day 4 and need to stay in family bubble during that time, If I am understanding this correctly.

Pertaining to the children's day 4 test. Can this be done with a virtual proctored test like the Binax, or does it have to be done at a BVI testing facility? Anyone with any experience doing this?

I don't think so. Those were old protocols.

In general, children follow the parents protocols.

Assuming the parents are vaccinated, children should arrive with a negative test. They will be retested on arrival but are free to leave with their parents while awaiting the results.

About half way down are the official rules. No portal required and I don't think they test children under 5.

Hi April 23 is coming up quick! - does anyone know if you can use proof of positive test within 6 months for a fully vaccinated individual in lieu of Negative test for Entry into BVI? The US allows for this but not sure if it is excepted in the BVI - thanks!

I've never seen an exception to the testing requirement for a recovered person.

okay - looks like it is a hard no! thanks!

Hi - we are traveling with fully vaccinated kids (all under the age of 15) into STT and then on to BVI. Are they too required to show a negative covid test within 48 hours upon arrival to the BVI? I believe that they do, but I was checking to see if they were exempt from the testing requirement and can just follow the parents protocol.

Yes. Minors 17 and under must submit a negative test upon entry to the BVI. Also must submit to the USVI portal.

Hi - just read the updated regulations for entry - what defines an "approved rapid antigen SARS CoV-2 negative test?" - we are planning on taking a proctored via video conference antigen test the day before our trip which is acceptable to enter the US - I am assuming that this will be acceptable to enter BVI as well? Any Canadian's with experience using the Switch Health rapid antigen test kits for entry into the BVI?

Thanks!

The rapid antigen (like Binaxnow emed.com) is fine for entry to the BVI. Test within 2 days and you won't have to re-test on arrival.
We are doing this in a few days too!

There used to be a link on the splash screen on the BVI Gateway website but it appears to be gone and I did not save it. It was kind of useless anyway because it mostly list tests available in England. Even CVS and Walgreens that people had been using for months were not on the list.

I always recommend the kits from eMed.com as mentioned earlier. They work for the BVI, USVI, and PR.

Found it in an old post. Here is the official list (or at least it was).

Most recently, I've heard them specify any WHO approved test with the following item on the lab report are acceptable:
- Name of patient
- Address of lab
- Phone number of lab
- Date/Time of test
- Negative result
- Signature
- Certification Stamp for lab (usually CLIA)

One more COVID test question: The government web site says: "a RT-PCR or approved rapid antigen SARS CoV-2 negative test result" is required, but our lab does the molecular rapid test, not the antigen test. Does anyone know if the molecular rapid test is acceptable as well?

The answer to my own question is that the molecular test was accepted.

Curious--was the BinaxNOW (monitored by a telehealth professional) accepted to get into the BVI? We're leaving next week...

Yes.

We flew from SJU to EIS on Thursday. InterCaribbean checked for Vax cards and negative test, as expected. They also wanted proof of our return trip, surprisingly.....which sent me digging thru my bag....they were satisfied finally when I produced our water taxi reservation (BVI to St. Thomas) and STT flight home. No one asked for proof of insurance at SJU nor on entering BVI.

By contract, our friends arriving the same day via STT were double and triple checked at the ferry for vax, neg covid test AND proof of insurance.

Is this proof of extra/travel insurance or just health insurance? Others in other threads said they flashed their BlueCross or Anthem insurance cards ??

While health insurance card may pass scrutiny, they also may not. Depends on who is looking. Certainly, health insurance alone does not meet the stated criteria of a covid policy that provides coverage for 1) medical expenses, 2) medical repatriation expense, and 3) medical quarantine accommodation expenses. Policies that provide these benefits can be very inexpensive, depending on how close you are to travelling and your age. The closer to your travel date and the older you are, the more expensive they become. I have purchased ones for between $24-$40 per person for a two week trip with a lot of lead time.

Anyone have a emed kit that I can buy? On JVD, just tried with one but the 2 way tape came off and they voided the test. I don't have an extra kit 🙁
I am in White Bay today and headed to TMM charter tomorrow. I am also checking to see if charter company has any. Thanks in advance!

Greg Mills on FB BVI Charter Chat, is at Cooper tonight and Norman tomorrow and has two extra tests. You might contact him?

Thanks. I contacted the JVD clinic and can get tested in the morning tomorrow if I don't find someone on JVD today with a kit

Trying to get an answer about supplemental Covid travel insurance. The BVI gov website doesn’t really mention it for fully vax’d travelers, but the charter companies websites still say it’s required (I’ve checked a few).
Anyone know what the actual deal is lately for entry? We’ll be flying into Beef Island from Puerto Rico, chartering for a week out of BVI Yacht charters in June.

Bviyc recomended squaremouth.Com for insurance quotes - seems a little like buying a useless piece of paper…..

Thanks!

It's useless until you test positive and have to pay for quarantine out of your pocket.

Covid Assistance Insurance is definitely still required for all travelers to the BVI. This is defined as a policy that provides benefits for:
1) Medical Expenses;
2) Medical Repatriation Expenses; and
3) Quarantine Accomodation Expenses.

These policies can be as inexpensive as $20 - $40 per person, per trip, with accomodation reimbursement ranging from $500 to $2000+. Or you could add in total trip cancellation insurance and the rate goes up alot. Just depends on your risk tolerance.

Squaremouth.com or InsureMyTrip has search engines that let you specify coverages. GoReady Insurance through Squaremouth has very reasonable policies with decent covid coverages. Insurances will get more expensive as you get closer to travelling, and also varies with age of the insured.

It's an oversight on the govt. website; Insurance is required for all travelers.

In practice, very few people are asked to show proof of insurance and those that do, often only show health insurance from the US that covers international illness but not travel or quarantine benefit.

You can roll the dice and and not bother with it and will most likely be fine unless you catch covid and have to pay out of pocket for an extra week of lodging.

Arrived in Tortola 5/9 and my wife & I were both asked for insurance. I had taken out separate supplemental policies a couple of months ago. It's all good here on Virgin Gorda.

Thanks for the responses-
I ended up buying through square mouth, and advised the rest of our crew the same - $40 to minimally cover my wife and I seemed a small price for peace of mind at the customs checks….

Does anyone know if the format we present the negative PCR test in matters? Will a printed copy or digital PDF of the results suffice?

Either format fine. Printed results will be faster than using phone in BVI, but both work.

We always print everything - makes it much easier, especially at customs and immigration.

Will a CVS anthem test work for entry into BVI at EIS airport?
Thanks

as long as the negative report comes from a certified lab with a signature.

We are planning to use the eMed proctored tests to satisfy the testing requirements for our return from the BVI back home to the US. We will be taking the ferry from Roadtown back to St Thomas and then fly out of STT that later that day. My interpretation is that this means we are returning to the US by sea. Which in turn means that we have up to 5 days prior to use our eMed tests, upload the results, and get our green QR from the USVI Travel Portal. (If you arrive to the US by air, it's one day).

Do I have this correct? Just thinking that to save time and stress just prior to departure, it might be a good thing to cross off the list if/when we are near good wifi a few days earlier. But would hate to waste our test kits by using them too early if it's one day!

Absolutely correct.

Just saw the Moorings website mention that Covid insurance no longer required. Is this true?

In reviewing the Moorings website, I saw the same thing. However, there are a few erroneous and dated pieces of information on the website regarding protocols, so I wouldn't take this as being legit until you get something official from BVI authorities. Perhaps they issued new regulations without publishing, but I doubt it.

Covid Insurance is CHEAP - as little as $25 for the whole trip per person. Worth every penny if you test positive for your return to help pay for hotel stay.

nope. I'd call them and ask for their source.

I'll one up ya....just checked in my closet for something and found an unopened box of 6 that are all expired! What a waste....