The Middle Eastern country, Bahrain has also had its fair share of the COVID-19 wave, prompting it to lay down precautionary measures in an attempt to limit the further spread of the virus.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 4 Travel Health Notice for Bahrain due to COVID-19, indicating a very high level of COVID-19 in the island nation.
Is Bahrain Open For Tourists?
No, the Bahrain International Airport remains open, including for transit and transfer passengers. However, entry to Bahrain is currently restricted to specified nationalities and categories of passengers.
Bahrain COVID restrictions
- All passengers must complete the Bahrain declaration health form before arrival.
- All passengers arriving in Bahrain are required to take 3 COVID‑19 PCR tests at their own expense. The total fees of BHD 36 will cover a test on arrival and two tests to be conducted on the 5th day after arrival. For those staying in Bahrain for more than 10 days, another COVID‑19 PCR test will be conducted on the 10th day.
- Children under six years of age are exempted from the COVID‑19 test. The payment for the test on arrival can be made through the BeAware Bahrain App (Android, Apple ), which is a must to have with the passenger before reaching Bahrain.
Payment by cash is also accepted upon arrival, however, this will cause delays for the passenger. Payment can also be made through the eGOVERNMENT website.
- All other passengers must undergo a COVID‑19 PCR test (at their own expense) on arrival. Arriving passengers must remain in self‑isolation until they receive the result of the COVID‑19 PCR test.
- Passengers travelling from GCC countries and who are fully vaccinated or have recovered from COVID‑19 will no longer be required to undergo PCR testing on arrival.
Passengers must present proof of vaccination or recovery as a printed certificate or through an official GCC mobile application. This exception does not apply to passengers between the age of 6 and 17.
- Passengers travelling from countries that have mutual recognition of vaccination certificate will also not be required to undergo COVID‑19 PCR testing upon arrival if the passenger is able to present proof that they have been vaccinated with a recognised vaccine.
- Travellers who are vaccinated in the UK, the EU, the USA and Canada with approved vaccination certificates will be provided with a vaccination certification card proving the acceptance of their vaccination status.
However, these passengers will have to undergo mandatory COVID‑19 PCR testing on arrival and must self‑isolate until a negative result is returned. They must also undergo further testing on the 5th and 10th day of their stay.
- Also, fully vaccinated passengers from countries not mentioned above who have a valid vaccination certificate with a QR code will be provided with a vaccination certification card proving the acceptance of their vaccination status, but they must undergo COVID‑19 PCR testing and self‑isolate until a negative result is returned.
They will also undergo further testing on the 5th and 10th day of their stay.
- However, all passengers over 6 years old travellers arriving from or transiting through the Republic of India, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal must present a negative COVID‑19 PCR test certificate with a QR code of a test conducted not more than 48 hours before departure.
They must also undergo further COVID‑19 PCR testing on the 5th and 10th day of their stay.
- All Bahrain citizens and residents with a green shield of vaccination or recovery through the BeAware Bahrain app will not have to undergo COVID‑19 PCR testing on arrival.
- Entry to indoor services in the country will be for vaccinated and recovered citizens, residents and visitors only, who must present proof of vaccination through an official application approved by the GCC countries.
Visitors from other countries must prove that they have received the vaccination by presenting the acceptance card of certified vaccination provided upon arrival in Bahrain.
- Persons who have not been vaccinated or recovered from COVID‑19 will have no access to indoor dining services, gymnasiums, swimming pools, cinemas, spas, game centres, events, exhibitions and conferences.
Entry into indoor services is permitted to children under 12 years of age if a vaccinated or recovered person accompanies them. Children between 12 and 17 are allowed entry in all cases.
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