Q&A travelers

Bonaire has drawn up a list of risk levels for different countries, based on the COVID situation per country.

There are four risk levels and the travel requirements for passengers from those countries are detailed per risk level.

For more information please refer to: https://www.bonairecrisis.com/en/travel-to-bonaire/

NB. The Netherlands is a high-risk country for Bonaire as of August 5, 2021!

Bonaire classifies other countries using a four-level risk assessment:
These are: very low, low, high and very high risk.

Bonaire also distinguishes between fully vaccinated and not (fully) vaccinated travelers.

For the risk-level classification of countries and for information about traveling between the ABC islands please see: https://www.bonairecrisis.com/en/travel-to-bonaire/

All travelers must complete a Public Health Department health declaration form online between 72 hours and 48 hours before departure. This declaration can be downloaded at: https://www.bonairepublichealth.org

At check-in, boarding and arrival, travelers must present the printed health declaration, the result of a coronavirus test and/or a vaccination certificate.

Before departure, travelers should not have symptoms that could indicate COVID-19 infection, such as a runny nose, sore throat, cough, sneezing, shortness of breath, loss of smell and taste, increase in temperature or fever.
Travelers must also not have had direct contact with anyone who has COVID-19 for 14 days prior to travel.

Travelers should check whether their health insurance will cover any medical costs and COVID-19 related costs during their stay.

If you test positive before your trip but you have recovered, you may still travel to Bonaire by showing a recovery certificate that is not older than 6 months.
If you have recovered but you do not yet have a recovery certificate, please contact the Bonaire Public Health Department at publichealth@bonairegov.com

The recovery certificate must be drawn up in Dutch or English and issued by an official medical institution. On paper or shown as a QR-code.

People traveling from Curacao to Bonaire
From 26 August, 2021 Curacao is designated a high-risk country for Bonaire. For further information about risk countries and travel to Bonaire please refer to: www.bonairecrisis.com/en/travel-to-bonaire/

People traveling from Bonaire to Curacao
From 27 August, 2021 Bonaire is designated a high-risk country for Curacao.
* All travelers, 12 years and older, must undergo a test. This may be a PCR test that has been taken within 48 hours before departure or an antigen test taken within 24 hours before departure. The result of this test must be negative.
* Not (fully) vaccinated travelers, 12 years and older, must undergo an antigen test three days after arrival. An appointment for this test must be made within 48 hours prior to departure.

You may find additional information about the entry requirements for Curacao at: https://gobiernu.cw/nl/corona-travel-to-Curacao/

Other relevant information
• Travelers must be able to show all required documents on departure and arrival.
• Travelers to Bonaire must complete a health declaration form online for the Public Health Department between 72 hours and 48 hours before departure. This declaration may be downloaded at www.bonairepublichealth.org
• If you are traveling to Aruba or Curacao and returning to Bonaire within 48 hours, the test result of the outward journey is also valid for the return journey.
• To access travel requirements for travel by boat from Bonaire to Curacao please refer to: https://gobiernu.cw/nl/corona-virus-nieuws/woensdag-9-juni-2021-mededelingen-evenementen/covid-mededelingen-9-juni-2021-302-2/ and the website: https://gobiernu.cw/nl/corona-travel-to-curacao/

Travelers traveling from Aruba to Bonaire
From 26 August, 2021 Aruba is designated a high-risk country for Bonaire. For further information about risk countries and travel to Bonaire please refer to: www.bonairecrisis.com/en/travel-to-bonaire/

Travelers traveling from Bonaire to Aruba
* As of 25 August 2021, all travelers from Bonaire, fully vaccinated or not (fully) vaccinated, 12 years and older, must undergo a PCR test when they travel to Aruba.
* The result of this test must be negative. The test must have been taken within 72 hours before departure.
* Travelers may also have themselves tested upon arrival at the airport of Aruba.
* For more information about the travel requirements for Aruba see: https://www.aruba.com/nl/traveler-health-requirements

Additional information
* In case you are traveling to Aruba or Curacao and returning to Bonaire within 48 hours, the test result of the outward journey is also valid for the return journey.
* Travelers must be able to present all required documents at departure and at arrival.
* Travelers to Bonaire from 0 of age must also complete a health declaration form on the Bonaire Public Health Department website between 72 hours and 48 hours before departure. You may download the declaration at www.bonairepublichealth.org

The United States has been designated a high-risk country for Bonaire.
From Wednesday, 1 September, 2021, all American travelers must undergo a free antigen test at the Public Health Department (PG) on day 5 after their arrival. An appointment will be made for this test upon arrival at Bonaire airport.

An exception will apply to travelers on a short stay: US travelers who need to undergo a test for their return trip on day 4, day 5, or day 6 of their stay. They do not have to undergo the antigen test at PG, but must have their return-journey test result sent to PG.
PG makes agreements about this with the test companies on Bonaire.

All travelers must arrange the test for their return with a commercial company and pay for it themselves.

For more information please visit: www.bonairecrisis.com/travel-to-bonaire/

* At arrival, you are asked to take a free-of-charge COVID-19 test after 5 days (the day of arrival is day 0).
* You fill out a form declaring that you are willing to take the test and receive an appointment for testing.
* The COVID-19 test will be administered at the Public Health department’s drive-through testing lane.
* A Public Health employee will call you as soon as the test result is received. If you test positive, you must isolate yourself. You will receive extensive information about this.
* If you do not keep the test appointment on the agreed day, you must pay for the test. You also risk having to go into quarantine at home or at your vacation accommodation.

It is a criminal offence to falsify documents, including test results. If it is discovered that a traveler has a falsified test result, this will be reported to the police. The traveler in question also runs the risk of quarantine or isolation at their own expense. The number of days depends on whether someone is infected or not.
The Public Health Department employees who check the test results are fully aware of what test results from various laboratories look like. However, it is always possible that a skillful counterfeit may be overlooked as this is not 100% preventable. Travelers should be aware that their behavior affects their own health and that of tourists and residents.

Yes, this is possible.
* For more information and to book this test please visit: https://en.bonairesafetravel.org/arrivalBonaire/
* A passenger who tests positive must go into mandatory isolation at their home or holiday address on the island.
* For your relevant information visit: https://www.bonairecrisis.com/en/travel-to-bonaire/

For travelers traveling to Bonaire who have transited or transferred elsewhere, the following rules and test requirements apply:

* For travelers who stay on the airplane or at the airport during a stopover, the conditions of the country of origin remain valid for the continuation of their trip to Bonaire.

* After a stay of least 14 days, will the conditions of the stopover country apply for the continuation of a traveler’s trip to Bonaire.

* For travelers who leave the airport during a stopover and pass through customs & immigration, the conditions of both the country of origin and stopover apply for the continuation of their trip to Bonaire. If a test requirement applies from either of the two countries on arrival on Bonaire, this obligation must be met.
Travelers who, due to circumstances, cannot meet the requirements to travel to Bonaire, should immediately contact publichealth@bonairegov.com

Yes, you may travel to Bonaire by boat.
For more information please visit: https://www.bonairecrisis.com/en/travel-to-bonaire/

You must also ask the Bonaire Harbor Master for permission to enter the harbor. In order to do this you will need the following documents:

1) Reservation at the Bonaire Marina
2) MDH (Maritime Declaration of Health), you will receive this from the marina office after you have made a reservation

You are fully vaccinated when:
* you have had two vaccinations with the AstraZeneca, Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, or if you have had one vaccination with the Janssen vaccine;
* you have received the last inoculation at least 14 days previously;
* you have had the coronavirus and one inoculation. This will be noted on your vaccination certificate.
Upon departure or arrival you must present your country’s vaccination certificate to prove that you have been fully vaccinated.

Yes, you may. Travelers from the Netherlands may use a digital coronavirus confirmation (the Digital Coronavirus Certificate, DCC) for their trip to Bonaire. However, travelers are advised to print out their test result or have it with them in digital form, just in case the DCC cannot be read on Bonaire due to technical issues. In such an event, a traveler who does not have a paper or digital test result must undergo another test or be quarantined.

Different requirements may apply to people who have been vaccinated as to those who have not been (fully) vaccinated.

Further information about the entry requirements please visit https://www.bonairecrisis.com/en/travel-to-bonaire/

An antigen test is a rapid test, which detects the presence of viral proteins in the mucus in the nose and throat.
* It is possible for passengers to have an antigen test done at Bonaire airport upon their arrival on the island.
* For more information and to book this test please visit: https://en.bonairesafetravel.org/arrivalBonaire/
* This antigen test may also be arranged and paid for without a prior appointment at Bonaire airport upon arrival. It is possible to book it and pay for it in advance, but this is not required.
* A passenger who tests positive must go into mandatory isolation at their home or holiday address on the island.
* For your relevant information visit: https://www.bonairecrisis.com/en/travel-to-bonaire/

You can complete the form online at https://bonairepublichealth.org/en/form
Please do this no earlier than 72 hours or later than 48 hours before departure to Bonaire. Upon completion you will receive an email with the form that you have completed and a welcome letter. This letter contains relevant COVID-19 related information for Bonaire. If deemed necessary, the Public Health Department of Bonaire will contact you prior to your departure. The health declaration is needed for all travelers 0 years and older.

You will need to print your form and have it with you. When you check in you must present the health declaration form and upon arrival on Bonaire you must show it to a Public Health Department representative.
You may also keep a copy of the declaration on your mobile phone, tablet or computer, but the Public Health department prefers a printed version.

If someone does not comply with quarantine, the Governor may invoke Article 35 of the Public Health Act. The Governor then imposes a “quarantine measure”. This is a decree, stating where this person should be quarantined and to which rules they must adhere. Such a measure means that this person is detained in the designated place. A Judge will verify whether there are good reasons to take this measure.

A yellow travel advisory for Bonaire means that traveling is possible but there still are risks.

The Netherlands provides travel advice for its residents. Four designations (Green, Yellow, Orange and Red) indicate different levels of safety for a country or area. This travel advisory is not mandatory. It remains the responsibility of each individual traveler to decide whether or not to embark on a trip.

Should you want to know what the various travel advisories / color codes mean, please look at:
https://www.thenetherlandsworldwide.nl/documents/questions-and-answers/what-do-the-travel-advisories-color-codes-mean

From 8 August, 2021 onward travelers from Bonaire to the Netherlands aged 12 and older will have to be able to present a ‘coronavirus pass’: a vaccination certificate, a PCR-test certificate or a recovery certificate.

A coronavirus pass may be:
1. A vaccination certificate. Proof that you have been fully vaccinated, in the form of a paper QR code or a QR code displayed in the CoronaCheck-app.
2. A paper PCR-test result certificate concerning a test that has been done on Bonaire within 48 hours before departure. The result of this test must be negative.
3. Proof of recovery (a paper statement or a QR code). A recovery certificate is a statement that someone has had Covid-19 less than 6 months ago and has recovered from it. This proof of recovery may be requested from the Public Health Department (PG) via 0800-0800. PG can also provide you with a QR code to that effect, which may be used in the CoronaCheck- app.

For more information about this: https://www.nederlandwereldwijd.nl/landen/bonaire/reizen/reisadvies#anker-coronavirus

Companies that carry out coronavirus tests for travelers on Bonaire are:
*BonBida www.bonbida.com/covid-19-pcr-testing-on-bonaire
*Hestia (in collaboration with BonLab) www.bonairesafetravel.org
*BonLab www.bonairelab.org/
*Covid Test Bonaire https://coronatestbonaire.com/

From Bonaire people may travel to the Netherlands and other countries. Travelers should, however, realize that abroad there is also a risk of infection. The Public Health Department strongly advises all travelers to adhere to the rules of their destinations.
The Dutch government advises travelers to do a self-test when meeting other people during their stay.

The free test is meant for residents of Bonaire who could not be fully vaccinated:
1. Children from 7 to 18 years of age;
2. Patients who could not be vaccinated due to a medical condition.

People in category two need to first request a written approval for a “free test”. This may be done at the Public Health Department at phone number 0800-0800. The department will establish whether you qualify for a free test.

The free coronavirus test will be offered in August and September 2021. There are countries that require a coronavirus test for children 7 years and older. This is why the free coronavirus test is being offered to children 7 years and older.

If you would like to request a free coronavirus test on Bonaire and make an appointment, please go to: https://www.bonairesafetravel.org/bonaire-residents. The test will take place at the Mariott Hotel, Kaya Internashonal 2 and the result will be sent to you by email.

Travelers returning to Bonaire from the Netherlands may undergo a free coronavirus test in the Netherlands. For more information please see:
https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/coronavirus-covid-19/reizen-en-vakantie/coronabewijs/gratis-coronatest

Yes you can. You may request proof of vaccination via 0800-0900 if you have been fully vaccinated. This proof is in the form of a paper QR code. When you make this request you will be given an appointment to collect it.
When applying for and collecting the QR code, you must have your vaccination certificate and your passport at hand.

For traveling in Europe, you must be able to display the QR code digitally. All fully vaccinated residents of Bonaire may now upload the QR code in the CoronaCheck-app. You may also use your sedula for identification to do so.
You will receive written instructions on how to do this when you pick up your paper QR code.

The call center is available Mondays to Fridays from 8 AM – noon and from 1 PM – 5 PM on 0800-0900.
Overseas phone numbers may not be able to contact 0800-0900. In this case you can call +599 715 5390 during office hours.

Vaccinated residents of Bonaire who are currently in the Netherlands and do not have a QR code may request one from the GGD (Municipal Health Service) in Utrecht. You can do this during office hours on: 030 – 8002899.

Yes. In case you are traveling to Aruba or Curacao and returning to Bonaire within 48 hours, the test result of the outward journey is also valid for the return journey

For your relevant information visit: https://www.bonairecrisis.com/en/travel-to-bonaire/

If you need a test result in order to be able to travel abroad, you may obtain one from a number of commercial parties on Bonaire:

• BonBida  http://www.bonbida.com/covid-19-pcr-testing-on-bonaire
• Hestia (working with BonLab) www.bonairesafetravel.org
• BonLab  www.bonairelab.org/
• Covid Test Bonaire https://coronatestbonaire.com/

The Public Health Department will only test you if you have symptoms.

From Bonaire you may travel to the Netherlands and other countries. But do realize that you may be traveling to an area with a lot of infections. Especially if you are staying in regions where there are a lot of infected people, such as the large cities in the west of the Netherlands. Furthermore, in other areas and countries the chance of infection may be greater than on Bonaire. Therefore, the Public Health Department strongly advises travelers to adhere to the rules of the country you are traveling to. After all, you don’t want to get sick during your trip or have to be in isolation because you get infected. Nor would you want to bring the virus back to Bonaire. So please adhere to all national and regional measures and advisories.