Q&A’s travelers

There is currently a ban on flights from the following countries: South America, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Cape Verde and the Dominican Republic.

Passengers from all other countries in the world may now travel to Bonaire. Direct flights between Bonaire and the United States and Canada, for example, are possible again.

For more information about requirements to travel to Bonaire see Q&A: What are the requirements to follow when traveling to Bonaire.

The requirements for travel to Bonaire are as follows:
* All travelers, 13 years and older, must possess a negative PCR-test result in order to be able to travel to Bonaire.
* The PCR test must have been done within 72 hours before arrival on Bonaire.
* All travelers, 13 years and older, from destinations in high-risk countries such as: South America, the United States, Canada and the Dominican Republic must undergo an antigen test (rapid test). Travelers from the Netherlands will also be obliged to undergo this test from 10 February 2021 onwards.
Travelers coming from a high-risk country must undergo the rapid test within 4 hours of departure from the high-risk country or, if feasible, from a stop-over location en route to Bonaire. At the moment it is not possible for transit passengers to undergo a rapid test at the airports of Aruba and Curacao because their test facilities are outside of their transit zones.
* There are several locations in the Netherlands where quick tests may be taken. All test locations outside the Netherlands where you may undergo a PCR test or a rapid test may be found on this website: https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/documents/frequently-asked-questions/where-can-i-get-a-pcr-or-rapid-test-outside-the-netherlands

* All travelers must complete a health declaration form for the Public Health Department no earlier than 72 hours or later than 48 hours before departure. This may be done at: www.bonairepublichealth.org
* The printed health declaration, the PCR-test result and the rapid-test result must be presented at check-in, boarding and arrival on Bonaire.
* The negative test result of both tests must be known before departure; otherwise you will not be permitted to fly. The airline representative will ask you about your test result.
* Should you arrive on Bonaire without a negative PCR-test result and negative antigen-test result, you will not be allowed to enter and you will be sent back.
* At the time of departure for Bonaire, travelers must be free of any COVID-19 related symptoms such as: a runny nose, a sore throat, a cough, sneezing, shortness of breath, loss of smell and taste, elevated temperature or fever.
* Additionally, travelers must not have been in direct contact with a confirmed COVID-19 patient in the last 14 days before their trip.
* Bonaire advises travelers to make sure that their health insurance will cover the costs of medical care during their stay on the island, including care related to COVID-19.
Dutch travelers may find the most up-to-date situation and travel information at: https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/travel/traveladvice-carribean-part-of-the-kingdom
* Travelers from Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten require a PCR test but they do not have to undergo the quick test. They must also complete the health declaration online.
* If you are traveling from Bonaire to Curacao and back with a maximum of a one-night stay, you may find the applicable requirements in the Q&A “May I travel to Curacao and back for a short stay without a PCR test?”, which may be found on this page.
* If you wish to know which countries are deemed to be low-risk countries for Bonaire, please consult the document “List of countries with a low risk of COVID”, containing the Government Gazette Designation Order. This document may be accessed through the main menu in the section Law, Regulation and Emergency Ordinance on this website: https://www.bonairecrisis.com/temporary-act-measures-covid-19/

* On 1 December, 2020, Winair commenced temporary direct flights between Sint Eustatius and Bonaire on Tuesdays. Travelers from Saba and Sint Eustatius do not have to undergo a PCR test or antigen test before they travel to Bonaire, but they are required to complete the health declaration online.

An antigen test is a rapid test, which detects the presence of viral proteins in the mucus in the nose and throat.

* All travelers, 13 years and older, from destinations in high-risk countries such as: South America, the United States, Canada and the Dominican Republic must undergo a rapid test. Travelers from the Netherlands will also be obliged to undergo this test from 10 February onwards.
* Travelers coming from a high-risk country must undergo the rapid test within 4 hours of departure from the high-risk country or, if feasible, from a stop-over location en route to Bonaire.

* There are several locations in the Netherlands where this rapid test may be taken. Test locations outside the Netherlands where you may undergo a PCR test or a quick test may be found on this website: https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/documents/frequently-asked-questions/where-can-i-get-a-pcr-or-rapid-test-outside-the-netherlands

* For further information about the entry requirements please refer to the Q&A “What are the requirements that need to be followed when traveling to Bonaire”.

* Passengers from Bonaire traveling to the Netherlands do not need to undergo a PCR test or an antigen/rapid test before departure since the Netherlands consider Bonaire to be a low-risk area.

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.
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.

The time between the moment the PCR test is taken and the moment of arrival on Bonaire may not exceed 72 hours. The time difference has no influence on this.
For example: Your arrival on Bonaire is scheduled for Saturday 4 p.m. Bonaire local time. In the Netherlands this will be 5 hours later, i.e. Saturday 9 p.m. This time is the one you use to calculate how long the PCR test is valid for. As the test may not have been taken more than 72 hours prior to this time, it cannot be taken prior to 9 p.m. on the previous Wednesday.

Non-essential travel from the European Netherlands to the Caribbean Netherlands is not recommended. However, if a traveler does come to Bonaire, they must have taken a PCR test no earlier than 72 hours before their arrival on Bonaire and the result must be negative.

For the current requirements regarding travel to Bonaire please read the Q&A “What are the requirements that need to be followed when traveling to Bonaire?”

The Public Health Department employees who perform test checks at the airport are well aware of what the various laboratories’ results look like. However, it can always happen that a good forgery is overlooked. This cannot be a 100% prevented. Falsifying documents, including PCR test results, is a criminal offense. If someone submits a falsified test result, a report of this will be filed with the police. We hope that travelers appreciate that their behavior will not only affect their own health but also the health of the tourists and residents of Bonaire.

As long as you remain on board, the regulations of your final destination apply. In case you are requested to leave the plane and wait in the transit hall, the regulations of that airport need to be followed (for Bonaire see protocol Flamingo International Airport). Should you, due to unforeseen circumstances, need to stay on Bonaire, the regulations for travelers from non-safe countries apply. The general hygiene measures of the airline need to followed during the flight.

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.

Yes, you may travel to Bonaire by boat from or via Curacao. The same rules apply to you as to travelers who come to Bonaire by air.
You will find this information in Q&A: From which countries are passenger flights to Bonaire currently allowed?
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
3) Health declaration form from the Public Health Department Bonaire to submit no earlier than 72 hours or later than 48 hours before departure. You may download this form at: https://bonairepublichealth.org/en/form
4) You must undergo a PCR test within 72 hours before arrival on Bonaire and the result of this test must be negative. Upon arrival you must provide proof of a negative test result. This applies to all passengers. If you cannot comply with this, you will not be admitted to Bonaire and you will have to return.
Travelers do not need to undergo an antigen test.

Yes. For your trip to Bonaire you still need a negative PCR test result in order to be able to travel.

A vaccination ensures that you will not become seriously ill if you get infected with the coronavirus. It is not known yet whether someone who has been vaccinated can still spread the virus. That is why it has been decided to err on the side of caution and so -for the time being- the same requirements will apply to both vaccinated travelers and people who have not been vaccinated. To read all the relevant requirements, please see the Q&A about the requirements for travel to Bonaire, also on this page.

No, you there is no standard test procedure at the airport on Bonaire. Should the Public Health Department deem it necessary for you to be tested  upon arrival, they will decide where the test will be performed.

A orange travel advisory for Bonaire means that non-essential travel from the European Netherlands to the Caribbean Netherlands is not recommended.
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

A bubble is a defined area within which it is safe to travel. You can safely travel back and forth between the BES islands.
Travelers from Saba or Sint Eustatius who travel to Bonaire can do so via Curacao, where they can remain in transit prior to an onward flight to Bonaire. In addition, commencing from 1 December there will be a direct flight connection between Sint Eustatius and Bonaire. WinAir will operate this flight on Tuesdays.

Travelers from Saba and Sint Eustatius do not have to undergo a PCR test or an antigen test before they enter Bonaire. However, travelers from Saba and Sint Eustatius must complete a health declaration form online. This declaration has to be completed no earlier than 72 hours or later than 48 hours before departure to Bonaire and it may be downloaded at:
https://www.bonairepublichealth.org
Up-to-date requirements for traveling to Sint Eustatius may be found at: https://www.statiagovernment.com/key-topics/covid-19/travel-policy
Travelers who want to travel on to Saba from Sint Eustatius may find the current requirements as set by the island of Saba at: http://www.sabatourism.com/entry-saba
Travelers are strongly advised to obtain relevant information from their travel insurance company about the coverage for their trip to Sint Eustatius/Saba.

No. Travelers from Bonaire do not need to undergo an antigen test or PCR test before traveling to the Netherlands. They do not need to go into quarantine on arrival in the Netherlands either.

The Netherlands consider Bonaire to be a country of low risk. More information about this can be found at: https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/coronavirus-covid-19/reizen-en-vakantie/inreizen-doorreizen-nederland-en-het-eu-inreisverbod/veilige-landen

It is possible to travel to the Netherlands and other countries from Bonaire, but you should realize that you are traveling to an area with a high number of infections. The Public Health Department, therefore, strongly advises everyone to adhere to the rules of the country they are traveling to.

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.

Due to the infections on Aruba it is advisable for travelers from Bonaire to only travel to Aruba if essential.

You may travel to Aruba. Please note that as of 5 January, 2021 travelers from Bonaire 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/safe-travels-to-aruba

For the return trip to Bonaire, you must also undergo a PCR test, which you must undergo within 72 hours before arrival on Bonaire and the result of which must be negative. Travelers do not need to undergo an antigen test. You must also complete a health declaration form on the Bonaire Public Health Department website. For more information see Q&A “What are the requirements that need to be followed when traveling to Bonaire?”

Travel presents risks and you should understand that you are traveling to an area with cases of infection. The Public Health Department, therefore, strongly advises you to adhere to the local rules.

Yes, you may. This is possible provided the following conditions are met.
*If you travel from Bonaire to Curacao and back and only have a one-night stay on Curacao, you do not have to undergo a PCR test and thus do not have to present a negative PCR-test result on arrival back on Bonaire.
*At departure and arrival you will have to be able to show your round-trip ticket with the travel dates.
*If your trip to Curacao lasts longer than one night a PCR test is mandatory for your return trip to Bonaire. If you do not comply with this requirement you will have to go into quarantine for 10 days on arrival on Bonaire or you will have to travel back to Curacao.
*You must also complete the online health declaration form no earlier than 72 hours or later than 48 hours before departure to Bonaire. You may download the declaration form at: https://www.bonairepublichealth.org

*This regulation also applies to travelers from Curacao. They may also travel to Bonaire without a PCR test as long as they comply with the requirements stated above.

This regulation is valid up until and including 18 February 2021.

Yes, you may travel directly to Curacao. Curacao considers Bonaire to be a low-risk country. Travelers from Bonaire to Curacao do not have to undergo an antigen test or a PCR test. You may find additional information about the entry requirements for Curacao at: https://gobiernu.cw/nl/corona-travel-to-Curacao/

There are rules that apply if you travel to Bonaire from or via Curacao. All travelers over 13 years old must have taken a PCR test no earlier than 72 hours before their arrival on Bonaire and the result must be negative. Travelers must be able to present the test result at departure and upon arrival. Travelers do not need to undergo an antigen test.

You must also complete an online health declaration form from the Public Health Department no earlier than 72 hours or later than 48 hours before departure. This also applies to all travelers who transit through Curacao to Bonaire.
You may download the declaration form at: https://www.bonairepublichealth.org

No, it is not valid even if you return to Bonaire within 72 hours.

When traveling to Bonaire, you must provide a PCR test result from outside the island. Travelers from Bonaire who travel to Aruba must undergo a PCR test, while passengers from Bonaire who travel to Curacao do not need to undergo a PCR test.
Travelers from Aruba and Curacao to Bonaire must undergo a PCR test 72 hours before departure and the result must be negative. They must also complete a Health Declaration from the Public Health Department before departure. However, they do not have to undergo an antigen test (rapid test) for their trip to Bonaire. To read all the relevant requirements, please see the Q&A about the requirements for travel to Bonaire, also on this page.

Yes you may. A temporary flight connection has been established between Bonaire and Sint Eustatius. The flight will be operated by WinAir and will be flying every Tuesday starting 1 December, 2020. The two-hour flight, which has room for 40 passengers, will leave Sint Eustatius at 9.15 a.m. and Bonaire at noon. Travel between Saba and Sint Eustatius is possible using WinAir’s regularly scheduled flights.
In this way all islands in the Caribbean Netherlands are connected with each other.
Travelers must, at all times, adhere to the entry requirements in force on these islands.

The Ministry of the Interior points out that this is a temporary solution to help residents, such as students, business travelers and people who visit the islands for family matters. Every two weeks the situation will be evaluated and a decision on whether the flights will be continued will be made.

Travelers from Saba and Sint Eustatius do not need to undergo a PCR undergo or an antigen test before entering Bonaire. However, travelers from Saba and Sint Eustatius who come to Bonaire do need to complete a health declaration form online. This declaration needs to be completed no earlier than 72 hours or later than 48 hours before departure to Bonaire. Travelers may download this form at: https://www.bonairepublichealth.org
To properly prepare for your trip, please read the current requirements for traveling to Sint Eustatius at: https://www.statiagovernment.com/key-topics/covid-19/travel-policy
Travelers who want to travel on to Saba from Sint Eustatius may find the current requirements as set by the island of Saba at: http://www.sabatourism.com/entry-saba
Travelers are strongly advised to obtain relevant information from their travel insurance company about the coverage for their trip to Sint Eustatius/Saba.

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

If you need a test result for your trip abroad you can use a number of commercial parties on Bonaire. For more information about these various test locations, please call 0800-0800 or contact your family doctor.