Puerto Rico drops testing rule for vaccinated U.S. visitors

2022-02-02

Effective Feb. 2, Puerto Rico is eliminating the Covid-19 testing requirement for entry for vaccinated visitors traveling from the U.S. who are age 5 and older.

Unvaccinated travelers still have to present a negative Covid test result (molecular or antigen are accepted) taken within 48 hours of travel.

Unvaccinated visitors who do not present a test upon entry are also required to take a test within 48 hours of arrival. If they test positive, they must quarantine for 10 days. Unvaccinated travelers who do not test before or after arrival are subject to fines and must quarantine for seven days.

Also starting Feb. 2, restaurants can operate at 75% capacity for indoor settings (up from 50%) and at full capacity for outdoor settings. Bars will still need to operate at 50% capacity.

The island had a record-breaking 2021 travel season, according to Discover Puerto Rico CEO Brad Dean. He cited passenger arrivals through November at the Luis Munoz Marin airport in San Juan, which surpassed 2019’s numbers in the same timeframe, with six straight months of record arrivals beginning last June.

Dean also said that more than 80% of residents aged 5 and older are fully vaccinated.

All travelers must fill out an official Travel Declaration Form prior to arrival and upload vaccination records or test results through the online form.

Since Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, travelers do not need to present a negative Covid test before flying to a U.S. state.

Courtesy of Travel Weekly