Bahrain to accept all WHO-approved vaccine certificates having QR codes starting Sunday

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain’s Civil Aviation Affairs yesterday announced updating its entry procedures starting this Sunday.

Accordingly, the Kingdom will start accepting travellers who had taken World Health Organisation approved COVID-19 vaccines.

Meaning, travellers arriving at Bahrain International Airport with vaccination certificates having QR codes for vaccines approved, either by the World Health Organisation or Bahrain, will receive an entry starting this Sunday.

The approval follows the recommendation of the National Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and Coordinating Committee chaired by HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Deputy King.

Entry procedures through Bahrain International Airport

As per the new protocols, all passengers, aged 6 years and above, arriving from red list countries, who are allowed to enter should present a PCR certificate with a QR code taken 48 hours before boarding a plane.

Such travellers should conduct a PCR test upon arrival and quarantine for ten days at their residence or a centre licensed by the National Health Regulatory Authority or NHRA. Travellers from red list countries should also take a PCR test on the fifth day of arrival and an exit swab on the tenth day.

Non-red list countries

Passengers from non-red list countries should also conduct a PCR test upon arrival and on the fifth and the tenth day.

However, non-red list passengers are not required to present a PCR test before boarding nor quarantine after arriving in Bahrain.

This rule is applicable for vaccinated passengers, those recovered within eight months of catching the infection, those from GCC and countries with mutual recognition deals, passengers arriving from non-red list countries but having vaccination certificates recognised by the Kingdom, and passengers having vaccination certificates from countries eligible to obtain an on-arrival visa.

Non-vaccinated passengers

All non-vaccinated passengers from non-red list countries should present a PCR certificate, taken 72 hours before departure, with a QR code.

Such passengers should conduct a PCR test upon arrival, quarantine for ten days at their residence or at an authorised centre if aged 12 years and above. They should also take a PCR test on the fifth and tenth day of arrival.

 Countries with which the Kingdom have signed a mutual vaccination recognition agreement include Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Seychelles, Jordan and Israel.

The current Red List countries are:

Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Ethiopia, Costa Rica, Philippines, Nepal, Iran, Iraq, Malaysia, Vietnam, Mongolia, Ukraine, the United Mexican States, and Romania.

All passengers arrivals from red list countries, including those under six, must quarantine for ten days.

Visa on arrival is limited to those arriving from countries eligible.

To see the list of countries, go to www. evisa.gov.bh

Tests on day five and day ten will cost BD 36 (approximately $96).

Payment should be before arrival through BeAware Bahrain App, the Bahrain eGovernment Portal on bh.bh/covidpay, or upon arrival at a designated airport kiosk, where card and cash payments are accepted

Passengers from Red List countries, including passengers who will enter Bahrain temporarily are prohibited from entry unless they are a citizen or hold valid residence visas of Bahrain.

Will accept all vaccination certificates containing a QR code for vaccines approved by the WHO or Bahrain or issued by countries whose citizens are eligible for a visa on arrival.

Fully vaccinated means completed 14 days after the second dose in a two-dose vaccination series (e.g. Pfiz- er, Moderna, AstraZeneca, etc.) or completed 14 days after a single dose for sin- gle-dose vaccination series (e.g. Johnson & Johnson).