TORONTO — Saint Lucia has updated its international arrival protocols, effective March 5, 2022.

Designed to create a ‘Seamless Saint Lucia’ experience, the following changes apply to international arrivals, in-transit passengers and returning nationals starting March 5:

1. Fully vaccinated travellers and in-transit passengers aged 5 and over must have a negative rapid COVID-19 antigen test or a rapid COVID-19 PCR test taken one day prior to entering Saint Lucia.  Travellers may also provide a negative RT-PCR COVID-19 test taken up to five days prior to arrival.
2. All unvaccinated travellers must present a negative RT-PCR COVID-19 test, taken up to five days prior to entering Saint Lucia.
3. All travellers must register their information and upload test results online prior to travel on www.stlucia.org/covid-19. On completion, they will receive an automatic ‘ready to go’ email. The previous two-step approval process is no longer required for boarding.

Rapid antigen tests must be administered by a healthcare provider. Self-administered tests and saliva tests are not accepted. UK NHS tests are not valid for travel.

Unvaccinated visitors can continue to stay at COVID-certified properties. Returning nationals who are unvaccinated are required to quarantine for a seven-day period.

On the new protocols, Lorine Charles-St. Jules, Chief Executive Officer of the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority, said: “As one of the very first destinations to implement a responsible tourism reopening strategy, Saint Lucia has continuously evaluated COVID-19 travel protocols. These major changes are good news for visitors and returning nationals as it means a simplified process, greater access to testing and a significant reduction in cost. We have been listening to our travel community in Canada, U.S., UK, Caribbean and around the world. Travellers are seeking a seamless experience along with confidence in safety, and our eased protocols reflect our commitment to welcoming travelers back to Saint Lucia.”

As of January 2022, 90% of tourism arrivals to Saint Lucia are fully vaccinated travellers. Travellers are considered fully vaccinated 14 days after a dose of an accepted single-dose vaccine, or 14 days after the second dose of an accepted two-dose vaccine series.

For more information go to www.stlucia.org/covid-19.