COVID-19 Travel Restrictions: Puerto Rico

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Puerto Rico has one of the highest rates of vaccine doses administered against COVID-19 among United States jurisdictions. The Island has a vaccination rate of 155,266 doses administered per 100,000 people. 95% of the eligible population have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 87% are fully vaccinated.

However, Puerto Rico is following the measures recommended by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention), which we will summarize below.

Flying to Puerto Rico: Entry Requirements

List of general entry requirements

• Domestic flights:
  • Domestic travelers are not required to provide a negative test or proof of vaccination prior to arriving in Puerto Rico.
• International flights:
  
  • International travelers that are neither U.S. citizens nor permanent residents must present proof of vaccination.
  • U.S. citizens and permanent residents are not required to present a negative COVID-19 test prior to traveling.

Is a negative COVID test required for entry? 

No.

Are there health screening procedures in place at airports and other ports of entry? 

Yes. The Puerto Rico National Guard assists with enhanced health screenings of all arriving passengers at each airport on the Island. All incoming travelers at the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan will be pre-screened via thermographic cameras to monitor temperatures, and enhanced protocols are in place at baggage claim before exiting the airport.

Is there a curfew in place?

No

Are there restrictions on interstate/city travel?

No

Are commercial flights operating? 

Yes

Is public transport operating?

Yes.

Public Rules in Puerto Rico

Masks are no longer mandatory on the Island with the exception of events hosting over 1,000 people. However, masks are highly recommended on all public transportation, including all ferries operating.

COVID-19 Testing in Puerto Rico

Are PCR and antigen tests available for U.S. & Canadian citizens in Puerto Rico? 

Yes. You can check here for the location of clinics in Puerto Rico.

PCR molecular testing for all travelers coming in or going out of the Island will be available for $110 and will be guaranteed results electronically within 24 to 48 hours.

If so, can you get test results reliably available within one calendar day? 

Yes. If this is critical, you must confirm this with the private center you choose, but normally you can expect to receive your test upon completion or within a few hours.

For information on limited humanitarian exemptions, please review the following page: 

Exemptions may be granted in extremely limited circumstances such as emergency travel (such as an emergency medical evacuation) to preserve a person’s life, protect their health from serious danger, or protect their physical safety, and screening cannot be completed before travel.

Returning Home

We recommend taking into account some considerations such as: 

• Checking-in online if possible and take your boarding pass to the airport on your mobile or printed
• Arriving earlier than usual at the airport, because the security checks and check-in process may be slower than usual
• Bear in mind that some airlines have restricted the amount of cabin baggage allowed
• Wearing a face mask is mandatory throughout the airport (remember that masks with exhalation valves are not permitted)
• The airport is marked with 1.5 m social-distancing signs
• Your destination country will probably ask you for a record of your flight. We recommend checking the healthcare and documentation requirements of the country you are traveling to.
• Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory and excluded from the CDC, it is required to provide a negative COVID-19 test result to return to the mainland United States.
• Quarantine mandates, recommendations, and entry requirements may vary by country.

Useful Links:

• Travel Safe Puerto Rico
• Travel.State.Gov
• Travel and Tourism Government of Canada
• Canada Embassy in Puerto Rico
• Government of Puerto Rico information page
• Puerto Rico Government Health Portal

Other links:

• COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov
• CDC page on COVID-19
• Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PRTC)
• COVID-19 Aid and Resources for the Travel and Tourism Sector
• San Juan Airport website
• Our World in Data