Vaccine & visa requirements for your top-selling Caribbean destinations

Shoulder season is an excellent time to travel to the Caribbean.

While travellers might see a little bit of rain, the days are still hot, and many flights and hotels are significantly cheaper. Some countries have adjusted their vaccine and visa requirements.

We’ve compiled an extensive list with files from the Government of Canada’s website that covers everything from which vaccines your clients need, to any current health warnings or alerts, and visa requirements so that they’re ready to go once those tickets are booked.

Editor’s note: For the most up-to-date information, always consult travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories prior to travelling.

Anguilla

Malaria: No risk
Yellow Fever: No risk
Hep A/Hep B: Vaccination encouraged
Visa: Not required, if staying less than 90 days
Zika virus: Present risk

Antigua and Barbuda

Malaria: No risk
Yellow Fever: No risk
Hep A/Hep B: Vaccination recommended
Visa: Not required
Zika virus: Present risk

Aruba

Malaria: No risk
Yellow Fever: No risk
Hep A/Hep B: Vaccination encouraged
Visa: Not required, if staying less than 30 days
Zika virus: Present risk 

Bahamas

Malaria: No risk
Yellow Fever: No risk
Hep A/Hep B: Vaccination encouraged
Visa: Not required, if staying less than 240 days
Zika virus: Present risk

Barbados

Malaria: No risk
Yellow Fever: No risk
Hep A/Hep B: Vaccination encouraged
Visa: Not required, if staying less than 180 days
Zika virus: Present risk

Belize

Malaria: There is a risk of malaria in certain areas and/or during a certain time of year in this country.
Yellow Fever: No risk
Hep A/Hep B: Vaccination encouraged
Visa: Not required
Zika virus: Present risk

Bermuda

Malaria: No risk
Yellow Fever: No risk
Hep A/Hep B: Vaccination encouraged
Visa: Not required
Zika virus: Present risk

British Virgin Islands

Malaria: No risk
Yellow Fever: No risk
Hep A/Hep B: Vaccination encouraged
Visa: Not required
Zika virus: Present risk

Cayman Islands

Malaria: No risk
Yellow Fever: No risk
Hep A/Hep B: Vaccination encouraged
Visa: Not required, if staying less than 180 days
Zika virus: Present risk

Costa Rica

Malaria: There is a risk of malaria in certain areas and/or during a certain time of year in this country.
Yellow Fever: No risk
Hep A/Hep B: Vaccination encouraged
Visa: Visa not required, if staying less than 90 days
Zika virus: Present risk

Cuba

Malaria: No risk
Yellow Fever: No risk
Hep A/Hep B: Vaccination encouraged
Visa: Tourist card required (valid 30 days)
Zika virus: Present risk

Dominica

Malaria: No risk
Yellow Fever: No risk
Hep A/Hep B: Vaccination encouraged
Visa: Not required, if staying less than 180 days
Zika virus: Present risk

Dominican Republic

Malaria: There is a risk of malaria in certain areas and/or during a certain time of year in this country. Antimalarial medication may be recommended depending on your itinerary and the time of year you are travelling.
Yellow Fever: No risk
Hep A/Hep B: Vaccination encouraged
Visa: Not required if staying less than 90 days
Zika virus: Present risk

Grenada

Malaria: No risk
Yellow Fever: No risk
Hep A/Hep B: Vaccination encouraged
Visa: not required if staying less than 30 days
Zika virus: Present risk

Guadeloupe

Malaria: No risk
Yellow Fever: No risk
Hep A/Hep B: Vaccination encouraged
Visa: Not required if staying less than 90 days
Zika virus: Present risk

Jamaica

Malaria: No risk
Yellow Fever: No risk
Hep A/Hep B: Vaccination encouraged
Visa: Not required if staying less than 90 days
Zika virus: Present risk

Martinique

Malaria: No risk
Yellow Fever: No risk
Hep A/Hep B: Vaccination encouraged
Visa: Not required
Zika virus: Present risk

Mexico

Malaria: There is a risk of malaria in certain areas and/or during a certain time of year in this country. Antimalarial medication may be recommended depending on your itinerary and the time of year you are travelling.
Yellow Fever: No risk
Hep A/Hep B: Vaccination encouraged
Measles: Ongoing outbreak. Vaccinations recommended/updated
Zika virus: Present risk

Puerto Rico

Malaria: No risk
Yellow Fever: No risk
Hep A/Hep B: Vaccination encouraged
Visa: Not required, if staying less than 180 days
Zika virus: Present risk

St. Kitts and Nevis

Malaria: No risk
Yellow Fever: No risk
Hep A/Hep B: Vaccination encouraged
Visa: not required if staying less than 180 days
Zika virus: Present risk

St. Lucia

Malaria: No risk
Yellow Fever: No risk
Hep A/Hep B: Vaccination encouraged
Visa: Not required if staying less than six weeks
Zika virus: Present risk

St. Martin

Malaria: No risk
Yellow Fever: No risk
Hep A/Hep B: Vaccination encouraged
Visa: Not required, if staying less than 90 days
Zika virus: Present risk

St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Malaria: No risk
Yellow Fever: No risk
Hep A/Hep B: Vaccination encouraged
Visa: not required
Zika virus: Present risk

Turks and Caicos

Malaria: No risk
Yellow Fever: No risk
Hep A/Hep B: Vaccination encouraged
Visa: Not required
Zika virus: Present risk

U.S. Virgin Islands

Malaria: No risk
Yellow Fever: No risk
Hep A/Hep B: Vaccination encouraged
Visa: Not required, if staying less than 180 days
Zika virus: present risk

Good to know

Both Dengue fever and chikungunya occur in all countries listed above.

Jamaica is currently experiencing an outbreak of Dengue, and Mexico is currently responding to a measles outbreak.

Dengue fever is a viral disease that can cause severe flu-like symptoms. In some cases it leads to dengue haemorrhagic fever, which can be fatal. Chikungunya is a virus that typically causes fever and pain in the joints. In some cases, the joint pain can be severe and last for months or years. Both are caused by mosquito bites.

Prior to travelling to any of the countries, travel agents should encourage their clients to ensure all their routine vaccinations are up to date, such as the MMVR, which protects against measles; the influenza vaccine, polio, and tetanus.

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