TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Travel from Canada to BVI question

Hello,

Hoping to return for an early January trip, and for the first time trying no ferry. Toronto to San Juan direct, then (Inter-Caribbean) San Juan - Tortola. Flights on separate itineraries.

My question is, do we have to check in at all in San Juan and is there any Puerto Rico COVID protocols, or is it just just Canada to BVI for testing et cetera?

Previously when flying to the US we actually clear US customs and immigration at the airport in Toronto and land in the US as a domestic flight, now in 2022 I don’t know the protocol.

Any info on what happens in SJU appreciated.

Thanks

PR has a portal but it's only required if you are leaving the airport. If you are simply picking up your checked bags and taking them to the InterCaribbean counter to recheck them, you are not required to fill out the portal. After baggage claim, there are national guard troops checking for the portal approval. You just show them your connecting information and they will direct you back upstairs to the ticket counters. My suggestion is to have your InterCaribbean flight information printed off so it's easier to show them.

Not sure about immigration/customs. I would assume you still pre-clear in Toronto. If not, there is a very large, efficient immigration area in San Juan. According to the US CBP website, the pre-clearance is still active in Toronto. I'm sure you know, leave yourself a lot of time in Toronto unless you have a Nexus card.

Jason, do you know where it says you don’t have to fill out the PR portal if you are not leaving the airport? When I look at their requirements I don’t see that exception. Maybe I am just missing it.

Hi Galeaux - when I travelled from Toronto to BVI in April I didn't have to complete the PR portal as you just show that you are in transit and the PR national guard allows you (you go through a checkpoint after you pick up your luggage) to find your way to the intercarib ticket counter.

Thanks GordaGuy, I am just wondering whether they changed it since I can’t find that exception. Just want to make sure we are following all the rules.

It's not an exception really. The portal is for people staying in PR and it asked for length of stay and location of stay. It's not even structured to allow for in-transit travelers; no way to indicate you are leaving on the day of arrival. I did it exactly as I described on 25 August and will do it again on Saturday.

Thanks Jason…what about coming back home? I know we need a Covid test but it isn’t clear if we have to upload it into the PR portal.

Same. No portal if you are not leaving the airport.

After landing in SJU, you will do immigration, baggage claim, and customs as normal. They after you go up the the baggage level from customs, the national guard will be there blocking the elevators to go upstairs to the counters and security area. You just show you connecting flight info and they allow you access to the elevator. You will go up and recheck bags if necessary and clear security as normal.

Hey Jason,

So at what point do you need to show neg test result for returning to US?
Before boarding the flight to SJU while at EIS, or after landing in SJU.

Yes, before boarding the flight in EIS. Nobody in PR asked about vaccination, test results, or portal.

I was flying via Atlanta to get back to Toronto so the Delta agent in SJU wanted to see my arrivecan portal info as did the Delta agent in Atlanta - make sure you have that on your phone - cheers Brian

Thank you very much. That is great. Appreciate the heads up on the paper copies as well.

Let me know how it goes. Also traveling to EIS via SJU but from Montreal. there will be 3 couples but all of us will be having different itineraries. Really wanted to be able to fly out of Ottawa but alas way to expensive - like 1800/person expensive. Was able to get an AA flight code shared all the way to EIS and back for $1022C. Which is a very good deal! this will be the first time flying direct to EIS and avoiding St Thomas, the airport, taxis, the ferry, and their testing requirements and more importantly Rd Town ferry terminal C&I!!

My partner and I are also flying to EIS in November. Our original flights were to STT but a leg was canceled and we had to rebook. We rebooked a very nice itinerary to EIS, but the same thing happened and now we have an additional flight in Texas. Full itinerary for us is now Vancouver > Austin > Dallas > San Juan > EIS and cost us $1200 each! We only have 57 minutes to make our connection in Austin… I'm hoping that since we won't have any checked bags it'll be doable.