The Philippines, like many other countries, closed its borders to foreign tourists and expats when the pandemic began early last year. With the exception of certain foreign nationals who have been granted special visas, the Philippines have barred foreign tourists as part of the border measures to curb the transmission.
However, as the COVID-19 cases continue to fall and vaccination efforts continue to improve, it paves the way for the return of foreign tourists to the country’s pristine beaches and “new normal” tourist attractions. With this, many are looking for updates on the travel guidelines in the Philippines.
In this article, we’ll summarize the necessary guidelines for travel in and out of the country.
- Make sure to check the Vaccination Requirements
International travelers who are fully vaccinated and come from “green” or low-risk areas will no longer be required to undergo facility-based quarantine if they provide a negative COVID19 test result within 72 hours of their departure.
Individuals who have been fully vaccinated from yellow countries must undergo facility-based quarantine until a negative RT-PCR testing results are released on the fifth day. Following that, they will be subjected to home quarantine until their tenth day, with the day of arrival counting as the first day.
Foreign nationals must arrange for their own pre-booked accommodations for a minimum of six days.
- Detailed Tourist Information
- Filipino citizens, including those who possess a valid Philippine passport/Identification Certificate (IC) as evidence of recognition as a Filipino citizen or as evidence of retention/reacquisition of Philippine citizenship.
- Foreign nationals admitted under the Balikbayan Program (RA6768), provided they are citizens of countries not subject to visa requirements under EO408:
a. Ex-Filipinos traveling with their foreign spouses and children, regardless of age.
b. Spouses and children of Filipino citizens, regardless of age, who travel with them
- Foreign nationals who are in possession of an active and valid Special Resident and Retirees Visa (SRRV) or Section 9(a) visa without the requirement of an entry exemption document (EED). Except:
a.Foreign spouses, parent/parents, and/or children of Filipino citizens who are not traveling with the Filipino must present a visa with the notation “EED not required per IATF Resolution No. 128 (s.2021)”
- Must not have traveled from or been to a country on the “red” list in the preceding 14 days, except for Filipinos participating in government or non-government repatriation efforts or bayanihan flights.
Foreign nationals are subject to deportation if they are cleared for entry but later discovered to have presented a counterfeit or fraudulent pre-booked accommodation during the Department of Transportation’s validation process.
International travelers who are fully vaccinated and come from “green” or low-risk areas will no longer be required to undergo facility-based quarantine if they provide a negative test result. Within 72 hours of their departure they obtained a Covid-19 test result.
Individuals who have been fully vaccinated from yellow countries must remain in a facility-based quarantine until their negative RT-PCR testing results are released on the fifth day. Following that, they will be subjected to home quarantine until their tenth day, with the day of arrival counting as the first day. Foreign nationals must arrange for their own pre-booked accommodations for a minimum of six days.
For more technical guidance please don’t hesitate to reach us at [email protected]
- Check Color coded countries
- As of Nov. 16, the Netherlands and the Faroe Islands were placed on the country’s red list.
- As of Nov. 16, there are 44 countries on the green list:
- American Samoa
- Bhutan
- Chad
- China (Mainland)
- Comoros
- Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
- Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China)
- India
- Indonesia
- Japan
- Kosovo
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Malawi
- Mali
- Marshall Islands
- Montserrat
- Morocco
- Namibia
- Niger
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Palau
- Paraguay
- Rwanda
- Saint Barthelemy
- Saint Pierre and Miquelon
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Sint Eustatius
- South Africa
- Sudan
- Taiwan
- Togo
- Uganda
- United Arab Emirates
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
- Yellow countries are those that are not on the green or red lists.
4. Covid-19 Alert Level Systems
- Alert Level 1 – COVID-19 transmission is minimal and declining, as is total bed and intensive care unit utilization.
- Alert Level 2 – A low transmission area with low healthcare utilization, or a low transmission area with increasing total bed and intensive care unit utilization.
- Areas under Level 2 (November 22 to 30):
- Benguet
- Abra
- Kalinga
- Oriental Mindoro
- Puerto Princesa
- Marinduque
- Romblon
- Palawan
- Occidental Mindoro
- Butuan City
- Surigao del Norte
- Agusan del Sur
- Surigao del Sur
- Agusan del Norte
- Basilan
- Cotabato City
- Tawi-Tawi
- Lanao del Sur
- Maguindanao
- Metro Manila and most areas in the country
- Areas under Level 2 (November 22 to 30):
- Alert Level 3 – COVID-19 transmission is high or growing, as is total bed and ICU utilization.
- Areas under Level 3 (November 22 to 30):
- Apayao
- Mountain Province
- Ifugao
- Dinagat Islands
- Sulu
- Areas under Level 3 (November 22 to 30):
- Alert Level 4 – COVID-19 transmission is increasing, as is total bed and ICU utilization.
- Alert Level 5 – The highest alert level relates to places with alarming COVID-19 transmission and critical bed and ICU use rates.
5. Safety Protocols
While some of the restrictions have been eased significantly please make sure to still carry and wear a mask, practice social distancing and sanitize often in public spaces especially in airports, ports, government agencies and offices to ensure your safety.
Invest in a high quality mask for travel, one that will trap around 95% of virus-size particles when fitted to the face properly, experts say.
Most of these dates and guidelines are only until November 30 subject to change without prior notice. Please wait for further announcements on this page or reach us at [email protected]
