Philippines – COVID-19: Updates to Entry Protocols and Travel Ban

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The Philippine Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) released Resolution No. 165 allowing fully vaccinated foreign nationals to enter the Philippines without need for an Entry Exemption Document (EED), but subject to updated immigration arrival protocols as of 1 April 2022.

All fully vaccinated individuals, regardless of nationality, will now be allowed to enter the country for tourism, business, and health purposes. Without the need for an EED, it is expected there will be faster resumption of business visits and deployment plans of visa-required nationals to the country. Moreover, processing applications of employment visas upon arrival in the Philippines ought to significantly reduce the waiting time to start assignments.

Pursuant to IATF Resolution No. 165, beginning 1 April 2022, qualified foreign nationals may enter the Philippines without need of an Entry Exemption Document (EED), provided they comply with the applicable visa requirements and immigration entry and departure formalities.

1. Who are covered?

Foreign nationals who are from visa-required countries and not eligible for visa-free entry;
Foreign nationals who are eligible for visa-free entry but wish to stay beyond the allowed visa-free entry period, or wish to apply for other visa categories.
For those availing of Balikbayan program, click here: (B alikbayan Program)

2. What are the travel requirements?

All foreign nationals entering the Philippines shall:

Have the appropriate entry visa if not eligible for visa-free entry (See no.10 for visa application requirements and procedures);
Be fully-vaccinated, except only for minor children below twelve (12) years of age traveling with their fully-vaccinated foreign parent/s;
Carry/possess an acceptable proof of vaccination recognized under existing IATF regulations;
Present a negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours, or a negative laboratory-based Antigen Test taken within twenty-four (24) hours, prior to the date and time of departure from country of origin/first port of embarkation in a continuous travel to the Philippines, excluding lay-overs; provided, that, traveler has not left the airport premises or has not been admitted into another country during such lay-over;
Have valid tickets for their return journey to the port of origin or next port of destination not later than thirty (30) days from date of arrival in the Philippines (Note: Not applicable to those availing of Balikbayan Privilege);
Have passports valid for a period of at least six (6) months at the time of arrival to the Philippines; AND
Obtain, prior to arrival, a travel insurance for COVID-19 treatment costs from reputed insurers, with a minimum coverage of USD 35,000.00 for the duration of their stay in the Philippines.

Foreign nationals who fail to fully comply with the conditions and requisites above shall be denied admission into the country and shall be subject to the appropriate exclusion proceedings.

Note: All arriving passengers, both Filipinos and foreign nationals, are required to register to the OneHealthPass (OHP) within 3 days before departure. OHP registration is free-of-charge and should be accomplished only through the following link: https://onehealthpass.com.ph

3. I have a both a valid 9a visa and Entry Exemption Document (EED). Do I need to comply with all the requirements above?

Yes, you are still required to comply with the requirements above. However, you are no longer required to submit proof of travel insurance as well as a return ticket.

4. Who is considered to be fully vaccinated?

You are considered fully-vaccinated if you have:

Received the second (2nd) dose in a 2-dose series or a single dose vaccine more than fourteen (14) days prior to the date and time of departure from the country of origin/port of embarkation.
The vaccine is included in any of the following:

Emergency Use Authorization (UEA) List or Compassionate Special Permit (CSP) issued by the Philippine Food and Drug Administration; or
Emergency Use Listing of the World Health Organization (WHO).

5. What is an acceptable proof of vaccination?

The following vaccination certificates are recognized:

WHO International Certificates of Vaccination and Prophylaxis;
VaxCertPH; or
National/state digital certificate of the foreign government which has accepted VaxCertPH under a reciprocal arrangement unless otherwise permitted by the IATF

Note: Vaccination certificates issued by the Japanese government (paper or digital) are recognized/accepted.

6. What are the arrival protocols?

Once admitted into the country, foreign nationals are no longer required to observe facility-based quarantine but shall self-monitor for any sign or symptom for seven (7) days with the first day being the date of arrival. However, they are required to report to the local government unit (LGU) of their destination should they manifest any symptoms.
7. If I am qualified for visa-free entry and stay beyond the visa-free period of 30 days, do I need to obtain a 9a visa prior to departure from the Philippines?

* Enter visa-free as long as you comply with all the requirements above, and then apply for extension of your stay directly with the Bureau of Immigration while in the Philippines; (See no. 13)

8. If I am qualified for visa-free entry, can I enter visa-free and covert to other visa categories while in the Philippines?

Yes. You may apply directly with the Bureau of Immigration while in the Philippines. (See no. 13)

9. I am not a national of a non-visa required country. Do I need to apply for a visa?

Yes, you will need to apply for a visa prior to departure from Japan, provided that you are qualified to be issued a visa and subject to the submission of requirements. (See no. 10)

10. I am not fully-vaccinated. Can I enter the Philippines?

No. Starting 10 February, foreign nationals who are unvaccinated shall no longer be allowed entry to the Philippines. Exceptions to the requirement that all passengers to be fully vaccinated and to provide proof of vaccination status prior to boarding an airplane/vessel to the Philippines are absolutely limited to the following groups:
Children below twelve (12) years of age;
Foreign diplomats and their qualified dependents/9(e) visa holders.

11. What travel insurance is acceptable?

Any travel insurance with a least USD 35,000 coverage for COVID-19 related treatments is acceptable, including travel insurance secured online. Proof of travel insurance should be in English or accompanied with English translation. For further questions regarding acceptable travel insurance, you may directly contact the Bureau of Immigration.

12. For other immigration-related inquiries, you may directly contact the Bureau of Immigration (BOI):

Telephone Numbers – (02) 8465-2400 / (02) 8524-3769
Website – immigration.gov.ph
Facebook – immigration.helpline.ph / officialbureauofimmigration
Twitter – immigrationPh
Instagram – immigPh
Email – immigPH@gmail.com
xinfo@immigration.gov.ph
binoc_immigration@hotmail.ph
immigration.helpline.ph@gmail.com

13. For inquiries related to PCR testing and vaccination certificates, you may directly contact the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ):

Department of Health (DOH) Call Center
Department of Health Central Office
Bldg. 9 San Lazaro Compound, Sta. Cruz, Manila
Telephone Number: (02) 8651-7800 local 5003-5005 or (02) 5318-7500
DOH Call Center text: 0918-8888364
Email Address: callcenter@doh.gov.ph OR boq.opcen@gmail.com