Starting next month, the Philippines will be allowing the entry of fully vaccinated foreign nationals from any country without the need for an Entry Exemption Document, Malacañang said.

Communications Undersecretary Kris Ablan made this announcement after the country adopted last week the Ten-Point Agenda on Economic Recovery which included the easing of international travel.

In his press briefing on Friday, March 25, Ablan said that the Inter-agency (IATF) Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases approved the entry of fully vaccinated foreigners without the need for an Entry Exemption Document starting April 1, 2022.

“Before, we would weekly update the public regarding the countries wherein the government accepts nationals to come in. Ngayon, wala na (We will not have that anymore),” Ablan said.

“There is no more listing of which country the foreign national originates from as long as they are able to present valid proof of vaccination and the other guidelines mentioned, then they will be accepted in the country,” he added.

Foreign nationals must comply with the applicable visa requirements and immigration entry and departure formalities. They must also have passports valid for a period of at least six months at the time of their arrival to the Philippines.

Foreigners entering the Philippines must be fully vaccinated except for minors below the age of 12 years old traveling with their fully vaccinated foreign parents.

They must carry any of the following proof of vaccination:

World Health Organization (WHO) International Certificates of Vaccination and Prophylaxis

VaxCertPH

National/state digital certificate of the foreign gov’t which recognizes VaxCertPH

Other proofs of vaccination permitted by the IATF

Foreign travelers must present a negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours before their flight to the Philippines or a negative Antigen test taken within 24 hours before their departure.

They shall likewise obtain travel insurance for Covid-19 treatment costs from reputable insurance providers, with a minimum coverage of $35,000 for the duration of their stay in the Philippines.

Also allowed are foreign spouses and/or children of Filipino citizens and former Filipino citizens with Balikbayan privileges, including their foreign spouse and/or children who:

Are not balikbayan in their own right

Are traveling with them to the Philippines, have valid tickets for their return ticket or ticket for their next destination not later than 30 days from the date of arrival in the Philippines

Upon their arrival to the Philippines, they will no longer be required to observe facility-based quarantine. Still, they shall self-monitor for any sign or symptom for seven days, with the first day being the date of arrival.

Who is fully vaccinated?

A foreigner is considered fully vaccinated if they received the second dose of a two-dose series or their single-dose vaccine more than 14 days before the date and time of their flight to the Philippines.

Their vaccine must also be included in the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) or has a compassionate special permit issued by the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the Emergency Use Listing of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by Argyll Cyrus Geducos

If you have any stories or news that you would like to share with the global online community, please feel free to share it with us by contacting us directly at [email protected]