Philippines: Officials to ease entry restrictions for fully vaccinated international travelers from April 1 /update 97

Event

Officials will allow entry for all fully vaccinated international passengers, including tourists, from April 1. Arrivals must provide proof of vaccination as well as a negative PCR test taken within 48 hours before departure or a RAT test taken within 24 hours before departure. Arrivals must also carry a passport that has been valid for at least six months by the time of entry. Officials will not require entrants to provide any exemption documents. Arrivals will not need to quarantine upon entry but must self-monitor for symptoms for seven days.

Domestic Measures
Authorities are implementing level 1 measures, the least stringent tier in a five-level system, in 48 areas nationwide, including Metro Manila as well as Cebu, Davao, and Iloilo cities, March 16-31. Stricter level 2 measures remain in effect in all other areas.

The restrictions under the levels are as follows:

• Level 4: Residents aged below 18 or above 65 years old, and pregnant and immunocompromised people must remain at home in all areas, though some exemptions are in place. Meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions (MICE), dine-in services, social gatherings, tourist attractions, and selected entertainment venues, may occur for fully vaccinated individuals at 10 and 30-percent capacity for indoor and outdoor locations, respectively. Locations considered as high-risk, like theatres, concert halls, and clubs, must close. No area is currently under Level 4 rules.

• Level 3: Intrazonal and interzonal travel is permitted. MICE events, dine-in services, social gatherings, tourist attractions, and selected entertainment venues, may open or take place for fully vaccinated individuals at 30- and 50-percent capacity for indoor and outdoor locations, respectively. Locations considered as high-risk must close.

• Level 2: Intrazonal and interzonal travel is permitted. More businesses, recreational venues, tourist attractions, and social gatherings may open or take place for fully vaccinated individuals at 50 and 70-percent capacity for indoor and outdoor venues, respectively. Theaters, concert halls, and clubs, among others, may operate.

• Level 1: Intrazonal and interzonal travel is permitted. All businesses may operate at full capacity but must comply with vaccination requirements for on-site work. Public transport can operate at full capacity within level 1 areas but must adhere to lower capacity rates if traveling between areas with a higher alert level classification. Individuals above 18 years old must present proof of full vaccination before participating in mass gatherings or entering indoor establishments, including restaurants, conferences, and election-related events, among others.

Further details on business and social activities allowed under the respective alert levels can be found by clicking here. Facemasks are mandatory in public; face shields are necessary for localities under the strictest alert level 5 measures or granular lockdown.

In areas that do not enact level 5 restrictions, the central government allows 10 percent additional capacity for establishments that have obtained a Safety Seal Certificate, which indicates that the facility has complied with the minimum public health standards. Officials also allow 20 percent additional capacity for establishments in localities with more than 70 percent vaccination rate among both senior citizens and adults with comorbidities.

Authorities may impose localized lockdowns in localities with high COVID-19 activity across the country. Restrictions typically include suspending entry and exit from the localities and nonessential activities. Local jurisdictions may implement controls beyond those mandated by the central government.

President Rodrigo Duterte issued an order Jan. 6 that local officials ensure unvaccinated people nationwide remain at their residences except for essential activities like seeking medical help. Local officials in some areas may ban unvaccinated people from boarding public transport. However, the enforcement level of the order and any localized restrictions is unclear.

International Travel Restrictions
Officials will ease entry restrictions for fully vaccinated international arrivals from April 1. Through March 31, the government currently allows entry for foreign nationals from most locations if they have valid permitted visas, such as those for foreign spouses and children of Filipino citizens, resident diplomats, and seafarers, among others; the issuance of tourism visas remains suspended. People who can enter the Philippines must present a negative RT-PCR test result taken within 48 hours before departure. Fully vaccinated arrivals from non-visa-required countries and territories can enter the Philippines for all purposes, including tourism; the list of non-visa-required locations can be found here.

Fully vaccinated entrants from all international locations do not need to undergo quarantine upon arrival. However, they must self-monitor their health for seven days. Arrivals who are not fully vaccinated from all international locations must quarantine at designated facilities for five days, obtain a negative result from an RT-PCR test on the fifth day, before continuing their quarantine at their residence until the 14th day after arrival. The government has also suspended the color-coded classification of international locations.

Authorities require all foreign nationals who enter the Philippines to present evidence of full vaccination as of March 25; exceptions will be made for people with medical exemptions from receiving the vaccine and resident diplomats, among others. The central government recognizes vaccination cards from some international locations, including Bahrain, Brazil, Ireland, Israel, Malaysia, Qatar, Slovenia, South Korea, Switzerland, and Timor Leste.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Abide by national health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements. Consider delaying traveling if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny and delays. Liaise with trusted contacts for further updates and guidance. Maintain contact with your diplomatic representation. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions.

Resources

Presidential Communications Operations Office
State COVID-19 Portal
World Health Organization (WHO)