Philippines: Authorities require inbound travelers to submit eArrival Card from Nov. 1 /update 109

Event

The Philippine government will require all inbound travelers to fill out an eArrival Card from Nov. 1. The eArrival Card replaces the One Health Pass required earlier by the government. Travelers can submit the card within 72 hours before departure on the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) website by clicking here. Passengers who are unable to submit their eArrival Card before departure may do so on arrival. Other domestic and international COVID-19 measures remain in place.

Domestic Measures
Facemasks remain mandatory in indoor locations and crowded outdoor venues. Officials continue to encourage individuals who are not fully vaccinated, senior citizens, and immunocompromised people to wear facemasks. Authorities permit travel nationwide. The government maintains a five-tier system to implement COVID-19 rules nationwide; a complete list of COVID-19 levels and the affected localities can be found here.

The following designations and restrictions are in effect:

• Level 1: The lowest-level restrictions are in effect for Metro Manila; 49 provinces; and some cities, including Cebu, Cotabato, Davao, and General Santos. All businesses can operate on-site at full capacity, but employees must be fully vaccinated. Public transport can operate at full capacity; operators must adhere to reduced capacity when traveling to or from areas with higher alert levels. Individuals above 18 years old must be fully vaccinated to participate in mass gatherings or enter indoor establishments.

• Level 2: Measures are in place in 32 provinces and Isabela City; the affected localities are mainly in Mindanao. Businesses, recreational venues, tourist attractions, and social gatherings are open for fully vaccinated patrons. Officials limit capacity to 50 percent indoors and 70 percent outdoors. Further details on alert levels and related restrictions are available here.

The central government allows 10 percent additional capacity for establishments that have obtained a Safety Seal Certificate, indicating compliance with minimum public health standards. Officials permit 20 percent extra capacity for establishments in localities with vaccination rates above 70 percent for high-risk residents.

Central and local government authorities may impose additional restrictions in localities with high COVID-19 activity; officials typically suspend nonessential activities and transport to and from affected areas. However, enforcement of localized controls varies. Some transport and business disruptions are possible, particularly in areas under Level 2 curbs.

Officials require fully vaccinated individuals who contract COVID-19 or are suspected to be infected with mild symptoms to quarantine at their residence for at least seven days from the date of the positive test or the onset of symptoms; partial and unvaccinated people must quarantine for at least ten days. People who have COVID-19 with moderate and severe symptoms must quarantine for at least 10 and 21 days, respectively. Fully vaccinated close contacts of COVID-19 patients are not required to quarantine, while those who are partial or unvaccinated must quarantine for at least 14 days. The protocols’ enforcement level varies across the Philippines.

International Travel Restrictions
Officials allow entry for fully vaccinated international passengers without quarantine, though entrants must self-monitor for symptoms for seven days. Inbound travelers must take a PCR test within 48 hours or a remotely supervised or lab-based rapid antigen test (RAT) COVID-19 test within 24 hours before departure. Exemptions from the pre-departure test requirement are in place for travelers 18 years old and above who have received a booster COVID-19 dose, passengers aged 12-17 who have received the primary COVID-19 doses at least two weeks before departure, and people below the age of 12. All entrants into the Philippines are no longer required to register on the One Health Pass website but must fill out an Electronic Arrival Card (eArrival Card) 72 hours prior to departure or on arrival.

Individuals who are partially or unvaccinated or do not comply with pre-departure testing rules are subject to five-day quarantine at a designated facility upon arrival. Passengers who obtain a negative result from a PCR test on day 5 of the quarantine can then self-quarantine at their residence until the 14th day after arrival.

Advice

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

Resources

Offices of the Press Secretary
State COVID-19 Portal
Department of Health
eArrival Card