The Philippine government will no longer require fully vaccinated travellers to the Philippines to have a Covid-19 test prior to arriving in the country. The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging and Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has approved Resolution 168 exempting all fully vaccinated travellers from the RT-PCR test requirement. The new rules took effect on May 30.
We have prepared this travel advice based on Resolution 168, information published by the Philippine Embassy in London as well as the the UK’s advice for British passport-holders travelling to the Philippines.
Who can travel to the Philippines?
Fully vaccinated Filipinos and foreign nationals can enter the Philippines provided they can present the following:
- an acceptable proof of vaccination;
- have passports which are valid for at least 6 months;
- have valid tickets for their return journey to the port of origin or next port of destination not later than thirty (30) days from the date of their arrival in the Philippines. The requirement to hold a return onward ticket is waived if they are a spouse and/or child of a Filipino citizen or a former Filipino citizen with balikbayan privileges;
- have registered for a Bureau of Quarantine One Health Pass prior to their arrival. They will receive a unique QR code which they will need to present to their airline prior to boarding and on arrival at their airport in the Philippines.
Who cannot travel to the Philippines?
Foreign nationals who are not fully vaccinated cannot travel to the Philippines.
What does ‘fully vaccinated’ mean?
People are considered fully vaccinated if they have been given the second dose in a two-dose series or a single dose vaccine more than 14 days prior to date and time of departure from the country of origin or port of embarkation. Their vaccine must either appear on the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) List or Compassionate Special Permit (CSP) issued by the Philippine Food and Drug Administration or have received Emergency Use Listing by the World Health Organization.
Who are required to take Covid tests before travelling to the Philippines?
Filipinos who are unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or whose vaccination status cannot be independently verified must provide negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours or negative antigen test taken within 24 hours, prior to the date and time of departure, excluding layovers, provided that they have not left the airport premises or has not been admitted into another country during layover.
Who are exempt from providing Covid test result?
Filipino and foreign travellers who are exempt from providing Covid test results are the following:
- those aged 18 and over and have completed a primary course of COVID-19 vaccination and received at least one booster shot;
- those aged 12-17 and are fully vaccinated; or
- those aged below 12 and are accompanied by parents or guardians who are fully vaccinated with 1 booster.
What are acceptable proof of vaccination?
The Philippines will accept the UK’s proof of COVID-19 vaccination record and proof of COVID-19 vaccination issued in the Crown Dependencies. Travellers’ final vaccine dose must have been administered at least 14 days prior to travel. The NHS appointment card from vaccination centres is not designed to be used as proof of vaccination and should not be used to demonstrate one’s vaccine status.
Other acceptable proof of vaccination are:
- WHO certificate
- VaxCertPH certification if you were vaccinated in the Philippines;
- national or state manual/digital vaccination certificate of the country/foreign government (any country); and
- Others permitted by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF)
What is the purpose of One Health Pass?
One Health Pass is an online platform that aims to promote the convenient and seamless movement of international travelers from departure from the country of origin to arrival at the LGU of destination.
Starting 01 September 2021, all incoming travelers to the Philippines are advised to use the One Health Pass registration system as mandated by IATF Resolution No. 135 dated 26 August 2021.
Are travellers still required to undergo facility-based quarantine?
Travellers who meet the entry requirements will no longer be required to observe facility-based quarantine. However, they must self-monitor for any COVID-19 symptoms for 7 days from their arrival. They are required to report to the local government unit (LGU) of their destination if they develop any symptoms.
If they are arriving in the Philippines using the visa free entry scheme they will be denied entry into the country and will be subject to exclusion proceedings if they do not meet all of the entry requirements.
If they are arriving in the Philippines with another type of visa and are fully vaccinated, but are unable to provide acceptable proof of vaccination, they will be required to undergo facility-based quarantine until the release of a negative RT-PCR test taken on the 5th day. They will then be required to undergo home quarantine until the 14th day after their arrival.
Who are required to undergo facility-based quarantine?
Filipinos who are unvaccinated, partially vaccinated or whose vaccination cannot be independently verified will be required to undergo a facility-based quarantine until the release of their negative RT-PCR test taken on the fifth day from their date of arrival. After which, they will be required to undergo home quarantine until the 14th day of their date of arrival.
What are the rules for children and young people?
Children travelling with their fully vaccinated Filipino or foreign parent/s must meet the full entry requirements for vaccinated travellers, with the following 2 exceptions:
- children below 12 years of age traveling with their fully vaccinated Filipino or foreign parent/s are exempt from the requirement to be fully vaccinated;
- children aged three and under are exempt from the requirement to obtain a negative RT-PCR test prior to travel.
A foreign national child below 12 years of age who is not vaccinated for any reason and is traveling with their Filipino parent, must follow the entry, testing, and quarantine protocols of their Filipino parent traveling with them.
A foreign child from ages 12 to 17 traveling with their Filipino parent must follow the entry rules based on their vaccination status. If the child is not vaccinated, their parents must accompany the child during their facility-based quarantine.
Who can I contact if I have queries?
For foreign nationals with visa concerns and queries, please email londonpe.visa@dfa.gov.ph.
Overseas Filipino workers with OEC concerns or requests are advised to coordinate with POLO-London at polo_london@dole.gov.ph.
