Philippines to reopen to fully vaccinated foreigners with visa-free privileges

The Philippines will begin to accept fully vaccinated foreign nationals who are allowed to stay in the country without a visa for a limited period of time. 

At a press briefing on Friday, acting Palace spokesperson Karlo Nograles said the new policy, which was approved by the government’s COVID-19 task force, would be implemented from December 1 to 15.

The list of countries whose citizens may avail themselves of visa-free privileges can be found on the website of the Department of Foreign Affairs. 

Under the guidelines, those who will be allowed entry must be holders of passports valid for at least six months at the time of arrival and possess return or outbound tickets to their country of origin or next country of destination.

Prior to arrival in the Philippines, the foreign national should have stayed exclusively in “green” list countries or territories for 14 days. Areas under the green list are deemed low-risk for COVID-19 transmission.

They must also present proof of vaccination.

For fully vaccinated foreigners, a negative RT-PCR test shall be required to be taken within 72 hours prior to departure from the country of origin.

Upon arrival, no facility-based quarantine and no on-arrival RT-PCR test will be further required, but the passenger is enjoined to self-monitor for any symptoms until the 14th day, with the first day being the date of arrival.

Travelers simply transiting through non-green list countries or territories are not considered to have originated or visited those areas if they remain in the airport the entire time and are not cleared for entry by immigration authorities.

The testing and quarantine protocols of minors shall follow the protocols of the parent or guardian traveling with them.

"This is something that we are doing step by step. We will make the proper adjustments if necessary while we are monitoring its implementation on the ground, and if we decide to extend it, we will extend it," Nograles said in a mix of English and Filipino.

The guidelines came a week after the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) approved in principle the entry of tourists who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 from countries under the green list.

Visa-free privileges have been suspended since early last year in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. — VBL, GMA News