Last updated: 10 FEBRUARY 2022

‼️ This post was last updated in February 2022. For a more updated list of requirements and protocols, PAL has created a neat summary on their website here.

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Effective FEBRUARY 2022, changes to the entry process and quarantine protocols for international flight passengers arriving in the Philippines (including the Ninoy Aquino International Airport or NAIA, Clark International Airport, and Mactan Cebu International Airport) will be implemented, following the latest resolution by the Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging and Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID Resolution No. 159 – S. 2022).

The requirements and protocols vary depending on your vaccination status. Passengers are classified into two types:

• FULLY VACCINATED. You’re considered “fully vaccinated” if it has been at least 14 days since you received your second jab of a two-dose vaccine (or your only shot of a one-dose vaccine), and your vaccination status can be verified independently by Philippine authorities upon arrival.
• NON-FULLY VACCINATED. This includes those who are completely UNVACCINATED or PARTIALLY VACCINATED. If your vaccination status CANNOT be independently validated by the authorities, you’ll be required to follow protocol for NON-fully vaccinated.

If you’re traveling with children below 12 years old who cannot be vaccinated: the testing and quarantine protocol of the accompanying parent or guardian shall apply. (As of December 2021, minors 3 years and below with no symptoms are exempted from taking the RT-PCR test or presenting a negative RT-PCR test result. If minor 3 and below has symptoms, the usual testing and quarantine protocol shall apply.)

The color coding of countries of origin of international travelers is temporarily suspended. Previously, countries and territories are categorized into RED, GREEN and YELLOW, depending on the local COVID-19 situation, but that will no longer be applied.

Here are the entry requirements and protocol for international passengers arriving in the Philippines. Note that this post only covers items that are related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Other immigration and customs requirements still apply and must be met.

❗️ Keep in mind that because policies change quickly, frequently and erratically, it is still best contact the authorities directly for the most updated list.

For Fully Vaccinated

• Present Negative RT-PCR test result taken within 48 hours before departure OR negative antigen test taken within 24 hours before departure.
• Present proof of full vaccination. See list of acceptable documents below.
• NO hotel quarantine needed
• Self-monitor for symptoms until DAY 7 from arrival

These are on top of other Immigration and Customs requirements that may apply to you.

For Non-Vaccinated, Partially Vaccinated, Unverifiable Vaccination Status

• Present Negative RT-PCR test result taken within 48 hours before departure OR negative antigen test taken within 24 hours before departure.
• Undergo hotel quarantine until release of negative swab test result. Here are your options: List of Accredited Quarantine Hotels!
• Take swab test on DAY 5.
• Self-monitor for symptoms at home until DAY 14 from arrival

These are on top of other Immigration and Customs requirements that may apply to you.

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Additional Requirements for Foreigners

Effective 10 FEBRUARY 2022. Resolution No. 160-B, s-2022.

For Foreigners Entering Visa-Free

These may refer to former Filipino citizens who have Balikbayan privelege under Republic Act No. 9174, provided they are not restricted nationals OR nationals of the countries below who are entitled to a stay not longer than 30 days (Executive Order 408, S. 1960, as amended):

1. Andorra
2. Angola
3. Antigua and Barbuda
4. Argentina
5. Australia
6. Austria
7. Bahamas
8. Bahrain
9. Barbados
10. Belgium
11. Belize
12. Benin
13. Bhutan
14. Bolivia
15. Botswana
16. Brazil
17. Brunei Darussalam
18. Bulgaria
19. Burkina Faso
20. Burundi
21. Cambodia
22. Cameroon
23. Canada
24. Cape Verde
25. Central African Republic
26. Chad
27. Chile
28. Colombia
29. Comoros
30. Congo
31. Costa Rica
32. Cote d’Ivoire
33. Croatia
34. Cyprus
35. Czech Republic
36. Democratic Republic of the Congo
37. Denmark
38. Djibouti
39. Dominica
40. Dominican Republic
41. Ecuador
42. El Salvador
43. Equatorial Guinea
44. Eritrea
45. Estonia
46. Ethiopia
47. Fiji
48. Finland
49. France
50. Gabon
51. Gambia
52. Germany
53. Ghana
54. Greece
55. Grenada
56. Guatemala
57. Guinea
58. Guinea Bissau
59. Guyana
60. Haiti
61. Honduras
62. Hungary
63. Iceland
64. Indonesia
65. Ireland
66. Israel
67. Italy
68. Jamaica
69. Japan
70. Kazakhstan
71. Kenya
72. Kiribati
73. Kuwait
74. Kyrgyzstan
75. Lao PDR
76. Latvia
77. Lesotho
78. Liberia
79. Liechtenstein
80. Lithuania
81. Luxembourg
82. Madagascar
83. Malawi
84. Malaysia
85. Maldives
86. Mali
87. Malta
88. Marshall Islands
89. Mauritania
90. Mauritius
91. Mexico
92. Micronesia
93. Monaco
94. Mongolia
95. Morocco
96. Mozambique
97. Myanmar
98. Namibia
99. Nepal
100. Netherlands
101. New Zealand
102. Nicaragua
103. Niger
104. Norway
105. Oman
106. Palau
107. Panama
108. Papua New Guinea
109. Paraguay
110. Peru
111. Poland
112. Portugal
113. Qatar
114. Republic of Korea
115. Romania
116. Russia
117. Rwanda
118. Saint Kitts and Nevis
119. Saint Lucia
120. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
121. Samoa
122. San Marino
123. Sao Tome and Principe
124. Saudi Arabia
125. Senegal
126. Seychelles
127. Singapore
128. Slovakia
129. Slovenia
130. Solomon Islands
131. South Africa
132. Spain
133. Suriname
134. Swaziland
135. Sweden
136. Switzerland
137. Tajikistan
138. Thailand
139. Togo
140. Trinidad and Tobago
141. Tunisia
142. Turkey
143. Turkmenistan
144. Tuvalu
145. Uganda
146. UAE
147. UK and Northern Ireland
148. Tanzania
149. USA
150. Uruguay
151. Uzbekistan
152. Vanuatu
153. Vatican
154. Venezuela
155. Vietnam
156. Zambia
157. Zimbabwe

Here are the requirements:

1. Must be fully vaccinated, except for minor children under 12 years of age traveling with fully vaccinated foreign parent.
2. Valid proof of vaccination. Authorities must be able to independently verify this. See list below.
3. Negative RT-PCR test result taken within 48 hours before departure from country of origin OR Negative antigen test result taken within 24 hours before departure from country of origin (or first port of embarkation if on a continuous journey to the Philippines excluding layovers provided that passenger has not been admitted into another country or has not left the airport premises).
4. Return or onward ticket, dated not beyond 30 days from date of arrival in the Philippines
5. Passport, with at least six months validity from arrival time in the Philippines
6. Travel insurance for COVID-19 treatment from a reputable insurance company, with coverage of USD 35,000 minimum for the duration of your stay in the country

NO facility- or hotel-based quarantine, but shall self-monitor for symptoms for 7 days from the date of arrival.

Visa-free foreigners who fail to fully comply with all the requirements shall be denied entry into the country and be subject to exclusion proceedings.

For Foreign Children Traveling with Filipino Nationals

• For NON-fully vaccinated foreign children under 12 years of age accompanied by their Filipino parent, the entry, quarantine, and testing protocols that apply to their accompanying Filipino parent shall be followed.
• For foreign children from ages 12 to 17 accompanied by their Filipino parent, the quarantine, and testing protocols that apply to their vaccination status (i.e. fully vaccinated or non-fully vaccinated) shall be followed. When facility-based quarantine is required, the unvaccinated children shall be accompanied by either foreign or Filipino parents during their quarantine.

Immigration and customs policies also apply.

For Foreigners Entering Through 9(a) Visa

Foreign nationals from visa-required countries or restricted foreign nationals may enter the Philippines through an entry exemption document (EED) issued provided that ALL these requirements are met:

1. Full vaccination status (except children below 12 years old)
2. Valid proof of vaccination (see list below)
3. Negative RT-PCR test result taken within forty-eight (48) hours before departure from the country of origin OR Negative antigen test result taken within 24 hours before departure from country of origin (or first port of embarkation in a continuous journey excluding lay-overs provided that they have not been admitted into another country and have not left the airport premises during the layover)

If all conditions are met, NO facility-based quarantine is required, but shall self-monitor for symptoms for 7 days from the date of arrival.

However, foreign nationals who fail to present an acceptable proof of vaccination shall be required to undergo hotel-based quarantine until a negative test result, taken on Day 5, is released. Then, they shall undergo home quarantine until Day 14.

Immigration and customs policies also apply.

For Foreigners with Other Visa Types

• Fully vaccinated foreign nationals who are holding valid and existing visas other than 9(a) visas may be allowed entry provided that they present proof of vaccination. No facility-based quarantine is required but 7-day self-monitoring for symptoms apply.
• NON-fully vaccinated foreign nationals shall be denied entry into the country and be subject to appropriate exclusion proceedings.

Foreign nationals who fail to provide a valid or acceptable proof of vaccination shall be required to undergo facility-based quarantine until the release of a negative result of RT-PCR test taken on DAY 5. They shall also be required to undergo home quarantine until DAY 14.

Immigration and customs policies also apply.

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Accepted Proof of Vaccination

To prove your vaccination status, present any of the following:

• VaxCertPH. Here’s how to get one!
• International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICV), issued by the Bureau of Quarantine and World Health Organization. Read: How to Get an International Certificate of Vaccination from BOQ.
• National or state certificate from the foreign government accepting VaxCertPH under a reciprocal arrangement (unless otherwise specified by IATF)
• Other proofs of vaccination accepted by the IATF

The Philippine authorities must be able to confirm or verify that the certificate or proof of vaccination is valid or authentic.

In addition, the vaccine you received must meet the following:

• If vaccinated in the Philippines, the vaccine you got must be in the list of the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or through a Compassionate Special Permit (CSP).
• If vaccinated abroad, the vaccine must be in the Emergency Use Listing of the World Health Organization.

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Philippine Airport Arrival Guides

For a more detailed step-by-step guide to the AIRPORT ARRIVAL PROCESSES in the Philippines, check out these posts:

NAIA Arrival Protocol

Clark Airport Arrival Protocol

Cebu Airport Arrival Protocol

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