31/05/2022
↘️ NEW UPDATE ↙️
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has heavily affected the tourism industry. Leisure tourism is opening up in the Philippines but travel restrictions have been put in place to control the further spread of the virus.
For those who want to travel to the re-opened destinations and top tourist spots in the Philippines, we’ve collected the information you need to plan your vacation in the new normal. Read on to find out which Philippine destinations are open for leisure travel, what are their travel requirements and other restrictions and guidelines imposed by the national and local government units.
⏩️Can Foreigners Travel to the Philippines?
Yes, the Philippines is open to all fully vaccinated international tourists. Those from non-visa-required countries need to present a negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours of departure from the country of origin or a laboratory-based negative antigen test taken within 24 hours prior to departure from their port of origin. Fully-vaccinated foreigners from visa-required countries will not need an exemption document to enter the country, but will still need to follow the immigration, visa, and testing procedures set by the government.
However, beginning May 30, 2022, individuals aged 18 and above will be exempted from the testing requirement if they can present proof of complete COVID-19 vaccination and at least one booster shot. Children aged 12 to 17 need to present proof of complete COVID-19 vaccination, while those aged 11 and below are not required to be vaccinated, provided that they are traveling with a parent or guardian who has completed their own entry requirements.
⏩️Are foreigners allowed to enter the Philippines now?
Foreigners who are fully vaccinated are allowed to enter the Philippines. Fully-vaccinated foreigners coming from visa-required countries will be allowed entry, but they still need to comply with the immigration, visa, and testing requirements needed before their visit.
Starting May 30, 2022, adults who have completed their COVID-19 vaccination and have at least one booster shot will be exempted from the testing requirement. Children aged 12 to 17 only need to present proof of complete COVID-19 vaccination, while those aged 11 and below are not required to be tested and vaccinated, but they need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian who has complete entry requirements.
⏩️Is it safe to travel to the Philippines now?
In terms of health, the national government and the local government units have safety guidelines in place to lessen the spread of COVID-19. These include the wearing of face masks, social distancing, and the requirement of a negative COVID-19 test result and/or a vaccination card or certificate when crossing local borders. Following these rules will reduce your chances of contracting the disease.
Tourist spots are generally safe, but it’s always best to be alert, make sure all your belongings are secure, and be cautious when interacting with strangers.
⏩️Are US citizens allowed to travel to the Philippines?
Yes, but only for those who are fully vaccinated. This is because the United States of America is one of the non-visa required countries.
⏩️What requirements are foreigners required to present to enter the Philippines?
Below are the following requirements for foreigners traveling to the Philippines:
Fully vaccinated foreign nationals of non-visa required countries:
Starting May 30, 2022, fully vaccinated adults with at least one booster shot are exempted from the testing requirements. Fully vaccinated children aged 12 to 17 will also be exempted from the requirement.
Proof of their fully vaccinated status (and booster shot if applicable). The following are accepted:
An International Certificate of Vaccination (ICV) from the World Health Organization
A VaxCertPH digital vaccination certificate
A national/state digital certificate of the foreign government where they were vaccinated, which has accepted VaxCertPH under a reciprocal arrangement.
Balikbayan:
Must come from a non-visa required country under EO 408
Those traveling with their Filipino spouses and parents need to provide proof of filiation
Starting May 30, 2022, fully vaccinated adults with at least one booster shot are exempted from the testing requirements. Fully vaccinated children aged 12 to 17 will also be exempted from the requirement.
Proof of their fully vaccinated status (and booster shot if applicable). The following are accepted:
An International Certificate of Vaccination (ICV) from the World Health Organization
A VaxCertPH digital vaccination certificate
A national/state digital certificate of the foreign government where they were vaccinated, which has accepted VaxCertPH under a reciprocal arrangement.
Negative RT-PCR test result taken within 48 hours prior to departure from the origin country or a negative laboratory-based antigen test taken within 24 hours prior to departure from the origin country.
Foreign nationals with valid and existing visas:
Valid visa and ACR I-Card
Starting May 30, 2022, fully vaccinated adults with at least one booster shot are exempted from the testing requirements. Fully vaccinated children aged 12 to 17 will also be exempted from the requirement.
Proof of their fully vaccinated status (and booster shot if applicable). The following are accepted:
An International Certificate of Vaccination (ICV) from the World Health Organization
A VaxCertPH digital vaccination certificate
A national/state digital certificate of the foreign government where they were vaccinated, which has accepted VaxCertPH under a reciprocal arrangement.
Negative RT-PCR test result taken within 48 hours prior to departure from the origin country or a negative laboratory-based antigen test taken within 24 hours prior to departure from the origin country.
Green List Countries, Yellow List Countries, and Countries under the Philippine Travel Ban
Starting February 1, 2022, the classification of countries and territories under the Green, Yellow, and Red Lists have been suspended. Instead, all travelers must follow the new testing and quarantine protocols set by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).
Requirements for fully vaccinated travelers:
Fully vaccinated inbound travelers, regardless of country of origin, will no longer be required to undergo facility-based quarantine provided they can present proof of their fully vaccinated status. They can present an International Certificate of Vaccination (ICV) from the World Health Organization, a VaxCertPH digital vaccination certificate from vaxcert.doh.gov.ph, or a national/state digital certificate of the foreign government where they were vaccinated, which has accepted VaxCertPH under a reciprocal arrangement.
Starting May 30, 2022, adults who have completed their COVID-19 vaccination and have at least one booster shot will be exempted from the testing requirement. Children aged 12 to 17 are only required to present proof of complete COVID-19 vaccination, while those aged 11 only need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian who has complete entry requirements.
They will still need to self-monitor for symptoms for 7 days from their arrival. Should they have COVID-19 symptoms, they need to report it to the local government unit.
Requirements for unvaccinated and partially vaccinated travelers:
Unvaccinated and partially vaccinated foreign nationals will not be allowed entry into the country except for the following cases:
Children below 18 years old:
People medically unable to receive the vaccine as certified by a public health authority from their country of origin
Foreign diplomats and their dependents/9(e) visa holders
Requirements for children below 12 years old:
Children below 12 years old who cannot be vaccinated will follow the protocols of their parents or accompanying guardian.
⏩️Is an International Certificate of Vaccination (ICV) required by the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) to enter the Philippines?
An International Certificate of Vaccination (ICV) is accepted as proof of a traveler’s fully vaccinated status, but other documents may also be accepted in its place. These include a VaxCertPH digital vaccination certificate or a national/state digital certificate of the foreign government where they were vaccinated, which has accepted VaxCertPH under a reciprocal arrangement.
How to get an ICV:
ICVs are issued by the country where you got the vaccine. If you got your vaccines in the Philippines, you can get your ICV by booking an appointment via icv.boq.ph. It costs PHP300, and a PHP70 convenience fee will also be charged. Alternatively, you can apply for a vaccination certificate via vaxcert.doh.gov.ph to prove your fully vaccinated status when entering the Philippines.
What to Do Upon Arrival at a Philippine Airport:
After you land in the Philippines, you need to follow the guidelines set by the IATF. These include wearing face masks and face shields, filling up a Case Investigation Form (CIF), and using the Traze Mobile App. For the complete requirements and procedures for each airport, check this arrival guide.
⏩️Is quarantine required for international travelers entering the Philippines?
Yes, unvaccinated or partially vaccinated international travelers are required to undergo facility-based quarantine for 6 days and will be released when they get a negative result from the RT-PCR test to be taken on the 5th day. They will also need to undergo home quarantine afterward until the 14th day from their arrival. The local government unit will be monitoring those under home quarantine.
However, unvaccinated and partially vaccinated foreign travelers will not be allowed entry except for children below 18 years old, people medically unable to receive the vaccine as certified by a public health authority from their country of origin, and foreign diplomats and their dependents/9(e) visa holders.
⏩️What To Do During the Stay at the Quarantine Hotel?
From the airport, you need to go directly to your quarantine hotel. Wait for the confirmation of the schedule of your test. Should you exhibit symptoms before your scheduled test, you need to inform the hotel staff immediately so a medical officer can assess you.
On the day of your test, present your passport and the other required documents. If your test results are negative, you will be released for home quarantine. However, if your test results are positive, you will be transferred to a hospital for treatment.
During your stay at your quarantine hotel, you won’t be allowed to leave your room, so make sure to pack your own entertainment and bring it along with you!
For more details, please check this arrival guide
Airlines Flying to the Philippines:
These airlines have flights to the Philippines:
✈️Philippine Airlines - The flag carrier currently has flights from Australia, Canada (including Vancouver (YVR) to Manila), Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Vietnam, and the USA, including Los Angeles (LAX) to Manila, San Francisco (SFO) to Manila, Hawaii (HNL) to Manila, and New York (JFK) to Manila routes.
✈️All Nippon Airways (ANA) - The airline has flights from Japan.
✈️AirAsia - The airline has flights from China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand.
✈️Aseana Airlines -The airline has flights from South Korea.
✈️Cebu Pacific - The airline has flights from Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and United Arab Emirates.
✈️China Airlines - The airline has flights from Taiwan.
✈️Emirates - The airline has flights from the United Arab Emirates.
✈️Etihad Airways - The airline has flights from the United Arab Emirates.
✈️Japan Airlines - The airline has flights from Japan and the USA.
✈️JetStar - The airline has flights from Singapore.
✈️Korean Air - The airline has flights from South Korea and the USA.
✈️Malaysia Airlines - The airline has flights from Malaysia.
✈️Qatar Airways - The airline has flights from Qatar.
✈️Singapore Airlines - The airline has flights from Singapore.
✈️Thai Airways - The airline has flights from Germany, India, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Sweden, and Thailand.
✈️Turkish Airlines - The airline has flights from Turkey.
Vaccines accepted in the Philippines:
There are currently 8 COVID-19 vaccines which have Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Here is the list:
💉Pfizer-BioNTech
💉AstraZeneca
💉Sinovac-Coronavac
💉Sputnik V
💉Janssen
💉Covaxin
💉Moderna
💉Sinopharm
⏩️Which Philippine destinations don't have an RT-PCR test requirement for fully vaccinated travelers?
⏩️If you are vaccinated can you travel without COVID test?
Yes, fully vaccinated travel is available in the Philippines, but not for all destinations. Several destinations in the Philippines have opened to fully vaccinated tourists, exempting them from the requirement of obtaining a negative RT-PCR or rapid COVID test for travel.
Here is the list of destinations fully vaccinated travelers may visit without having to undergo a COVID-19 test:
Destinations in Luzon without RT-PCR for fully vaccinated:
📍Abra
📍Albay
📍Baguio City
📍Bataan
📍Batanes
📍Batangas
📍Benguet
📍Bulacan
📍Cagayan
📍Camarines Norte
📍Camarines Sur
📍Cavite
📍Clark
📍Coron
📍El Nido
📍Ilocos Sur (including Vigan)
📍Isabela
📍La Union
📍Laguna
📍Masbate
📍Metro Manila
📍Nueva Ecija
📍Nueva Vizcaya
📍Occidental Mindoro
📍Oriental Mindoro
📍Pampanga
📍Pangasinan
📍Puerto Princesa
📍Rizal
📍Sagada
📍Subic Bay Freeport Area
📍Tagaytay
📍Tarlac
📍Zambales
Destinations in Visayas without RT-PCR for fully vaccinated:
📍Aklan
📍Biliran
📍Bohol
📍Boracay
📍Capiz
📍Cebu
📍Dumaguete City
📍Eastern Samar
📍Guimaras
📍Iloilo City
📍Iloilo Province
📍Leyte
📍Negros Occidental
📍Negros Oriental
📍Ormoc
📍Siquijor
📍Tacloban
Destinations in Mindanao without RT-PCR for fully vaccinated:
📍Bukidnon
📍Butuan City
📍Camiguin
📍Cotabato
📍Davao City
📍Davao de Oro
📍Davao del Norte
📍Davao del Sur
📍Davao Oriental
📍General Santos City
📍Misamis Occidental
📍Sarangani
📍Sultan Kudarat
📍Sulu
📍Surigao Del Norte
📍Surigao Del Sur
📍Tawi-Tawi
📍Zamboanga City
📍Zamboanga del Norte
📍Zamboanga del Sur
📍Zamboanga Sibugay
⏩️Will you be able to travel without COVID vaccine?
Yes. Some destinations in the Philippines only require travelers to present a government-issued ID to enter, but others still have a negative RT-PCR test or antigen test result as part of the requirements before you can board a domestic flight in the Philippines. Some destinations also require a mandatory quarantine for travelers, as well as a negative test result after a number of days in the destination.
I hope all of your questions found all the answers here in our page! 😊
For bookings, please message or call us at:
Smart: 0999-917-9088
Tel. No: 056-311-2427
Email: [email protected]
Keep safe flying and godbless you! 🙏😊
