02/11/2021
Travel Advisory No. 219
FLYING TO THE U.S. -- NEW RULES FOR NON-U.S. CITIZENS & NON-IMMIGRANTS TO SHOW PROOF OF VACCINATION
To our valued passengers:
Effective November 8, 2021, the U.S. government will require non-U.S. citizens who are not immigrants to be fully-vaccinated, and show proof of vaccination status, to be able to enter the United States.
This does not apply to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, U.S. lawful permanent residents and immigrants. For information on travel requirements for U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, U.S. lawful permanent residents and immigrants, please refer to
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/international-travel-during-covid19.html.
One is considered fully-vaccinated for COVID-19:
• 14 days after his or her dose of an accepted single-dose COVID-19 vaccine;
• 14 days after his or her second dose of an accepted 2-dose series COVID-19 vaccine;
• 14 days after he or she received the full series of an “active” (not placebo) COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S.-based AstraZeneca or Novavax COVID-19 vaccine trials; or
• 14 days after he or she received 2 doses of any “mix-and-match” combination of accepted COVID-19 vaccines administered at least 17 days apart*
*The U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) has not recommended use of mix-and-match combinations, but will accept them for the purpose of interpreting vaccination records for entry into the U.S. because such combinations are adopted by many countries:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/proof-of-vaccination.html -vaccines.
If you do not meet the above requirements, you are NOT considered fully-vaccinated and you will not be allowed to board a flight to the United States, unless you meet exemption criteria under the latest CDC regulations. Such exceptions include:
• Persons on diplomatic or official foreign government travel
• Children under 18 years of age
• Persons with documented medical contraindications to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine
• Participants in certain COVID-19 vaccine trials
• Persons issued a humanitarian or emergency exception
• Persons with valid visas [excluding B-1 (business) or B-2 (tourism) visas] who are citizens of a foreign country with limited COVID-19 vaccine availability
• Members of the U.S. Armed Forces or their spouses or children (under 18 years of age)
• Sea crew members traveling with to a C-1 and D nonimmigrant visa
• Persons whose entry would be in the national interest, as determined by the U.S. Secretary of State, Secretary of Transportation, or Secretary of Homeland Security (or their designees)
If you travel by air to the United States under one of these exceptions, you must attest that you are exempted from the requirement to present proof of vaccination:
• You will be tested with a COVID-19 viral test 3 to 5 days after arrival in the United States, unless you have documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 in the past 90 days;
• You will self-quarantine for 7 days, even if the test result to the post-arrival viral test is negative, unless you have documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 in the past 90 days; and
• You will self-isolate if the result of the post-arrival test is positive or if you develop COVID-19 symptoms.
A parent or an authorized person should attest on behalf of a passenger who is under 18 years old or any passenger who is unable to sign their own attestation (e.g., because they are too young, or because of physical or mental impairment). Visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/noncitizens-US-air-travel.html for more details.
All types of COVID-19 Vaccination proof must show the full name of the passenger (as shown in passport), the name of official source issuing the record (public health agency, government agency, other authorized vaccine provider), the vaccine brand and the dates of inoculation.
The following COVID-19 Vaccination proof are acceptable:
• Verifiable records (digital or paper): Vaccination certificate with QR code*, digital pass via Smartphone application with QR code* (e.g., United Kingdom National Health Service COVID Pass, European Union Digital COVID Certificate);
• Non-verifiable paper records: Printout of COVID-19 vaccination record or a COVID-19 vaccination certificate issued at national or subnational level or by an authorized vaccine provider (e.g., the CDC vaccination card); and
• Non-verifiable digital records: Digital photos of vaccination card or record, downloaded vaccine record or vaccination certificate from official source (e.g., public health agency, government agency, or other authorized vaccine provider), or a mobile phone application without QR code*.
*The QR code in a verifiable vaccination record must link to information confirming the credential was generated from an immunization record in an official database and is protected from tampering.
More information can be viewed at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/proof-of-vaccination.html . You may also visit our website at www.philippineairlines.com, our official PAL social media pages, or call our hotline at (+632) 8855 8888.
Thank you.
