The Philippines Quarantine Guidelines for Arriving Overseas Foreign Workers (OFWs)

This article is reviewed regularly (on a monthly basis) by Wego’s editorial team to ensure that the content is up to date & accurate.

Updated 11 August 2022

The Philippine government has announced updates concerning quarantine requirements for Overseas Foreign Workers (OFWs) arriving from abroad extending the quarantine period, protocols, and vaccination status. The green, yellow, and red lists have been temporarily suspended thereby easing entry restrictions for all inbound arrivals to the Philippines.

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Here, we’ve compiled a comprehensive quarantine guide for OFWs returning to the Philippines both fully vaccinated and non-vaccinated OFWs. 

Entry requirements for Filipino OFWs

Pre-arrival 

• All eligible OFWs, returning to the Philippines, must register to the Bureau of Quarantine e-Health Declaration Card (e-HDC), including children, before travelling to the Philippines. Please save your transaction number, although it will also be sent through your registered e-mail address. 
• Returning OFWs must declare their personal information, health status, and travel history and register as early as 3 days before the flight.
• Register on the One Health Portal within 48 hours of departure.
• All OFWs will be given a BAR Code once they have successfully submitted their COVID-19 test (RT-PCR/Antigen) and vaccination certificate. A BAR code or QR Code will be accepted upon check-in.
• Accurately and completely fill out all required fields including the e-HDC within 24 hours of departure. Upon completion, please ensure to save a copy of your unique transaction number and your QR code which will be required upon check-in. Please note that failure to present the OHP QR code may result in the non-acceptance of the flight. 

Upon arrival

• Present your One Health Pass (OHP) QR Code to BOQ (Bureau of Quarantine) for verification.
• Proceed to your designated briefing area and present your OHP QR code. You can go to OWWA Help Desk if you are OFW Landbased and MARINA Help Desk if you are OFW Seabased.
• Proceed to the Bureau of Immigration for clearance prior to baggage claim.
• Proceed to your transport service. You can take OWWA Bus (for OFW Landbased) and LMA transport (OFW Seabased)
• Make sure that you have completed the Bureau of Customs Form, OWWA Care Slip, and Arrival Card.
• Undergo a mandatory temperature check
• Present your One Health Pass (OHP) QR Code and your proof of vaccination to BOQ (Bureau of Quarantine) for verification.
• If unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, travellers will need to proceed to the hotel verification booth, present the OHP QR code and submit the OWWA Project Care Slip.
• Fully vaccinated passengers can then proceed to immigration for their clearance and submit their Arrival Card. On completion of the immigration process, they can then proceed to their home/hotel.

Validation of vaccination status

For the purpose of vaccine certification of OFWs and their spouse, parents, and/or children vaccinated in the Philippines or abroad, either of the following is required:

• OFWs and their spouse, children, parent/s travelling with them vaccinated abroad: they may present their national digital/physical vaccination certificate of the foreign government where they were vaccinated without the need of a reciprocity agreement.
• Filipinos who are non-OFWs vaccinated in the country or abroad, and foreigners vaccinated in the Philippines: either their VaxCertPH digital vaccination certificate, Bureau of Quarantine/World Health Organization-issued International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICV), or the national/state digital certificate of the foreign government where they were vaccinated, which has accepted VaxCertPH under a reciprocal arrangement unless otherwise permitted by the IATF.
• Foreign nationals vaccinated abroad: WHO-issued ICV, or the national/state digital certificate of the foreign government which has accepted VaxCertPH under a reciprocal arrangement unless otherwise permitted by the IATF.

Quarantine protocols for arriving OFWs

Starting 1 February 2022, the pandemic task force in the Philippines has temporarily suspended the green, yellow, and red list countries that were earlier in place. Instead, all arrivals will adhere to quarantine rules depending on their vaccination status.

All international arriving Filipinos and foreign nationals will now be allowed to enter the Philippines regardless of their country of origin. In addition, travellers who are fully vaccinated, and have had a booster shot of an approved COVID-19 vaccine will no longer need to take a pre-departure COVID-19 test to enter the Philippines.

To qualify as a fully vaccinated traveller to the Philippines, you must have received at least 2 doses (of a 2-dose regimen) of a vaccine along with a booster dose at least 2 weeks or more before travel.

PCR test is free for all OFWs who arrive in the Philippines from Manila, Bohol, Cebu, Clark, Davao, Subic, or Laoag.

Vaccinated OFWs

Fully vaccinated OFWs with at least one booster shot are no longer required to provide a negative PCR test, provided that they present proof of vaccination along with a valid passport and return tickets. Facility-based quarantine is not required for fully vaccinated returning OFWs. The requirements for travel include:

• One Health Pass
• Negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours or negative Antigen test taken within 24 hours prior to departure from the country of origin. 
• Self-monitor for any sign or symptom until the 7th day from arrival 
• Proof of Vaccination

Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated OFWs

Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated OFWs must undergo facility-based quarantine and schedule their COVID-19 test with their designated hotels. Accommodation, food and any additional hotel fees during facility-based quarantine will be shouldered by the Government of Philippines. The requirements for travel include:

• One Health Pass 
• Negative RT-PCR test result taken within 48 hours or negative laboratory-based Antigen test result taken within 24 hours prior to departure from the country of origin 
• Facility-based quarantine until the release of the negative results, testing will be on the 5th day. 
• Self-monitor for any sign or symptom until the 14th day from arrival 

The home quarantine will be closely monitored by the Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams and the LGU of that destination.

Fully recovered travellers with positive RT-PCR or laboratory-based Antigen pre-departure test results

• One Health Pass
• Positive RT-PCR test result taken within 48 hours or positive laboratory-based Antigen test result taken within 24 hours prior to departure from the country of origin 
• Positive RT-PCR or laboratory-based Antigen test taken 10-30 days prior to departure from the country of origin. 
• Medical Certificate from a licensed physician stating that the traveller has completed the mandatory isolation period is no longer infectious and has been allowed free movement and travel. 

Fully Vaccinated arrivals

• Self-monitor for any sign or symptom until the 7th day from arrival 
• Proof of Vaccination 

Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated arrivals

• Facility-based quarantine until the release of the negative results, testing on the 5th day  
• Shall self-monitor for any sign or symptom of Covid-19 until the 14th day from arrival

Travelling with minors

• Children 3 years old and below who are asymptomatic are not required to present a pre-departure negative COVID-19 test result. 
• Children below 12 years old who are unvaccinated shall follow the quarantine protocols of the parents,
• Children 12 years to 17 years old shall follow the classification and procedures based on their vaccination status. Parents shall accompany the minor during their facility-based quarantine. 

Quarantine facilities 

If you are looking for quarantine accommodation in the Philippines, you can click here for the full list of OWWA Accredited hotels for all OFWs (Landbased and Seabased). 

Test exemption

Minors below the age of 3 years shall not be required to present a negative RT-PCR test result. However symptomatic minors below 3 years old shall be subject to the usual testing, and quarantine procedures for international arriving passengers.

Please note that unvaccinated passengers who fail to present a negative RT-PCR test report as a before-travel requirement will NOT be accepted on flights to the Philippines.