This page was updated on January 2023
Table of Contents
Is the Philippines open for visitors?
The Philippines is fully open to visitors. Filipino and foreign nationals, irrespective of their vaccination status, can now enter the Philppines. However, they will have to go through some entry requirements as mandated by the Beureau of Immigration, Philippines.
Is the Philippines open to international tourism?
The Philippines is open to tourism. Filipino and foreign nationals, irrespective of their vaccination status, can now enter the Philppines, provided they go through some entry requirements as mandated by the Beureau of Immigration, Philippines.
Fully vaccinated Filipinos or foreign nationals are initially no longer required to take a pre-departure Covid-19 test. However, due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in China, the Philippines authority has taken preemptive action by tightening their health protocols. They include re-establishing COVID-19 testing for foreign travellers, especially from China. Visitors from that country should be aware of additional requirements imposed on them before they travel to the Philippines.
As for the unvaccinated or partially vaccinated travellers, they still are required to present a laboratory-based Rapid Antigen negative test result within 24 hours prior to the date and time of departure from the country of origin for entry to the Philippines.
Please consult the Republic of the Philippines, Bureau of Immigration for more information.
What are the Philippines entry requirements?
Removal of eArrival card requirement
Earlier the Philippine government had announced that One Health Pass no longer applies in lieu of the eArrival card. Nonetheless, as of now, the authorities have ruled out the requirement to fill out the eArrival card before boarding a flight to the Philippines as a “scan-and-go” system will instead be implemented.
However, the government would set up special lanes in the country’s gateways for those who want to comply with the eArrival card.
Please refer to our eArrival Card article below for the latest development
https://blog.wego.com/earrival-card/
Vaccination requirements
Vaccination in the Philippines is no longer mandatory for entry into the Philippines.
However, fully vaccinated Filipinos or foreign nationals, unless they are coming from China, will be exempt from providing a pre-departure Covid-19 test for entry into the Philippines, whereas, unvaccinated or partially vaccinated travellers are required to present a laboratory-based Rapid Antigen negative test result within 24 hours prior to the date and time of departure from the country of origin for entry to the Philippines.
A traveller is considered fully vaccinated against Covid-19 in the Philippines if they have received the second dose of a two-dose vaccine or have received a single-dose of the vaccine more than fourteen (14) days prior to the date and time of departure from the country of origin/port of embarkation.
The vaccines accepted in the Philippines are:
- Oxford-AstraZeneca (SK Bioscience)
- COVOVAX
- Janssen
- Moderna (Spikevax)
- Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty)
- Covilo (Sinopharm Beijing)
- Sinopharm (Wuhan)
- Sinovac.
- Covaxin
- Sputnik V
- Sputnik Light
Source: Philippines – COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker (trackvaccines.org)
Testing requirements
The testing requirements in the Philippines depend on the vaccination status of the Filipinos and foreign nationals:
Fully vaccinated arrivals
Both fully vaccinated Filipinos and foreign nationals who are not coming from China will be subject to the following requirements for entry into the Philippines:
- they are NO longer required to take a pre-departure Covid-19 test for entry into the Philippines. However, they must carry or possess any acceptable proof of vaccination:
- World Health Organization International Certificates of Vaccination and Prophylaxis;
- VaxCertPH
- National/state or digital certificate of the foreign government; or
- Other proofs of vaccination
Unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or unverified vaccination status arrivals
For fifteen (15) years or older
- must present a remotely supervised or laboratory-based Rapid Antigen negative test meeting the following requirements:
- administered and certified by a healthcare professional in a healthcare facility, laboratory, clinic, pharmacy or any other similar establishment
- taken within 24 hours prior to departure from country of origin/ first port of embarkation, excluding layovers, provided, the passenger has not left the airport premises or was not admitted into the transit country.
For fifteen (15) years or older who failed to present a remotely supervised or laboratory-based Rapid Antigen negative test:
- undergo a laboratory-based Rapid Antigen negative test administered and certified by a healthcare professional in a healthcare facility, laboratory, clinic, pharmacy or any other similar establishment, taken upon arrival at the airport.
Please note that unaccompanied minors below the fifteen (15) years who are unvaccinated will have to go through the same requirements as unvaccinated or partially vaccinated travellers above the age of fifteen (15), as mentioned above.
For accompanied minors below the fifteen (15) years who are unvaccinated:
- must follow the quarantine protocols of their parent/s or an accompanying adult/guardian travelling with them.
Quarantine requirements
The quarantine requirements in the Philippines depend on the vaccination status of the Filipinos and foreign nationals:
Fully vaccinated arrivals
Fully vaccinated arrivals, whether, Filipino or a foreign national, who can prove their vaccination status upon entry into the country are NOT required to undergo quarantine upon arrival. However, symptomatic travellers may be required to take COVID-19 tests.
Unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or unverified vaccination status arrivals
Any inbound traveller, whether, Filipino or a foreign national, who is unvaccinated or partially vaccinated and is found positive upon taking a laboratory-based Rapid Antigen negative test upon arrival at the Filipino airport, shall be subjected to the latest prevailaing quarantine and isolation protocols of the DOH.
Additional requirements for foreign nationals
The foreign nationals must possess the following additional documents for entry into the Philippines:
- passport valid for at least six (6) months at the time of entry.
- valid visa, if applicable (for those who are not entitled to a visa-free entry in the Philippines, as well as those with immigrant or non-immigrant status)
- for temporary visitors: valid onward/return ticket. However, the following categories of travellers are exempt from this requirement:
- Foreign spouses and/or children of Filipino citizens who are travelling with them.
- Former Filipino citizens with valid Balikbayan privileges under Republic Act no. 9174, including their spouce and/or children, who are travelling with them.
Please visit Republic of the Philippines, Bureau of Immigration for more information.
