Pursuant to IATF Resolution No. 2, beginning November 2022, qualified foreign nationals may enter the Philippines provided they comply with the applicable visa requirements and immigration entry and departure formalities.

1. Who are covered?

• Foreign nationals who are from visa-required countries and not eligible for visa-free entry;
• Foreign nationals who are eligible for visa-free entry, including those who wish to stay beyond the allowed visa-free entry period, or wish to apply for other visa categories.
• For a list of foreign nationals qualified for visa-free entry, click here: (Visa-Fee Entry for Temporary Visits)
• For those availing of Balikbayan program, click here: (Balikbayan Program)

2. What are the travel requirements?

All foreign nationals entering the Philippines shall:

• Have the appropriate entry visa if not eligible for visa-free entry (See no. 9 for visa application requirements and procedures);
• If fully-vaccinated, carry/possess an acceptable proof of vaccination recognized under existing IATF regulations. Pre-departure testing shall no longer be required; (See no.4 for acceptable proof of vaccination)
• If unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, Filipinos and Foreign nationals 15 years old or older shall present a remotely supervised, or a laboratory-based rapid antigen negative test result administered and certified by a healthcare professional in a healthcare facility, laboratory, clinic, pharmacy, and other similar establishment taken within twenty-four (24) hours, prior to the date and time of departure from country of origin/first port of embarkation in a continuous travel to the Philippines, excluding lay-overs; provided, that, passenger has not left the airport premises or has not been admitted into the transit country;
  1. • Filipinos and foreign nationals who 15 years old or older who fail to present a negative pre-departure testing with conditions set forth above, shall be required to undergo a laboratory-based rapid antigen test administered and certified by a healthcare professional in a healthcare facility, laboratory, clinic, pharmacy, or other similar establishment taken upon arrival at the airport.
     • Accompanied minors below 15 years of age who are not vaccinated for any reason whatsoever shall follow the quarantine protocols of their parent/s or an accompanying adult/guardian traveling with them.
     • Unaccompanied minors below 15 years of age who are not vaccinated for any reason whatsoever shall have a rapid antigen negative test taken either (1) 24 hours prior to departure, or (2) upon arrival at the airport.
     • Any inbound traveler, whether Filipino or foreign national, who shall test positive for COVID-19 through rapid antigen test shall be subjected to the latest prevailing quarantine and isolation protocols of the DOH.
• Have valid tickets for their return journey to the port of origin or next port of destination corresponding to their allowable period of stay (Note: Not applicable to those availing of Balikbayan Privilege; and,
• Have passports valid for a period of at least six (6) months at the time of arrival to the Philippines;

Foreign nationals who fail to fully comply with the conditions and requisites above shall be denied admission into the country and shall be subject to the appropriate exclusion proceedings.

Note: All arriving passengers, both Filipinos and foreign nationals, are required to have a registered eArrival Card at least 3 days before departure.  eArrival Card registration is free-of-charge and should be accomplished up to 3 days upon arrival in the Philippines only through the following link: https://etravel.gov.ph

3. Who is considered to be fully vaccinated?

You are considered fully-vaccinated if you have:

• Received the second (2nd) dose in a 2-dose series or a single dose vaccine more than fourteen (14) days prior to the date and time of departure from the country of origin/port of embarkation.

4. What is an acceptable proof of vaccination?

The following vaccination certificates are recognized:

• WHO International Certificates of Vaccination and Prophylaxis;
• VaxCertPH;
• National/state manual/digital vaccination certificate of the country/foreign government;
• Other proof of vaccination.

Note: Vaccination certificates issued by the Japanese government (paper or digital) are recognized/accepted.

5. What are the arrival protocols?

• For the latest arrival protocols, kindly refer to link below. Additional questions may be directly referred to BOQ (See no.12:
  https://tokyo.philembassy.net/01announcements/advisory-testing-and-quarantine-protocols

6. If I am qualified for visa-free entry and stay beyond the visa-free period of 30 days, do I need to obtain a 9a visa prior to departure from the Philippines?

• You have two options:

Option 1: Enter visa-free as long as you comply with all the requirements above, and then apply for extension of your stay directly with the Bureau of Immigration while in the Philippines; (See no. 11)

Option 2: Apply for 9a visa at the Embassy. (See no. 9)

7. If I am qualified for visa-free entry, can I enter visa-free and covert to other visa categories while in the Philippines?

• Yes. You may apply directly with the Bureau of Immigration while in the Philippines. (See no. 11)

8. I am not a national of a non-visa required country. Do I need to apply for a visa?

• Yes, you will need to apply for a visa prior to departure from Japan, provided that you are qualified to be issued a visa and subject to the submission of requirements. (See no. 9)

9. What are the visa application requirements and procedures?

• For visa application procedures, refer to this link: (Visa Application Process)
• For visa application requirements:

1. Non-Immigrant Visa Requirements (Temporary Visitor Visa)
2. Non-Quota Immigrant Visa

10. I am not fully-vaccinated. Can I enter the Philippines?

• Yes, subject to the travel requirements in No. 2 above.

11. For other immigration-related inquiries, you may directly contact the Bureau of Immigration (BOI):

Telephone Numbers – (02) 8465-2400 / (02) 8524-3769
Website – immigration.gov.ph
Facebook – immigration.helpline.ph / officialbureauofimmigration
Twitter – immigrationPh
Instagram – immigPh
Email – immigPH@gmail.com
xinfo@immigration.gov.ph
binoc_immigration@hotmail.ph
immigration.helpline.ph@gmail.com

12. For inquiries related to PCR testing and vaccination certificates, you may directly contact the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ):

Department of Health (DOH) Call Center
Department of Health Central Office
Bldg. 9 San Lazaro Compound, Sta. Cruz, Manila
Telephone Number: (02) 8651-7800 local 5003-5005 or (02) 5318-7500
DOH Call Center text: 0918-8888364
Email Address: callcenter@doh.gov.ph OR boq.opcen@gmail.com

Share this post: on X on Facebook on LinkedIn