Passengers, mostly Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) queue at the departure area of Ninoy Aquino International Airport amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines
The Philippines on Monday (November 22) began implementing new travel rules for all international passengers entering the country.
The updated rules cover testing and quarantine protocols, as approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
The new guidelines are aimed at ensuring the continued drop in Covid-19 cases in the country and to stop the further spread of coronavirus variants.
For fully vaccinated Filipinos coming from Green List countries: no quarantine
Fully-vaccinated Filipinos from Green List countries or jurisdictions are not required to undergo facility-based quarantine or take another RT-PCR test, but must present a negative RT-PCR test result taken within 72 hours prior to their flight.
However, if they do not have an RT-PCR test 72 hours prior to their flight, they will be required to undergo quarantine on arrival until their test result is released.
Travellers are urged to monitor their health for Covid-19 symptoms until the 14th day of their arrival as a safety precaution.
Green List countries (as of November 22)
American Samoa, Bhutan, Chad, China (Mainland), Comoros, Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Federated States of Micronesia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China), India, Indonesia, Japan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, Northern Mariana Islands, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Paraguay, Rwanda, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sint Eustatius, South Africa, Sudan, Taiwan, Togo, Uganda, UAE, Zambia, Zimbabwe
For fully vaccinated foreigners from Green List countries: No quarantine
Fully-vaccinated foreigners from green states or jurisdictions no longer need to undergo quarantine on arrival and RT-PCR test on arrival, but must present a negative RT-PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to their flight.
Travellers are urged to monitor their health for Covid-19 symptoms until the 14th day of their arrival as a safety precaution.
Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated travelers from Green List countries: Quarantine until test result
Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated individuals from Green List countries, as well as those with unverified vaccination status, are required to undergo facility-based quarantine until the release of a negative RT-PCR test taken on their fifth day in the Philippines and self-monitor until their 14th day in the country.
Transit passengers from non-Green List countries
All passengers, including returning Filipinos, transiting through non-green list jurisdictions shall not be deemed as having come from or having been to the said country, territory or jurisdiction if they stayed in the airport the whole time and were not cleared for entry by its immigration authorities.
Countries in Yellow List (as of November 22):
The Philippine government said all other countries, jurisdictions and territories not mentioned in the Green List or Red List shall be under the Yellow List.
Fully vaccinated travelers from Yellow List countries
Fully vaccinated individuals coming from yellow countries or territories who have pre-departure RT-PCR tests are required to undergo facility-based quarantine and take an RT-PCR test after three days.
Upon release of a negative RT-PCR test, they may be discharged from facility quarantine. After which they are urged to self-monitor for Covid-19 symptoms up to the 14th day of their stay.
Passengers without a negative pre-departure test result are required to undergo facility-based quarantine and take a test after five days. They may be discharged from the quarantine facility upon the release of a negative RT-PCR test result, but must still undergo home quarantine until the 10th day of their stay.
Unvaccinated, partially vaccinated travelers from Yellow List countries
Individuals arriving from Yellow List countries who are unvaccinated, partially vaccinated or whose vaccination status cannot be independently validated are to undergo facility-based quarantine with an RT-PCR test done on the seventh day of their stay. Upon the release of a negative RT-PCR test result, they can continue their quarantine at home until the 14th day of their stay.
Passengers from Red List countries: No entry to Philippines
Inbound passengers staying in red countries and jurisdictions for the past 14 days will not be allowed to enter the Philippines, regardless of their vaccination status.
Countries under Red List (as of November 22): Netherlands and Faroe Islands
Filipinos arriving home from Red List countries exempted from ban
Filipinos from Red List countries who are returning to the Philippines through government-initiated or non-government-initiated repatriation and Bayanihan Flights are exempted from the entry ban.
However, they are required to observe a 10-day facility-based quarantine upon arrival and take RT-PCR test on their seventh day in the country.
Travelers transiting through Red List countries
Passengers, whether Filipinos or foreigners merely transiting through Red List nation, shall not be deemed as having come from or having been to said country, territory or jurisdiction or if they stayed in the airport the entirety of their layover and were not cleared by its Immigration authorities.
Minors arriving in the Philippines
Minors, regardless of their vaccination status and country of origin, should follow the testing and quarantine protocols observed by their parent or guardian traveling with them.
