Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque announced on July 17, 2020. Friday, in a statement, that Philippines will begin to allow the entry of foreign nationals with long-term visas or immigrant visas starting August 1, 2020, as the country starts to gradually lift some coronavirus restrictions to support its economy.

Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said that no one is exempted from complying with the conditions imposed on all outbound Filipinos, unless they are permanent residents, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), and holders of study visa in their country of destination.

What are the documents and requirements I need to prepare?

• Valid Visa upon entry
• A pre-booked accredited quarantine facility
• A pre-booked COVID-19 testing provider must be secured

Foreigners should also be informed that airports and seaports are observing a maximum capacity of travellers in order to comply with physical distancing rules.

Travellers from the outbound are required to undergo quarantine until they receive a negative result from a reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test.

The Philippine government has set up mega swabbing centers near airports. Mactan-Cebu International Airport in Cebu province has its own testing facility with a laboratory that can process 1,500 to 3,000 tests per day and releases.

Travellers eligible to visit PH

As of August 1, foreign nationals with existing long-term visas are allowed to enter the Philippines, subject to certain conditions:

• A non-immigrant visa issued under Section 13 of the Immigration act (Section 13 series visa: a,b,c,d,e,g)
• Anyone who acquired resident status under Republic Act 7919 or Alien Social Integration Act (RA 7919 visa)
• Anyone who falls under Executive Order 324 or Alien Legalization Program (EO 324 visa)
• Native-born foreign nationals (Native-born visa).

As of August 9, new categories of travellers are permitted by the government to visit the country, based on the condition that a valid visa is secured through the Embassy of the Philippines located in their country of residence:

• A foreign spouse of a Filipino national
• A minor child of a Filipino
• Children of a Filipino with special needs, regardless of age
• Foreign parent of minor Filipinos, and foreign parent of Filipino children with special needs, regardless of age.

The government has accredited many hotels as quarantine facilities for Filipinos returning from abroad. The government will also cover the quarantine expenses and swab testing for overseas Filipino workers (OFW), but returning Filipinos who are not OFWs and foreigners should shoulder their rooms and tests expenses.

The Bureau of Immigration banned the entry of foreigners into the country in March to avoid the further spread of the coronavirus. Only Filipinos as well as foreign diplomats were allowed to enter.

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