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Safe Travel Guide in Philippines

In the interest of everyone’s health and well-being, the Philippines Department of Tourism (DOT) ensures that tourism stakeholders comply with the protocols and precautionary measures set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Department of Health (DOH). The DOT also actively promotes simple but effective habits that the public can adapt to help contain the spread of Covid-19.

Safety

  • Terrorist attacks could occur anywhere in the Philippines. Possible targets include public transport, hotels, shopping malls, restaurants, events, places of worship and tourist areas. Be alert to possible threats.
  • The threat of kidnapping and piracy in the southern Philippines is very high. Especially in coastal resorts, coastal waters, and isolated locations. Kidnappers may target popular tourist areas. If you travel to the southern Philippines, despite our advice, get professional security advice. Ensure your accommodation has proper security measures.
  • Protests can turn violent. It’s illegal to take part in political rallies if you’re not Filipino. Avoid large public gatherings.
  • Violent and other serious crimes are common. Many crimes involve guns. Gunfights between criminals and police are not uncommon. Gangs often drug tourists before robbing or assaulting them. Pickpocketing, bag snatching, and scams are common. Don’t leave food or drinks unattended. Be careful in crowded shopping malls and other public places. Only use ATMs in secure locations.
  • Typhoons, tropical storms, flooding, landslides and earthquakes are common. These events may disrupt essential services. Know your accommodation’s evacuation plan.

Health

  • COVID-19 remains a risk in the Philippines.  You must wear a face mask outside your accommodation. Follow the advice of local authorities. 
  • Medical facilities are generally adequate in major cities. However, they are stretched due to COVID-19. Medical facilities are limited outside cities. Some medical providers may offer tele-consult services as an alternative to face-to-face consultations. Contact your provider for further details.
  • There are measles and polio outbreaks across the country, including in Manila. 
  • Malaria and dengue are common, especially in many provincial areas. Other insect-borne diseases include Japanese encephalitis and filariasis. Consider taking anti-malarial medication. 
  • Foodborne, waterborne, and other infectious diseases include cholera, typhoid, and hepatitis. Drink only boiled or bottled water. Avoid raw or undercooked food. Avoid swimming in lakes or rivers.
  • HIV/AIDS is a risk. Transmission rates between men who have sex with men are high. Take precautions if you engage in high-risk activities.

 

Local laws

  • Quarantine measures are in place to curb the spread of COVID-19 (including lockdowns, curfews, and other travel restrictions). Measures can change regularly. You must wear a face mask outside your accommodation.
  • If you’re accused of a crime, authorities may not let you leave the Philippines until investigations and legal proceedings are finished. These can take a long time, sometimes years.
  • Don’t use or carry illegal drugs. Penalties are severe and police are strictly enforcing laws. Mandatory sentences are common for possessing small amounts of drugs. 

Travel

  • A range of COVID-19 measures are in place throughout the Philippines. These can change regularly. The measures are different in each province and barangay. Follow the Philippine Department of Tourism for the latest advice. You should ensure you understand the requirements and restrictions where you’re staying. You must wear a face mask and shield outside your accommodation.
  • The Philippines has temporarily restricted entry to foreigners. You can’t travel to the Philippines without an approved visa and travel exemption. You can’t transit through the Philippines at this time.
  • Register your travel to the Philippines on the One Health Pass online portal. You should also complete the ‘electronic health declaration checklist’ to receive a QR code to use for arrival formalities.
  • On arrival you must complete a ‘Case Investigation Form’. You’ll undergo self-funded COVID-19 testing. You must quarantine for 14 days at an accredited hotel/facility. You must also show evidence of pre-booked accommodation at the immigration counters on arrival. The booking must be for at least seven nights in an accredited quarantine hotel/facility. Reduced quarantine may apply if you’re fully vaccinated and coming from a ‘green’ listed country.
  • Airlines are operating weekly commercial flights out of the Philippines. Airline and transiting country protocols may differ. Check and fully understand the requirements of the airline you’re travelling with. As well as the country you are transiting through.
  • There are requirements in place to leave the Philippines, such as a negative COVID-19 test. You should also confirm with local authorities if a travel pass and health check is necessary to travel to the airport.
  • Contact the Philippines Bureau of Immigration for advice about entry and exit requirements and visas.

INTERNATIONAL ARRIVING PASSENGERS IN THE PHILIPPINES

WHO ARE ALLOWED TO ENTER?

  • Filipino citizens, including those with valid Philippine Passport/Identification Certificate (IC) as proof of recognition as a Filipino citizen or as proof of retention/reacquisition of Philippine citizenship under RA 9225
  • Foreign nationals allowed entry under the Balikbayan Program (RA 6768), provided they are nationals from non-visa required countries under EO 408:
  • Former Filipino citizens, together with their foreign spouses and children, regardless of age, who are traveling with them
  • Filipino citizens’ spouses and children, regardless of age, who are traveling with them
  • Foreign nationals who are holders of valid and existing Special Resident and Retirees Visa (SRRV) or Section 9(a) visas without need of an entry exemption document (EED). Except for: Foreign spouses, parent/s, and/or children of Filipino citizens, not traveling together with the Filipino and shall present a visa with notation “EED not required per IATF Resolution No. 128 (s.2021)”
  • Must not come from or have been to the “red” list countries within the last 14 days, except for Filipinos who are part of government or non-government repatriation efforts or bayanihan flights.
  • Foreign nationals are subject to deportation under the following situations:
  • Cleared for entry but subsequently found to have presented a counterfeit or fraudulent pre-booked accommodation upon DOT’s validation
  • Violated the Department of Health’s testing and quarantine protocols
  • TESTING AND QUARANTINE PROTOCOLS FOR ALL ARRIVING PASSENGERS COMING FROM GREEN, RED, AND YELLOW COUNTRIES
  • “Green” countries / jurisdictions / territories are those classified by the Department of Health as “Low Risk”, “Yellow” as “Moderate Risk”, and “Red” as “High Risk” countries / jurisdictions / territories.

GREEN COUNTRIES

  • American Samoa
  • Bhutan
  • Chad
  • China
  • Comoros
  • Ivory Coast
  • Falkland Islands
  • Guinea
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • Hongkong
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Japan
  • Kosovo
  • Kuwait
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Malawi
  • Mali
  • Marshall Islands
  • Micronesia, Federated States of
  • Montserrat
  • Morocco
  • Niger
  • Northern Mariana Islands
  • Oman
  • Pakistan
  • Palau
  • Paraguay
  • Rwanda
  • Saint Barthelemy
  • Saint Pierre and Miquelon
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Senegal
  • Sierra Leone
  • Sint Eustatius
  • Sudan
  • Taiwan
  • Togo
  • Uganda
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Zambia
  • Effective December 3, 2021, the testing and quarantine protocols for all arriving passengers coming from “Green and Yellow” list countries/territories/jurisdictions in all ports of entry in the Philippines shall be as follows:
  • Fully vaccinated individuals are required to have a negative RT-PCR test conducted within 72 hrs prior to departure from the country of origin. Upon arrival, they shall undergo facility-based quarantine with an RT-PCR test taken on the 5th day, with the date of arrival being the first day. Upon release of a negative RT-PCR test, they may be discharged from facility quarantine. After which, they are enjoined to self-monitor up to the 14th day from the date of arrival.
  • Individuals who are unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or whose vaccination status cannot be independently validated shall be required a negative RT-PCR test conducted within 72 hours prior to departure from the country of origin. Upon arrival, they are to undergo facility-based quarantine with an RT-PCR test done on the 7th day, with the date of arrival being the first day. Upon the release of a negative RT-PCR test, individuals shall be required to undergo home quarantine until the 14th day from the date of arrival.
  • The testing and protocols of minors shall follow the testing and quarantine protocol of the parent/guardian travelling with them, regardless of the minor’s vaccination status and country of origin.
  • Passengers who have already arrived and are currently undergoing quarantine, shall continue with the testing and quarantine protocols in place at the time of their arrival.
  • All passengers, whether Filipinos or foreigners, merely transiting through a non-Green List countries/territories/jurisdiction shall not be deemed as having come from or having been to said countries/territories/jurisdictions if they stayed in the airport the whole time and were not cleared for entry into such countries/territories/jurisdictions by its immigration authorities.

RED COUNTRIES

  • South Africa
  • Botswana
  • Namibia
  • Zimbabwe
  • Lesotho
  • Eswatini
  • Mozambique
  • Austria
  • Czech Republic
  • Hungary
  • The Netherlands
  • Switzerland
  • Belgium
  • Italy
  • Effective November 28, 2021 until December 15, 2021, the testing and quarantine protocols for all arriving passengers coming from “Red” list countries/territories/jurisdictions in all ports of entry in the Philippines shall be as follows:
  • The inbound international travel of all persons, regardless of vaccination status, coming from or who have been to “Red List” countries/territories/jurisdictions within the last 14 days prior to arrival to any port of the Philippines shall not be allowed.
  • Only Filipinos returning to the country via government-initiated repatriation, non-government-initiated repatriation, and Bayanihan Flights may be allowed entry subject to the following entry, testing and quarantine protocols:
  • Starting December 3, arriving passengers shall only be allowed to deplane via the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and/or Clark International Airport.
  • A ten-day facility-based quarantine upon arrival with RT-PCR testing on the 7th day with Day 1 being the day of arrival. Notwithstanding a negative test result, the arriving traveler shall complete the minimum facility-based quarantine period of 10 days.
  • Upon the completion of the mandated 10-day facility-based quarantine and presentation of a negative RT-PCR result, they may be discharged from the facility.
  • Passengers already in transit and all those who have been to the Red List countries within 14 days immediately preceding arrival to the Philippines, who arrive before 12:01 AM of November 30, 2021, shall not be subject to this restriction from entry. They shall nevertheless be required to undergo facility-based quarantine for 14 days with testing on the 7th day, with day 1 being the date of arrival, notwithstanding a negative RT-PCR result.
  • Passengers who have already arrived prior to November 28 and are currently undergoing quarantine shall complete their respective testing and quarantine protocols.
  • All passengers, whether Filipinos or foreigners, merely transiting through a Red List country/jurisdiction/territory shall not be deemed as having come from or having been to said country/jurisdiction/territory if they stayed in the airport the whole time and were not cleared for entry into such country/jurisdiction/territory by its immigration authorities.
  • Upon their arrival in the Philippines, passengers covered by the immediately preceding paragraph shall comply with existing testing and quarantine protocols.
  • For purposes of verification/confirmation of vaccination status, any of the following shall be acceptable:

A. In lieu of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office-certification, Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their spouse, children, parent/s traveling with them vaccinated abroad may present their digital/physical vaccination certificate of the foreign government where they were vaccinated without the need of a reciprocity agreement;

B. Filipinos who are non-OFWs vaccinated in the country or abroad, and foreigners vaccinated in the Philippines – either their VaxCertPH digital certificate, BOQ/WHO-issued International Certificate of Vaccination of Prophylaxis (ICV), or the digital certificate of the foreign government where they were vaccinated, which has accepted VaxCertPH under a reciprocal arrangement unless otherwise permitted by the IATF.

PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT AND NON-PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT REPATRIATION EFFORTS

  • The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has exempted non-Philippine government repatriation efforts to the entry restrictions imposed on travelers from travel-restricted countries.
  • The following guidelines shall govern the implementation of such exemptions:

A. In case of Philippine government-organized repatriation, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration shall conduct prior coordination with each other, and with the Department of Health – Bureau of Quarantine (DOH-BOQ), Department of Transportation (DOTr) and its One-Stop Shop and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, and the National Task Force Against COVID-19 Task Group for the Management of Returning Overseas Filipinos at least 48 hours prior to the departure from the country of origin.

B. In case of non-Philippine government repatriations:

1. All Filipino repatriates must present a negative RT-PCR test result taken within 72 hours prior to boarding the aircraft or vessel. A copy of the test result shall be submitted to the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) upon arrival.

2. Prior to approval from the BOQ for the entry of the flight or vessel carrying the Filipino repatriates is a prerequisite prior to its movement from point of origin. For this purpose, the concerned local manning agency (in the case of seafarers), the Philippine recruitment agency (for land-based workers), or the sponsoring Philippine government agency, in any case of other overseas Filipinos not covered in the foregoing shall submit an exemption request to the DOH-BOQ, the approval of which is tantamount to IATF’s approval on the repatriation effort.

  • All repatriates from countries covered by the travel ban are mandated to undergo a strict 14-day facility-based quarantine upon their arrival.
  • The same protocols shall be applied to other countries which may be included in the travel restrictions, as determined by the IATF or the Office of the President.