Immigration update: Philippines | Reduced quarantine period and updated list of green and red countries

    On 14 October 2021, the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) released Resolution No. 144-A and 144-B, which updates the list of ‘Green’ and ‘Red’ countries list. Those listed under the Red list are not allowed entry to the Philippines.

    Who are affected?

    Arriving passengers at any of the Philippines international ports.

    Background

    On 03 September 2021, the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) released Resolution No. 136 where it adopts the “Yellow” and “Red” classifications, in addition to the “Green list” for countries/territories/jurisdictions based on their respective incidence rates and case counts as primary criteria, and testing data as secondary criteria.

    Green list countries

    The following shall be the testing and quarantine protocols for fully vaccinated individuals:

    1. For foreign nationals – a negative Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test shall be required to be taken within seventy-two hours (72 hrs) prior to departure from the country of origin. Upon arrival, no facility-based quarantine will be further required but the passenger must self-monitor for any symptoms until the fourteenth (14th) day with the first day being the date of arrival.

    2. For Filipinos, whether Overseas Filipino Workers or non-Overseas Filipino Workers – either of the following depending on the choice of the arriving international passenger:

    • Facility-based quarantine until the release of a negative RT-PCR test taken in the quarantine facility upon arrival; or
    • when a negative RT-PCR test was taken within 72 hours prior to departure from the country of origin, no facility-based quarantine shall be required but the passenger is to self-monitor for any symptoms until the fourteenth (14th) day with the first day being the date of arrival.

     

    3. For unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or individuals whose vaccination status cannot be independently validated, and those vaccinated but failed to comply with the above test-before-travel requirements:

    • Facility-based quarantine until the release of a negative RT-PCR test taken on the fifth (5th) day and self-monitor until the fourteenth (14th) day of arrival with the date of arrival being the first day. Foreign nationals shall be required to secure hotel reservations for at least 6 days.
    • Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated minor children traveling with their fully vaccinated parent/s or guardian/s shall be required to observe the quarantine protocols corresponding to their vaccination status. A parent/guardian shall accompany the child in the quarantine facility for the full term of the latter’s facility-based quarantine period.

     

    All passengers, whether Filipinos or foreigners, merely transiting through a non-Green 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.

    Yellow list countries

    Yellow list countries/territories/jurisdictions not otherwise listed as Green or Red. The inbound international travel of all persons, regardless of vaccination status, coming from or with travel history within the last fourteen (14) days prior to arrival in the country from “Yellow list” countries/jurisdictions/territories, to any port of the Philippines, shall be governed by the following entry, testing and quarantine protocols:

    1. Fully vaccinated individuals coming from “Yellow” list countries/territories/jurisdictions, need to undergo facility-based quarantine until the release of their negative RT-PCR testing taken on the fifth (5th) day. After which, they shall be required to undergo home quarantine until their tenth (10th) day, with the day of arrival being the first day. The Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) shall ensure strict symptom monitoring while in the facility. Foreign nationals shall be required to secure their own pre-booked accommodation of at least six (6) days;
    2. Unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or individuals whose vaccination status cannot be independently verified/confirmed by Philippine authorities as valid and authentic coming from “Yellow” list countries/territories/jurisdictions, shall be required to undergo facility-based quarantine until the release of their negative RT-PCR testing taken on the seventh (7th) day. After which, they shall be required to undergo home quarantine until their fourteenth (14th) day, with the day of arrival being the first day. The BOQ shall ensure strict symptom monitoring while in the facility. Foreign nationals shall be required to secure their own pre-booked accommodation of at least eight (8) days;

     

    Red list countries

    Romania is listed as a red country. The inbound international travel of all persons, regardless of vaccination status, coming from or who have been to “Red list” countries/jurisdictions/territories 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:

    1. All arriving travellers shall undergo fourteen (14) day quarantine upon arrival. The first ten (10) days of which shall be observed in a quarantine facility, with the remainder to be completed under home quarantine in their respective local government units of destination;
    2. Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) testing shall be conducted on the seventh day with Day 1 being the day of arrival. Notwithstanding a negative test result, the arriving traveller shall complete the facility-based quarantine period of ten (10) days;
    3. The Bureau of Quarantine shall ensure strict symptom monitoring while in the facility quarantine for ten (10) days;
    Validation of vaccination status

    1. For Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their spouse, parent/s, and/or children traveling with them vaccinated in the Philippines or abroad, non-OFWs vaccinated in the country or abroad, and foreigners vaccinated in the Philippines:

    • either their VaxCertPH digital vaccination certificate
    • Bureau of Quarantine/World Health Organization-issued International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICV), or
    • the national/state digital certificate of the foreign government where they were vaccinated, which has accepted VaxCertPH under a reciprocal arrangement unless otherwise permitted by the IATF.

    2. For foreigner nationals vaccinated abroad:

    • WHO-issued ICV, or
    • the national/state digital certificate of the foreign government which has accepted VaxCertPH under a reciprocal arrangement unless otherwise permitted by the IATF.

    Implementation

    Effective from 14 October 2021 until 31 October 2021.

    Santa Fe Analysis

    We are monitoring any new updates closely and will provide additional information once available. Please contact the following or your respective case consultants should you have any questions or inquiries.

    Joanna Caraig
    Immigration Manager
    Santa Fe Relocation
    Tel.: +63 917 848 6830
    Email: Joanna.Caraig@santaferelo.com

    Robert Day
    Group Head of Immigration Operations
    Santa Fe Relocation
    D: +44 7990 021125
    Email: Robert.Day@santaferelo.com


    To read more immigration updates, click here

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