The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said that foreign tourists are still banned from entering the Philippines despite the lifting of certain travel restrictions that took effect Saturday, May 1.
BI Commissioner Jaime Morente pointed out that only aliens with valid and existing visas are currently allowed to enter the country.
“Foreign tourists are still prohibited from entering the country and said restriction remains effective until it is lifted by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases,” (IATF) Morente said.
He explained that the country only reverted to implementing the international guidelines on travel that existed prior to March 22 when the government reimposed a ban on the entry of all foreigners due to the spike in coronavirus disease cases (COVID-19) cases in the country.
He said the recent easing of travel restrictions applies only to those aliens who were allowed to come to the Philippines before March 22 and should have valid visas at the time of their arrival at local ports of entry.
The BI earlier announced that, starting May 1, aliens with existing immigrant and non-immigrant visas may again enter the country.
Exempted from the visa requirement are the foreign spouse and children of balikbayans or returning Filipinos and former Filipinos who are traveling with the latter.
Foreigners who are holders of valid and existing Special Resident and Retirees Visa (SRRV) may be allowed entry, provided they present an entry exemption document from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) upon arrival.
Except for foreign diplomats and members of international organizations, all foreign travelers are required to present a pre-booked accommodation for at least seven nights in an accredited quarantine hotel, or facility where they will be tested for COVID-19 on the sixth day from the date of their arrival.
Following another IATF ruling, the BI said that travelers coming from India or have a travel history with that country within the last 14 days preceding their arrival are banned from entering the country until May 14.
This is to prevent the possible entry of the new and fast-spreading variant of COVID-19 that originated there.