The Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced that the country is opening its borders to foreign tourists starting Feb.12.
BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said that in compliance with the resolution from the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), fully vaccinated nationals from non-visa required countries shall be allowed to enter the Philippines.
A total of 157 countries are considered visa free, including the United States of America, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Canada, UK, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Arriving tourists are required to present a passport valid for at least six months, and the required proof of vaccination against coronavirus disease.
Accepted proofs of vaccination are World Health Organization International Certificates of Vaccination and Prophylaxis, VaxCertPH, or national/state digital certificate of the foreign government which has accepted VaxCertPH under a reciprocal arrangement.
Additionally, arriving passengers must submit a negative RT-PCR test valid for 48 hours from country of origin starting Feb. 1.
Fully vaccinated aliens are no longer required to undergo facility-based quarantine.
Partially vaccinated, unvaccinated and those whose vaccination status cannot be confirmed shall undergo quarantine protocols.
Minors are exempted from presenting vaccination proof
"The opening of our borders to foreign visitors will boost the country's tourism program," Morente said.