The Bureau of Immigration (BI) clarified that only fully-vaccinated foreigners coming from 157 countries can enter the Philippines without a visa starting on Feb. 10.
These countries are listed in Executive Order No. 408, according to BI Commissioner Jaime Morente.
The EO stated that foreigners whose listed in the EO may be admitted into the country without a visa for an initial stay of 30 days. Those from countries not included cannot avail of the visa-free privilege, thus they are required to secure visas before traveling to the Philippines.
The countries listed in the EO include Canada, Japan, Singapore, USA, New Zealand, Malaysia, and South Korea.
Morente said that foreign tourists from countries not listed under the EO need to secure a 9(a) visa and an entry exemption document (EED) through through the nearest Philippine embassy or consulate abroad.
“They should also be fully vaccinated or they will be denied entry even if they have valid 9(a) visas and EED,” he added.
The BI chief stressed that all foreigners entering the country are now required to present the appropriate proof of full vaccination as set by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Infectious Diseases (IATF), or they will be booked on the first available flight to their port of origin.
Morente explained that former Filipinos qualified to avail of the one-year Balikbayan privilege should also be fully vaccinated before they could enter the country.
The Balikbayan program allows former Filipinos, including their foreign spouse and dependents who are traveling with them, to enter the country visa-free for one year.
The IATF (Inter-Agency task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases) also ruled that arriving alien tourists are required to present a negative RT-PCR test, taken at least 48 hours prior to their departure from their country of origin, a return ticket, a passport valid for at least 6 months, and a travel and health insurance for Covid-19 with a minimum coverage of US$35,000 valid for the entire duration of their stay.