The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported Monday that 54 out of the 198 countries and destinations worldwide have lifted inbound border restrictions on Filipino travel.

In its latest bulletin, the DFA said entry of Filipinos to such countries and areas is allowed subject to medical protocols and available flights.

The countries that lifted their restrictions are: Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guam, Hawaii, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, United States, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Laos, Maldives, Micronesia, Mongolia, Nauru, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Croatia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, GuineaBissau, Iran, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, United Arab Emirates. Meanwhile, only seven allow entry without any inbound arrival protocols and over 130 remain closed for tourism,” the DFA bulletin read.

These are Haiti, Mexico, Andorra, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Zambia.

DFA advisory

While travel for leisure is now an option amid the pandemic, the DFA has advised Filipino travelers to refer to the requirements set by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases and implemented by the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

These include confirmed round trip ticket, travel and health insurance to cover travel disruptions and hospitalization in case of COVID-19 infections during their allowable period of stay abroad, and BI declaration acknowledging risks involved in travelling, including delay in their return trip.

"Moreover, travelers should always check ahead of travel dates with their airlines before departure or before booking a ticket as the information in the infographics could change at any time," the DFA said.

PNA & Jeff Damicog

54 countries, destinations lift inbound border restrictions for Filipinos