Is there currently any way for an unvaccinated foreigner to enter the Philippines?

[John & Rose 7,239]

3 minutes ago, defeedme said:

then I guess there is confusing & conflicting false information out there..

 

 

Yep.  Welcome to the Philippines.  DOQ, DOH, IATC all have slightly different ways of saying things.  When in doubt, try the airlines.  They are responsible if they allow people to board who shouldn't.  That is where the unvaccinated will be stopped.

 

[defeedme 4]

6 minutes ago, John & Rose said:

Yep.  Welcome to the Philippines.  DOQ, DOH, IATC all have slightly different ways of saying things.  When in doubt, try the airlines.  They are responsible if they allow people to board who shouldn't.  That is where the unvaccinated will be stopped.

 

thanks for your responses! 

not sure if this question is in right place but i'll try - if my wife enters the Philippines with her USA passport - can I still get the balikbyan privlige as her spouse? 

thanks best, Mike

[John & Rose 7,239]

3 minutes ago, John & Rose said:

Yep.  Welcome to the Philippines.  DOQ, DOH, IATC all have slightly different ways of saying things.  When in doubt, try the airlines.  They are responsible if they allow people to board who shouldn't.  That is where the unvaccinated will be stopped.

 

This is from PAL

 

Advisory For Arriving Foreign Nationals

Effective February 10, 2022, the new entry, testing, and quarantine protocols for Foreign nationals arriving from abroad.

The arrival and quarantine protocols for countries/jurisdictions/territories in all ports of entry in the Philippines shall be observed. Source: IATF 160B & IATF 160D

Foreign Nationals Entering PH with Visa Free Travelling with the purpose of business or tourism, provided they are: Former Filipino Citizens (Balikbayan) under Republic Act No. 9174 including their spouse and/or children who are not balikbayans provided they are not restricted nationals Citizens of the following countries   Fully Vaccinated, except for minors below 12 years old Proof of Vaccination  Negative RT-PCR test result taken within 48 hours prior to departure from the country of origin Valid return tickets to the original port of origin or next port of destination for not more than 30 days from the date of arrival in the Philippines  Exemptions are: Foreign spouses and/or children of Filipino Citizens; and Former Filipino Citizens (Balikbayan) under Republic Act 9174 Including spouse and/or children who are not balikbayans in their own right Valid passport for at least 6 months on the time of arrival in PH. Travel Insurance for COVID-19 treatment with minimum coverage of USD35,000  The insurance policy presented must reflect the minimum coverage of USD35,000 for COVID 19 treatment

Foreign Children Traveling with Filipino Nationals Children below 12 years old who cannot be vaccinated shall follow the quarantine protocols of the Filipino parent/s Foreign Children from 12 years to 17 years old shall follow the classification and procedures based on their vaccination status Foreign or Filipino parents can accompany the minor during their facility-based quarantine.

Foreign Nationals Entering Through 9(a) Visa    These are the passengers who may enter the country using an Entry Exemption Document (EED) Foreign nationals of the following countries (E.O. 408) [Foreign Nationals IATF 160B.pdf]intending to stay more than 30 days for the purpose other than tourism or leisure Foreign nationals who do not qualified under balikbayan privilege, Foreign nationals of the following countries(E.O. 408) [Foreign Nationals IATF 160B.pdf]that is entitled to stay not exceeding 30 days, Foreign nationals from visa-required countries; or Restricted foreign nationals            Provided they: are Fully Vaccinated, except only for children below 12 years old have Proof of Vaccination   have a Negative RT-PCR test result taken within 48 hours prior to departure from the country of origin No facility-based quarantine required Self-monitor for any sign or symptom until the 7th day from arrival Foreign Nationals who are unable to present acceptable proof of vaccination Facility-based quarantine until the release of the negative results  5th day swabbing Self-monitor for any sign or symptom until the 14th day from arrival Foreign Spouses and children of Filipino Citizens Who are not nationals of the following countries (E.O. 408), Who are from visa-free required countries; or Who are restricted nationals   May enter the country without the need of and Entry Exemption Document (EED), provided they have been issued a 9(a) visa with appropriate visa notation.   Requirements Fully Vaccinated, except for minors below 12 years old Proof of Vaccination Negative RT-PCR test result taken within 48 hours prior to departure from the country of origin Valid return tickets to the original port of origin or next port of destination for not more than 30 days from the date of arrival in the Philippines Valid passport for at least 6 months on the time of arrival in PH. Travel Insurance for COVID-19 treatment with minimum coverage of USD35,000   The insurance policy presented must reflect the minimum coverage of USD35,000 for COVID 19 treatment  No facility-based quarantine required Self-monitor for any sign or symptom until the 7th day from arrival

Foreign Nationals with Other Types of Visa Foreign Nationals with valid and existing visa other than 9(a) visa Fully Vaccinated Proof of Vaccination No facility-based quarantine required Self-monitor for any sign or symptom until the 14th day from arrival  Unvaccinated Foreign National are not allowed to enter the country Foreign Nationals who are unable to present acceptable proof of vaccination Facility-based quarantine until the release of the negative results  5th day swabbing Self-monitor for any sign or symptom until the 14th day from arrival

Note: Fully vaccinated foreign nationals shall not be included in the arrival quota set by the Department of Transportation (DOTR) and its One-Stop-Shop (OSS)

[John & Rose 7,239]

1 minute ago, defeedme said:

thanks for your responses! 

not sure if this question is in right place but i'll try - if my wife enters the Philippines with her USA passport - can I still get the balikbyan privlige as her spouse? 

thanks best, Mike

Is she still a Philippine Citizen?  You should be able to get the BB stamp at immigration if you are traveling with her.  Make sure she has her Philippine passport if she is traveling on the US one.  Good luck to you.

[defeedme 4]

4 minutes ago, John & Rose said:

Is she still a Philippine Citizen?  You should be able to get the BB stamp at immigration if you are traveling with her.  Make sure she has her Philippine passport if she is traveling on the US one.  Good luck to you.

she still has the valid philippine passport but i think we need to fill out some sort of dual citizen paperwork ?  thanks

[John & Rose 7,239]

24 minutes ago, defeedme said:

she still has the valid philippine passport but i think we need to fill out some sort of dual citizen paperwork ?  thanks

She loses her Philippine citizenship when she takes the US oath.  She does need to establish her citizenship or the BB wont happen.

[defeedme 4]

11 minutes ago, John & Rose said:

She loses her Philippine citizenship when she takes the US oath.  She does need to establish her citizenship or the BB wont happen.

ugh we can't establish the dual until the summer when we are in New York, so it looks like I will have to enter with my passport as a regular tourist - not such a big deal , don't plan on staying more than 30 days anyway..

[defeedme 4]

1 hour ago, John & Rose said:

You will not be able to board without proof of vaccination period. Married or not. Proof of being fully vaccinated is required.  You do no longer need a visa to enter from the US. You only need proof of vaccination, negative test no more than 48 hours prior and the One Health QR code that you cannot get without uploading your vaccination card(s). My friend just arrived there on Feb 24. All were required in order for him to get a boarding pass. 

guess i'll have to get that johnson and johnson poison if nothing changes between now and june 1 

[John & Rose 7,239]

24 minutes ago, defeedme said:

guess i'll have to get that johnson and johnson poison if nothing changes between now and june 1 

That is the only "one and done" shot available here.

[Talako 771]

2 hours ago, John & Rose said:

She loses her Philippine citizenship when she takes the US oath.  She does need to establish her citizenship or the BB wont happen.

Not true about the BB.  The Balikbayan Privilege can be used by former Filipino citizens as well.  They just need a BC or an old passport.

 

The husband will need the marriage certificate.

 

https://www.philippine-embassy.org.sg/the-philippines-2/balikbayanprogram/#:~:text=The Philippines' BALIKBAYAN PROGRAM allows,to list of countries below).

 

 

Quote

 

Balikbayan Privilege

 

The Philippines’ BALIKBAYAN PROGRAM allows a one-year visa-free stay for Filipinos working overseas and for former Filipinos who have acquired citizenship in certain countries (refer to list of countries below). The visa-free stay privilege is extended to the balikbayan’s non-Filipino spouse and children, on the two conditions that (1) they enter the Philippines with the balikbayan and (2) they are citizens of a country listed below.

Former Filipino balikbayans travelling to the Philippines are advised to bring either their old Philippine passport or copy of Philippine birth certificate as proof of their former Philippine citizenship.

Accompanying family members of the balikbayan can bring appropriate supporting documents to show evidence of relationship:

• For the spouse: copy of marriage certificate
• For each child: copy of birth certificate (indicating the balikbayan as a parent)
• For adopted children: copy of adoption papers

 

•  

Edited March 7, 2022 by Talako

[John & Rose 7,239]

Just now, Talako said:

Not true.  The Balikbayan Privilege can be used former Filipino citizens as well.  They just need a BC or an old passport.

 

The husband will need the marriage certificate.

 

https://www.philippine-embassy.org.sg/the-philippines-2/balikbayanprogram/#:~:text=The Philippines' BALIKBAYAN PROGRAM allows,to list of countries below).

 

 

•  

Thanks for the clarification!  My wife files for US citizenship next month.  This is good news.

[Talako 771]

Edit:  Reading comprehension issue

Edited March 7, 2022 by Talako

[John & Rose 7,239]

4 minutes ago, Talako said:

Edit:  Reading comprehension issue

and then she will reinstate her Philippine citizenship!  I should have finished too!  She will go for her dual citizenship.

[top_secret 2,283]

Generally speaking it will be the airline check-in agent that will be the enforcer of any rules related to entry requirements.  They get fined heavily if they deliver an inadmissible passenger due to not checking requirements at check-in.  Airlines take entry requirements very seriously.

 

The system the check-in agents use to confirm entry requirements to check-in passengers has the exact text below.  This is what the check-in agent will see on their terminal.

 

Quote

Warning:

Passengers must have a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test taken at most 48 hours before departure from the first embarkation point.

This does not apply to passengers younger than 4 years.

 

Passengers must have a COVID-19 vaccination certificate showing that they were fully vaccinated at least 15 days before departure from the first embarkation point. Vaccines accepted are: AstraZeneca (SK Bioscience), AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria), Covishield, Covaxin, Covovax, Janssen, Moderna (Spikevax), Nuvaxovid (Novavax), Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty), Sinopharm and Sinovac. The certificate must be:
- VaxCertPH; or
- issued in Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong (SAR China), Hungary, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland (Rep.), Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Korea (Rep.), Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao (SAR China), Maldives, Malta, Monaco, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Zealand, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Palau, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russian Fed., Samoa, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, Turkey, USA, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Vatican City (Holy See) or Virgin Isl. (British).

This does not apply to passengers younger than 12 years accompanied by a fully vaccinated parent/guardian.

 

This does not apply to passengers with a medical certificate of contraindication who cannot be vaccinated.

 

Passengers must have travel insurance to cover COVID-19 expenses, with a minimum coverage of USD 35,000.

 

This does not apply to passengers with a visa issued by the Philippines.

 

Passengers must present the ‘One Health Pass Registration’ at time of check-in from the first international leg. The pass can be found at found at https://onehealthpass.com.ph/e-HDC/OHP-Registration/. The registration will generate a QR which must be presented upon arrival.

 

The only exceptions an airline check-in agent would see is passengers "medical certificate of contraindication who cannot be vaccinated" or passengers "with a visa issued by the Philippines".  Maybe a 9a visa would work???  Beyond that, I'm not sure what difficulty you would have with the ‘One Health Pass Registration' without being vaccinated.

 

Myself? Vaccine is probably measurably less risky than the various biohazards one might face just eating dinner at some places in the Philippines or the chance of death one may face crossing a street there. So if one is so risk averse they are bothered by vaccine, perhaps it would be prudent to reconsider travel in places where much greater risks abound.

[AmericanNomad 16]

How long do you have to wait after getting the J&J poison shot before boarding a flight to the Philippines?