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

[defeedme 4]

On 3/8/2022 at 12:59 AM, AmericanNomad said:

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

15 days but I'm probably going to get it 1 month before just to be on the safe side.

I do have a question regarding what philippines airlines will accept as proof of the vaccine - I live in florida and we have publix pharmacies and MD Now urgent care that have the J&J poison - I have several emails to both parties and the airlines and I can't get a straight answer (no surprise). Both publix pharmacies and MD now just give you a written "card" there's no bar code or anything - is this going to be acceptable ? both the pharmacy and md now do not offer "International Certificate of Vaccination (ICV)"

if anyone has any clarification, know how to get the ICV or if they already went thru this please let me know - thanks!

 

https://www.vaccines.gov/provider/?id=8ff77770-a2bd-4b00-95a1-0eaa4ad3f37a&inventoryCategory=covid&zipcode=33472&medications=784db609-dc1f-45a5-bad6-8db02e79d44f&appointments=true

 

https://quarantine.doh.gov.ph/frequently-asked-questions-on-international-certificate-of-vaccination-icv/

 

[RO_AH 1,659]

2 hours ago, defeedme said:

15 days but I'm probably going to get it 1 month before just to be on the safe side.

I do have a question regarding what philippines airlines will accept as proof of the vaccine - I live in florida and we have publix pharmacies and MD Now urgent care that have the J&J poison - I have several emails to both parties and the airlines and I can't get a straight answer (no surprise). Both publix pharmacies and MD now just give you a written "card" there's no bar code or anything - is this going to be acceptable ? both the pharmacy and md now do not offer "International Certificate of Vaccination (ICV)"

if anyone has any clarification, know how to get the ICV or if they already went thru this please let me know - thanks!

 

https://www.vaccines.gov/provider/?id=8ff77770-a2bd-4b00-95a1-0eaa4ad3f37a&inventoryCategory=covid&zipcode=33472&medications=784db609-dc1f-45a5-bad6-8db02e79d44f&appointments=true

 

https://quarantine.doh.gov.ph/frequently-asked-questions-on-international-certificate-of-vaccination-icv/

 

As long as it's the CDC card you will be fine. Hopefully they will start allowing non vax again with quarantine.

[cebutraveler 2]

Hi some time has gone by since this topic started.  Does anyone know of someone who has entered Philippines as an unvaccinated foreign spouse from visa free country?  (Without Balakbayan Spouse)

[MarJhi 950]

On 3/7/2022 at 2:53 PM, top_secret said:

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.

Can you cite a source for this or is this personal speculation?

 

Of course there are risky places to eat in the Philippines, I avoid those. There are also risky places to eat in the US, I avoid those also.

 

The first time I crossed a street in the Philippines I was nervous, after that I figured it out and each time I did it the fear vanished. There are plenty of idiots who drive like maniacs in the US and no matter how careful you are as a pedestrian it only takes one of those idiots to take you out.

[jg121783 3,909]

It appears after reading this post I misunderstood the rules on unvaccinated foreigners and thought the quarantine rules applied and wasted money on plane tickets to go visit my wife's family in the Philippines in December. Just to clarify our son born in the US and myself will not be able to enter the Philippines on the Balikbayan visa without vaccines even if we did the quarantine with my wife. Someone please tell me this is incorrect or there is a chance this could change before December. 

[cebutraveler 2]

Instead of trying to enter as foreign spouse unvaccinated with Balakbayan method (fly on plane with PH Spouse) has anyone entered using the Cebu Loophole?

[jg121783 3,909]

2 hours ago, cebutraveler said:

Instead of trying to enter as foreign spouse unvaccinated with Balakbayan method (fly on plane with PH Spouse) has anyone entered using the Cebu Loophole?

I am also wondering about the Cebu rule difference. I have read airlines are not honoring it effectively nullifying it. However I wonder how much this might put political pressure on the new president to change the rules. I have been doing some reading trying to find what his views are on covid policies but haven't found anything. I am wondering if anyone has any insight on this. I am trying to decide if I should try to get my plane tickets refunded now or wait it out for a few months and see if the rules change by December. Any thoughts on this from anyone who follows Philippines politics would be appreciated.

[RO_AH 1,659]

19 hours ago, jg121783 said:

Just to clarify our son born in the US and myself will not be able to enter the Philippines on the Balikbayan visa without vaccines even if we did the quarantine with my wife.

Get your son Philippines citizenship.

http://www.chicagopcg.com/reportofbirth.html

 

After that you only have to worry about yourself.

[jg121783 3,909]

3 minutes ago, RO_AH said:

Get your son Philippines citizenship.

http://www.chicagopcg.com/reportofbirth.html

 

After that you only have to worry about yourself.

My wife doesn't feel comfortable traveling with our son without me and none of us will be getting vaccinated under any circumstances. That leaves only a couple options. Wait and see if the rules change or if they don't by next summer my wife and step son (both Philippines citizens) will go without our younger son and myself.  I did however read about getting our son Philippines citizenship and it looks like it is done by mail and is fairly straightforward. The only part I can't figure out is the affidavit stating why we waited longer than a year to report his birth. Can I use ignorance of how the process works as an excuse?

[RO_AH 1,659]

15 minutes ago, jg121783 said:

The only part I can't figure out is the affidavit stating why we waited longer than a year to report his birth. Can I use ignorance of how the process works as an excuse?

Yes, ignorance of the process seems like a legitimate reason for me...

[jg121783 3,909]

6 minutes ago, RO_AH said:

Yes, ignorance of the process seems like a legitimate reason for me...

It was a joke.

[jg121783 3,909]

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/philippines-to-revise-covid-19-restrictions-in-august-marcos-says

 

Not sure exactly what this means as there aren't a lot of details but it looks like a move in the right direction. That combined with the push to bring back tourism gives me hope that the covid rules might change soon.

[jg121783 3,909]

I have been reading that the public health emergency expires in September and unless Marcos renews it all covid restrictions will end and I haven't seen anything indicating he plans on renewing it. Can anyone confirm or refute this?

[defeedme 4]

On 7/21/2022 at 9:56 AM, jg121783 said:

I have been reading that the public health emergency expires in September and unless Marcos renews it all covid restrictions will end and I haven't seen anything indicating he plans on renewing it. Can anyone confirm or refute this?

Hi,

I'm in the same boat as you - I wasn't planning on going to the Philippines but now I have to because my Wife's mother is sick and they need to stay a little longer while we petition her. I really don't want to get this poison shot. Are you sure Sept 1 they are lifting all vaccine requirements? where did you read this?  also what is a "cebu loophole" - thanks! best, Mike

Edited August 4, 2022 by defeedme
cebu loophole

[jg121783 3,909]

31 minutes ago, defeedme said:

Hi,

I'm in the same boat as you - I wasn't planning on going to the Philippines but now I have to because my Wife's mother is sick and they need to stay a little longer while we petition her. I really don't want to get this poison shot. Are you sure Sept 1 they are lifting all vaccine requirements? where did you read this?  also what is a "cebu loophole" - thanks! best, Mike

It appears the public health emergency expires in September. However it can be renewed. My guess and I could be wrong is that it will be allowed to expire or renewed with less restrictions. No one can say for sure if or when the vaccine requirement will be dropped but the way Marcos is talking about covid restrictions and bringing back tourism things seem to be going in the right direction. Also Marcos has commented that the covid rules would be reviewed the middle of this month. All we can do is wait and see. The Philippines is in the minority of countries now that require a vaccine for tourists so it is only a matter of time before they have to join the rest of the world in being reasonable.

 

As far as the "Cebu loophole" goes I have seen reports of foreigners being allowed to enter Cebu unvaccinated and I have seen reports of them being turned away so as far as that goes it is travel at your own risk.

Edited August 4, 2022 by jg121783