Fully-vaxxed foreigners from ‘green’ countries can enter PH starting Dec 1

MANILA, Philippines — Fully-vaccinated travelers from so-called green countries where a visa is not required will be allowed to enter the Philippines beginning December 1 although subject to certain conditions, Cabinet Secretary and acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles announced Friday.

Citing Resolution No. 150-A of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Nograles said that holders of passports valid for at least six months at the time of arrival, and with a return or outbound ticket to their country of origin or next country of destination, will be allowed to enter the Philippines.

This rule takes effect until December 15, according to Nograles.

“Prior to arrival in the Philippines, the foreign national should have stayed exclusively in green list countries, territories, or jurisdictions for 14 days,” he said in a Palace press briefing.

Under IATF guidelines, countries that are included in the green list may have their fully-vaccinated travelers enter the Philippines without undergoing facility-based quarantine upon arrival.

According to Nograles, foreigners who will enter the Philippines from December 1-15  must have proof of vaccination such as:

• World Health Organization’s international certificates of vaccination and prophylaxis
• VaxCertPH, or
• National or state digital certificate of the foreign government which has accepted VaxCertPH under a reciprocal arrangement unless otherwise permitted by the IATF

Nograles said that arriving travelers should have a negative RT-PCR test within 72 hours prior to departure from the country of origin. Upon arrival, no facility-based quarantine and on-arrival RT-PCR test will be required.

However, they are “enjoined” to self-monitor for any symptoms until 14 days after arrival.

“Travelers merely transiting through non-Green List countries/territories, jurisdictions shall not be deemed as having come from or having been to said countries/territories/jurisdictions if they stayed in the airport the whole time and were not cleared for entry,” the IATF resolution reads.

“The testing and quarantine protocols of minors shall follow the testing and quarantine protocol of the parent/guardian traveling with them,” it also says.

Meanwhile, those who were vaccinated but failed to comply with the testing requirements before their travel shall be governed by protocols for unvaccinated individuals coming from green-listed territories.

Nograles said such travelers will be required to undergo facility-based quarantine until the release of a negative RT-PCR test taken on the fifth day. They should also monitor themselves for symptoms until the 14th day of their arrival.

Currently, 44 countries, territories, or foreign jurisdictions are included in the Philippines’ green list. These areas are tagged “green” because they are considered low-risk for COVID-19. These areas are: