(Eagle News) — The Philippines has eased travel restrictions on over 30 countries where COVID-19 virus variants have been reported.
But Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said in an interview that this did not mean that tourists could already enter the Philippines.
He said only those with the allowed valid and existing visas can enter starting Feb. 1.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said foreign nationals allowed entry into the country are the following:
- Diplomats and members of international organizations and their dependents provided they have a valid 9(e) visa upon entry
- Foreign seafarers provided they have a valid 9(c) visa upon entry
- Holders of 13 series visa under the Immigration Act as amended. These include:
- temporary resident visas based on CA 613 Section 13A (marriage to a Filipino)
- temporary resident visas based on MO ADD-01-038/ADD-02-015 (Indian nationals)
- Permanent resident visas based on CA613 section 13A (Chinese nationals married to Filipino citizens)
- Native born visa based on CA613 section 13C (for foreigners born to foreign parent/s with permanent resident status in the Philippines)
- Holders of Republic Act 7919 visas (granted through Social Integration Program)
- Holders of Executive Order 324 visas
- Foreign spouses of Filipino nationals provided the Filipino spouse is in the Philippines and they have valid visas at the time of entry
- Foreign minor children and foreign children with special needs regardless of age of Filipino nationals, provided the Filipino parent is in the Philippines and they have valid visas at the time of entry
- Foreign parents of minor Filipino children and of Filipino children with special needs regardless of age provided the said Filipino minor/child/children is/are in the Philippines and have valid visas at the time of entry
- Holders of special visas issued by the Bureau of Immigration under Republic Act 8756
- Holders of 47(a)(2) visas issued by the Department of Justice
- Holders of 9(d) visas issued by the BI
- Holders of visas issued by the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan, Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, and the Clark Development Corporation
- Holders of Special Investor’s Resident Visa issued under EO 226 (Omnibus Investment Code) but not under EO 63
- Dual Filipino citizens carrying foreign passports provided they possess and present a Recognition Certificate or a Certificate of Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition under RA 9225
- Filipino citizen’s foreign spouses and children regardless of age from non-visa countries who are traveling with them and who avail of visa-free entry privileges under RA No. 6768
- Former Filipino citizens including their foreign spouses and children from non-visa required countries regardless of age who are traveling with them and avail of visa-free entry privileges under RA No. 6768 (Balikbayan program)
- Holders of 9(g) visas who departed the Philippines on or after December 17, 2020 provided they have a valid visa at the time of entry
All those allowed entry should be within the allowable maximum capacity of inbound passengers at the port and date of entry.
They should have a pre-booked accommodation for at least seven nights in an accredited quarantine hotel or facility and should also undergo COVID-19 testing at the quarantine facility on the sixth day from their arrival, the DFA said.
The effectivity of full travel restrictions on UK, Denmark, Ireland, Japan, Australia, Israel, the Netherlands, China, Hong Kong, Switzerland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Lebanon, Singapore, Sweden, South Korea, South Africa, Canada, Spain, the United States, Portugal, India, Finland, Norway, Jordan, Brazil, Austria, Pakistan, Jamaica, Luxembourg, Oman, Hungary, United Arab Emirates and the Czech Republic ended on Jan. 31.
