FROM April 1, fully-vaccinated foreigners can enter the Philippines without the need of an entry exemption document, said the Palace.
According to the Manila Times, acting Palace deputy spokesman, Kris Ablan said the new guidelines were approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
The new guidelines would only require foreigners to present proof of full vaccination against Covid-19 and to undergo some additional protocols.
They must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19, and possess acceptable proof of vaccination, except only for minor children below 12 years old traveling with their fully vaccinated foreign parents.
"Beginning April 1, 2022, foreign nationals may enter the Philippines without need for an entry exemption document; provided that they comply with the applicable visa requirements and immigration entry and departure formalities," Ablan said during a Palace press briefing.
Ablan said the foreigners must also present a negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test taken within 48 hours or a negative laboratory-based antigen test taken within 24 hours, prior to the date and time of departure from the country of origin or first port of embarkation in a continuous travel to the Philippines.
They must not have also left the airport premises or admitted into another country during such lay-over, according to Ablan.
They must also have passports valid for a period of at least six months at the time of their arrival to the Philippines, he added.
Under the guidelines, foreign spouses and/or children of Filipino citizens and former Filipino citizens with balikbayan privilege, including their foreign spouse and/or children who are not balikbayans and traveling with them to the Philippines shall no longer be required to have return tickets, not later than 30 days from date of arrival in the Philippines.
They must obtain, prior to arrival, a travel insurance for Covid-19 treatment costs from reputable insurance providers, with a minimum coverage of $35,000 for the duration of their stay in the Philippines.
A facility-based quarantine is no longer required but they have to self-monitor for any sign or symptom for seven days upon the date of arrival.
However, they are required to report to the local government unit of their destination if they manifest any Covid-19 symptom.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Department of Justice (DoJ), the Department of Transportation (DoTr)- One Stop Shop, the Bureau of Quarantine (BoQ), and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) are directed to ensure the smooth implementation of the updated protocols.