Monday, July 13, 2020

Travel Restrictions for Filipinos during COVID-19 Pandemic


Today, community quarantine and lockdown in some countries have already been lifted, and borders have finally reopened. A few airline companies have mounted flights to major destinations. Some businesses have already opened to cater to the needs of the public. Everyone is gearing towards the new normal. Here are some of the travel requirements if you wish to travel to countries from the Philippines.

Note: Travel restrictions are highly volatile and are subject to changes periodically, depending on the health situation of a country. Travel restrictions due to COVID-19 are decided upon by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) based on a thorough risk assessment of the current situation. Be sure to visit websites of your airline, local government units, and the IATF. All of the information is readily available online.

Foreigners entering the Philippines

(Updated as of July 6, 2020)

The Department of Health has declared a health emergency throughout the country. There have been local transmissions of COVID-19 in NCR and Region VII (Cebu). Therefore, all land and sea borders are closed to foreign travelers.

For air travel, foreign passengers traveling from China including Hong Kong and Macau, and those who have visited China including Hong Kong and Macau in the past 14 days aren't permitted to enter the Philippines.

Exemption: 
  1. Philippine citizens and their foreign spouse/children (including permanent residents, holders of a Recognition certificate, and RA9225 Identification certificate) are permitted to enter – however must undergo a 14-day home quarantine on arrival. 
  2. Passengers traveling on a diplomatic passport may travel – however, will be subject to a 14-day quarantine on arrival

Entry Restrictions for Filipino Travelers


Hong Kong, Macau, and Mainland China

Non-Philippine citizens may continue to travel from the Philippines as normal. Under a temporary travel restriction, with some limited exemptions, Filipinos are not permitted to travel to or transit through Mainland China, Hong Kong, or Macau.

Australia

All foreign nationals are not permitted to enter Australia. From 01 July until 08 August 2020, all international flight arrivals into Melbourne airport have been suspended. Flights to Sydney are operational, however, these are still subject to changes, so keep an eye for updates on your airline if there are last-minute changes regarding your flight to Sydney.

Exemption: 
  1. Foreign nationals transiting an Australian airport with a confirmed onward flight (provided they do not leave the airport during transit).
  2. Australian citizens, permanent residents, and their immediate family including legal guardians, spouse, de facto partner, provisional partner visa holders and dependent children of a passenger eligible for entry to Australia
  3. Diplomats accredited to Australia that currently reside in Australia and their immediate family.
  4. Nationals of New Zealand who ordinarily reside in Australia (444 visa).
  5. New Zealand citizens who do not reside in Australia are permitted to transit through Australia if their final destination is New Zealand.
  6. Citizens of the followings countries are permitted to transit through Australia to return home: Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.

Canada

All foreign nationals are not allowed to enter Canada except for the following:
  1. Canadian citizens and permanent residents (and their immediate family members)
  2. Immediate family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Immediate family members are defined as the spouse or common-law partner of the person; a dependent child of the person or of the person’s spouse or common-law partner; a dependent child of a dependent child; the parent or step-parent of the person or of the person’s spouse or common-law partner; the guardian or tutor of the person
  3. A person traveling on a diplomatic passport
  4. A person who enters Canada at the invitation of the Minister of Health to assist in the COVID-19 response
  5. A person who arrives utilizing an aircraft operated by the Canadian Forces or the Department of National Defense
  6. Foreign nationals with a valid Canadian work permit
  7. Foreign nationals with a valid Canadian study permit
  8. Foreign nationals holding an approval letter to obtain a work permit in Canada
  9. Foreign nationals approved to study (Approval letter dated before 18 March 2020)
  10. Accredited diplomats and their immediate family members
Passengers are required to wear a face mask at all times, before boarding any flight to Canada.  This will be enforced at the boarding gate before departure. All passengers entering Canada are required to provide their contact information. To make this process quicker, passengers can submit their details via the ArriveCAN mobile app before arrival – this helps reduce wait times and limit points of contact. All arriving passengers entering Canada are required to self-isolate and quarantine for 14 days.

Transit passengers are allowed for international to international (not domestic), provided they do not leave the airport.

European Union

Starting July 1, countries in the European Union (EU) will open their borders to nonessential travelers from 15 countries that are deemed to have the coronavirus under control.

The Philippines, as well as the United States, did not make the cut on the list.

Japan

All foreign nationals are not allowed to enter Japan. Single and multiple-entry visas issued before 8 March 2020 by Japanese Embassies to Philippine nationals have been suspended. 

Korea

Filipinos are not allowed to travel to Korea. Visas that were issued on or before 5 April 2020 are suspended until further advised.

Malaysia

All foreign nationals are not allowed to enter Malaysia until August 31, 2020, except for permanent residents, foreign diplomats, foreign diplomat families that hold a dependent pass, and the spouse and children of a person holding a long term pass are permitted to enter Malaysia provided a certificate of PCR or COVID-19 swab test with a negative result at 3 days before arrival into Malaysia.



New Zealand

Filipinos are not permitted to enter New Zealand.

Saudi Arabia

The travel ban imposed on countries includes the Philippines (except Filipino health practitioners, newly-hired, and returning to employers; these will be subjected to a special medical evaluation). Suspension of Umrah visa and tourist visas to countries including the Philippines. Home quarantine for 14 days required for ex-pats who arrived in KSA before returning to work as of 16 March. All domestic flights, buses, taxis, and trains have been suspended for 14 days effective 21 March.

Umrah pilgrims who exceeded the visa period can apply for an exemption by submitting an exception request to avoid penalties through the Ministry of Hajj’s website no later than 28 March. Relevant authorities will arrange return flights for the pilgrims.

Singapore

Filipinos are not yet allowed to enter Singapore. The following passengers are permitted to enter Singapore: Singapore citizens, permanent residents, Long Term Pass holders, Long Term Visit Pass holders, All Student Pass holders, Work Pass holders, Short-term visitors who hold a “Waiver Of Restriction On Short-Term Visitors From Entry Into Singapore Based On Medical Grounds” issued by the Singapore Ministry of Health, and passengers holding with a pre-approved Business Pass issued by the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

Taiwan

From 25 June 2020, Filipinos can transit at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) if a) connecting flights are within 8 hours, and b) passengers are flying with the same airline. From June 29, foreign nationals are permitted to enter Taiwan for reasons OTHER than tourism.

Thailand

Filipinos are not allowed to enter Thailand.

The following are eligible to enter Thailand:
  1. Thai nationals
  2. Persons permitted or invited by the prime minister or the head of responsible persons accountable for resolving the state of emergency issues
  3. Spouse, parents, or children of a Thai national
  4. Foreign nationals with a valid certificate or work residence and/or work permit
  5. Foreign nationals who are students of educational institutions approved by Thai authorities, including the parents or guardians of the students
  6. Foreign nationals who require medical treatment in Thailand, and their attendants. (Note this does not include medical treatment for COVID-19.)
  7. Individuals visiting for the purpose of diplomatic missions, consular affairs, international organizations, government representatives, foreign government agencies working in Thailand, or individuals in other international agencies as permitted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including their spouse, parents, or children
  8. Foreign nationals who are permitted to enter the Kingdom under a special arrangement

United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Filipinos are not allowed to enter the UAE. The restricted entry of all valid visa holders, including residency visa holders, who are currently out of the country, for a renewable period of two weeks effective March 19.

United Kingdom

Filipinos are allowed to enter the United Kingdom as there are currently no nationality or travel history-related travel restrictions for entry into the United Kingdom. Filipinos are not also required to self-isolate or quarantine for 14 days unless they have travel history to the following countries: 

Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Australia,  Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium,  Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, Croatia,  Curaçao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Faroe Islands, Fiji,  Finland, France,  French Polynesia, Germany,  Greece,  Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Malta, Mauritius, Monaco, Netherlands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Reunion, San Marino, Seychelles, South Korea, Spain, Saint Barthelemy, St Kitts, St Lucia, St Pierre & Miquelon, Switzerland, Taiwan, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, Vatican, and Vietnam.
 

United States of America

Filipinos are allowed to enter the US. However, you are not allowed to enter the US if you have visited or transited through one or more of the following countries/regions in the past 14 days: 
  • China, Iran, Austria
  • Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden Switzerland, United Kingdom
  • Brazil

Passengers who are exempted will only be permitted to arrive into one of the following 13 airports:
  • Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), Chicago O'Hare (ORD)
  • New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), Washington Dulles (IAD)
  • Seattle (SEA), Atlanta (ATL), Honolulu (HNL)Mio
  • Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), Detroit (DTW), Boston (BOS), Miami (MIA)
All passengers are subject to a quarantine assessment on arrival.

Vietnam

Filipinos are not allowed to enter Vietnam. Passengers traveling on diplomatic passports are permitted to enter Vietnam.

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Stay tuned for more updates as this post will be monitored and updated regularly should there will be changes regarding the travel policies and guidelines. Safe travels, everyone!

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