The Phillipines reopening to foreigners to restore tourism jobs, businesses

The country’s upcoming reopening to foreign leisure travelers would restore jobs lost and businesses forced to shut down during the pandemic, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said Friday. With effect from 10 February 2022, the Philippines partially opens to foreign fully vaccinated visa-free tourists, including those from the Czech Republic. Negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours before departure from the country of origin is required.

Upon arrival, passengers are required to monitor their health for seven days, with an emphasis on the symptoms of Covid-19. They are also required to report symptoms to the local government unit of destination. However, the Philippine authorities do not require mandatory quarantine for fully vaccinated foreigners with a recognised vaccination certificate who tested negative for RT-PCR shortly before departure.

Based on IATF Resolution No. 159, foreign tourists will be allowed to enter the country, provided that their passports are valid for at least six months at the time of arrival, and they possess outbound tickets to their country of origin or next country of destination

Passengers must carry “proofs of vaccination” against Covid-19 that are recognized by the IATF-EID. They include certificates of vaccination issued by the World Health Organization (WHO), VaxCertPH of the Department of Health, and a national/state digital certificate of a foreign government that has accepted VaxCertPH under a reciprocal arrangement unless otherwise permitted by the IATF .

Children under 18 years of age are exempted from the full vaccination requirement.