Jan. 27, 2022 (IATF-159)– Quarantine Protocols for International Arriving Passengers: Fully vaccinated international arriving Filipinos and foreign nationals shall no longer require to observe mandatory facility-based quarantine starting February 1, 2022.

Disclaimer: Due to rapid changes in COVID-19 condition and other variables, the following information may change without prior notice. Always check for the latest update from the original source.

FULLY VACCINATED

Fully vaccinated international arriving passengers shall be required to present a negative Reverse Transcription – Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test taken within forty-eight hours (48hrs) prior to departure from the country of origin. Upon arrival, they shall no longer be required to observe mandatory facility-based quarantine but shall self-monitor for any sign or symptom for (7) days with the first day being the date of arrival and shall be required to report to the local government unit of destination upon the manifestation of symptoms, if any.

International arriving passengers must present the following proofs of vaccination against COVID-19:

a. World Health Organization International Certificates of Vaccination and Prophylaxis;
b. VaxCertPH; or
c. National/state digital certificate of the foreign government which has accepted VaxCertPH under a reciprocal arrangement unless otherwise permitted by the IATF

UNVACCINATED INDIVIDUALS, PARTIALLY VACCINATED, OR VACCINATION STATUS CAN NOT BE INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED

For unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or individuals whose vaccination status cannot be independently validated, they shall be required to present a negative RT-PCR test taken within forty-eight hours (48hrs) prior to departure from the country of origin. Additionally, they shall be required to undergo facility-based quarantine until the release of their negative RT-PCR test taken on the fifth (5th) day. After which, they shall be required to undergo home quarantine until their fourteenth (14th) day, with the date of arrival being the first day. The local government units of destination and their respective Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams are tasked to monitor those arriving passengers undergoing home quarantine.

CHILDREN

Children below twelve (12) years of age who cannot be vaccinated shall follow the quarantine protocols of the parent/s or the accompanying adult/guardian traveling with them

Those who are currently undergoing quarantine as of 01 February 2022 may avail of the aforementioned testing and quarantine protocols.

Nograles said this new less restricted quarantine and testing protocols for international arriving passengers shall be followed regardless of their country of origin.

Nov. 28, 2021 (IATF-151-A)– Quarantine Protocols for Arriving International Passengers: The resolution allowing fully vaccinated tourists from non-visa “Green” countries has been temporarily suspended.

With the detection of Omicron, being the new variant of concern, the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) has announced to suspend resolution stated in IATF 150-A, particularly the testing and quarantine protocols allowing fully vaccinated tourists from non-visa “Green” countries.

In addition, testing and quarantine protocols for countries classified as “Green” are also temporarily suspended. Except for countries classified as “Red,” the testing and quarantine protocols for all inbound international travelers in all ports of entry shall comply with the testing and quarantine protocols for “Yellow” list countries.

Both temporary suspensions shall take effect starting November 28, 2021.

The World Health Organization (WHO) named the recently discovered B.1.1.529 variant Omicron, which was first detected in South Africa.

“With Omicron designated as a Variant of Concern, the IATF likewise approved the recommendations to strengthen local COVID-19 response,” Nograles said.

Nov. 25, 2021 (IATF-150A)– Quarantine Protocols for International Arriving Passengers: Starting December 1, 2021, fully vaccinated nationals from non-visa countries shall be allowed to enter the Philippines until December 15, 2021.

Starting December 1, 2021, fully vaccinated nationals from non-visa countries shall be allowed to enter the Philippines until December 15, 2021.

The entry permission is subject to the following conditions:

• Holders of passports valid for at least six (6) months at the time of arrival, and with a return or outbound ticket to their country of origin or next country of destination.
• Before arrival in the Philippines, the foreign national should have stayed exclusively in Green List countries/territories/jurisdictions for fourteen (14) days.
• Must have the following proofs of vaccination against COVID-19 recognized under existing IATF regulations:
  • World Health Organization International Certificates of Vaccination and Prophylaxis;
  • VaxCertPH; or
  • National/state digital certificate of the foreign government which has accepted VaxCertPH under a reciprocal arrangement unless otherwise permitted by the IATF.

No facility-based quarantine and no on-arrival RT-PCR test will be further required provided a negative RT-PCR test result taken within seventy-two hours (72hrs) prior to departure from the country of origin is presented.

“Allowing tourists from green countries or territories that have the majority of its population vaccinated and with low infection rate, will greatly help in our recovery efforts–increasing tourist arrivals and receipts among others”, Berna Romulo- Puyat said.

Nov. 18, 2021 (IATF-149A)- Quarantine Protocols for International Arriving Passengers: Beginning 22 November 2021, fully vaccinated individuals coming from “Yellow” List countries with negative RT-PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to departure from the country of origin shall undergo facility-based quarantine with a 3rd day RT-PCR test, with the date of arrival being the first day. Upon release of a negative RT-PCR test, they may be discharged from facility quarantine.

Oct. 14, 2021 (IATF-144A)- Quarantine Protocols for International Arriving Passengers: Fully vaccinated individuals coming from “Green” List countries with negative RT-PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to departure from the country of origin shall not be required for facility-based quarantine.

The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Thursday, October 14, 2021, immediately revised the testing and quarantine protocols the agency has issued from the previous day for international arriving passengers to all ports of entry in the Philippines effective 14 October 2021.

A. From “Green” List (low risk) Countries:

1. For fully vaccinated foreign nationals – a negative Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test shall be required to be taken within seventy-two hours (72 hrs) prior to departure from the country of origin. Upon arrival, no facility-based quarantine will be further required but the passenger is enjoined to self-monitor for any symptoms until the fourteenth (14th) day with the first day being the date of arrival.
2. For fully vaccinated Filipinos – either of the following depending on the choice of the arriving international passenger:
   1.  Facility-based quarantine until the release of a negative RT- PCR test taken in the quarantine facility upon arrival; or
   2. when a negative RT-PCR test was taken within 72 hours prior to departure from the country of origin, no facility-based quarantine shall be required but the passenger is enjoined to self-monitor for any symptoms until the fourteenth (14th) day with the first day being the date of arrival.
3. For unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or vaccination status cannot be confirmed, and those fully vaccinated individuals but failed to comply with RTPCR test requirement:
   1. Facility-based quarantine until the release of a negative RT-PCR test taken on the fifth (5th) day and self-monitor until the fourteenth (14th) day of arrival with the date of arrival as the first day. Foreign nationals shall be required to secure hotel reservations for at least 6 days.
   2. Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated minor children traveling with their fully vaccinated parent/s or guardian/s shall be required to observe the quarantine protocols corresponding to their vaccination status. A parent/guardian shall accompany the child in the quarantine facility for the full term of the latter’s facility-based quarantine period. 

B. From “Yellow” List (moderate risk) Countries:

1. Fully vaccinated individuals, need to undergo facility-based quarantine until the release of their negative RT-PCR testing taken on the fifth (5th) day. After which, they shall be required to undergo home quarantine until their tenth (10th) day, with the day of arrival being as the first day. Foreign nationals shall be required to secure their own pre-booked accommodation of at least six (6) days;
2. Unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or vaccination status and country of origin cannot be verified, shall be required to undergo facility-based quarantine until the release of their negative RT-PCR testing taken on the seventh (7th) day. After which, they shall be required to undergo home quarantine until their fourteenth (14th) day, with the day of arrival as the first day. Foreign nationals shall be required to secure their own pre-booked accommodation of at least eight (8) days; 

C. From “Red” List (high risk) Countries:

1. All passengers, regardless of vaccination status who have been to “Red” List countries shall not be allowed to any port of the Philippines, except
2. For Filipinos under a repatriation agreement subject to the following entry, testing, and quarantine protocols:
   1. Shall undergo fourteen (14) day quarantine upon arrival. The first ten (10) days of which shall be observed in a quarantine facility, with the remainder to be completed under home quarantine.
   2. Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) testing shall be conducted on the seventh day with Day 1 being the day of arrival. Notwithstanding a negative test result, the arriving traveler shall complete the facility-based quarantine period of ten (10) days.

In any case, while inside the facility quarantine, the BOQ shall ensure strict symptom monitoring. If found positive, he/she shall follow the prescribed isolation protocols. Upon completion of such quarantine, the BOQ shall issue a Quarantine Certificate indicating therein the individual’s vaccination status. 

Oct. 13, 2021 (IATF-143)- Quarantine Protocols for International Arriving Passengers: Fully vaccinated individuals with negative RT-PCR test taken within 72 hours before departure from the country of origin shall not be required for facility-based quarantine.

The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Wednesday, October 13, 2021, approved the following revised testing and quarantine protocols for international arriving passengers from the “Green List” of countries to all ports of entry in the Philippines effective 14 October 2021:

For fully vaccinated foreign nationals – a negative Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test shall be required to be taken within seventy-two hours (72 hrs) prior to departure from the country of origin. Upon arrival, no facility-based quarantine will be further required but the passenger is enjoined to self-monitor for any symptoms until the fourteenth (14th) day with the first day being the date of arrival.

For fully vaccinated Filipinos – either of the following depending on the choice of the arriving international passenger:

a) Facility-based quarantine until the release of a negative RT-PCR test taken in the quarantine facility upon arrival; or

b) when a negative RT-PCR test was taken within 72 hrs prior to departure from the country of origin, no facility-based quarantine shall be required but the passenger is enjoined to self-monitor for any symptoms until the fourteenth (14th) day with the first day being the date of arrival.

For unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or individuals whose vaccination status cannot be independently validated, and those vaccinated but failed to comply with the above test-before-travel requirements:

1. Facility-based quarantine until the release of a negative RT-PCR test taken on the fifth (5th) day and self-monitor until the fourteenth (14th) day of arrival with the date of arrival being the first day. Foreign nationals shall be required to secure hotel reservations for at least 6 days.
2. Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated minor children traveling with their fully vaccinated parent/s or guardian/s shall be required to observe the quarantine protocols corresponding to their vaccination status. A parent/guardian shall accompany the child in the quarantine facility for the full term of the latter’s facility-based quarantine period.

For purposes of validating vaccination status, the following shall be observed:

1. For Filipinos vaccinated in the Philippines or abroad, and foreigners vaccinated in the Philippines – either their VaxCertPH digital vaccination certificate, Bureau of Quarantine/World Health 2 Organization-issued International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICV), or the national digital certificate of the foreign government where they were vaccinated, whichever is available;
2. For foreigner nationals vaccinated abroad – WHO-issued ICV or the national digital certificate of the foreign government which has accepted VaxCertPH under a reciprocal arrangement.

For those qualified for Green Lanes, the BOQ shall ensure strict symptom monitoring while in the facility quarantine. If found positive, he/she shall follow the prescribed isolation protocols. Upon completion of such quarantine, the BOQ shall issue a Quarantine Certificate indicating therein the individual’s vaccination status.

Quarantine protocols for international arriving passengers and other proactive measures and restrictions are put in place to slow down the surge in COVID-19 cases, stop further spread of variants, buy time for the health system to cope, and to protect more lives.

Oct. 7, 2021 (IATF-142) – Shorter Quarantine Period for Inbound Travelers from “Green and Yellow List” of Countries.

The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Thursday, October 7, 2021, issued a shorter quarantine period for inbound travelers from “Green and Yellow List” of countries effective October 8, 2021.

Fully vaccinated individuals coming from either “Green or Yellow List” countries, need to undergo facility-based quarantine until the release of their negative Reverse Transcription – Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) testing taken on the fifth (5th) day. After which, they shall be required to undergo home quarantine until their tenth (10th) day, with the day of arrival being the first day. Foreign nationals shall be required to secure their pre-booked accommodation of at least six (6) days;

Unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or individuals whose vaccination status cannot be verified by Philippine authorities as valid and authentic coming from either “Green or Yellow List” countries, shall be required to undergo facility-based quarantine until the release of their negative RT-PCR testing taken on the seventh (7th) day. After which, they shall be required to undergo home quarantine until their fourteenth (14th) day, with the day of arrival being the first day. Foreign nationals shall be required to secure their pre-booked accommodation of at least eight (8) days;

For purposes of verification/confirmation of vaccination status, any of the following shall be acceptable:

a. For Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their spouse, parent/s, and/or children traveling with them: a Certification from the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in the country of origin;

b. For Filipinos and foreigners fully vaccinated in the Philippines: either their VaxCertPH digital vaccination certificate or BOQ-issued International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICV);

 c. For non-OFWs and foreigners fully vaccinated abroad: the national digital certificate of the foreign government which has accepted VaxCertPH under a reciprocal arrangement or BOQ-issued ICV.

For both cases, the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) shall ensure strict symptom monitoring while in the facility.

On the other hand, travel restrictions have been imposed on travelers from “high risk” countries that are under the red list.

Shorter quarantine period for inbound travelers is an “encouraging development for the country’s tourism industry” Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo- Puyat said on (Friday, Oct. 8).

Reference: Excerpt  from IATF RESOLUTION-144-A IATF RESOLUTION-143, IATF RESOLUTION-142

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