Philippine Travel Restrictions for Foreigners as of June 2021

The Philippines currently has 1,339,457 total recorded Covid 19 cases, with 1,879,940 people vaccinated or 1.8% of its population. As Western countries are slowly removing mandatory masks and life returning to normal, it seems that it will take a few more months before the Philippines can follow suit.

Are foreigners allowed to enter the Philippines? Borders for foreign tourists are still close, but, other visa holders can enter the following as long as they fall on the categories listed below, and has the required documents. For convenience, here’s the list of the most up-to-date Travel Restrictions as of June 14, 2021.

 

Balikbayan

This category is for Filipinos or former Filipinos, and their spouses and children who are traveling with them provided that they have proof of filiation.

Document requirements:

• For former Filipino Citizens – Philippine Birth Certificate or Old Philippine passport
• For dual Citizens: Dual citizenship Identification Certificate

 

Foreigners

Entry of foreign nationals to the Philippines remains suspended, until further notice, except those in the following categories:

Permanent (Immigrant) Visa Holders (valid at the time of entry)

1. Temporary Resident Visa based on CA 613, Section 13a (marriage to Filipino, including 13 quota, 13A, 13B, 13C, 13D, 13E, 13G visas)
2. Temporary Resident Visa based on MO ADD-01-038/ADD-02-015 (Indian nationals)
3. MCL-07-021 Permanent Resident Visa based on CA 613, Section 13a (Chinese nationals married to Filipino citizens)
4. Native Born Visa based on CA 613, Section 13c (for foreigners born in the Philippines with at least one Permanent Resident parent);
5. Republic Act 7919 visas granted through the Social Integration Program (qualified foreign nationals who entered the Philippines before 30 June 1992); and,
6. Executive Order 324 visas (foreigners who entered the Philippines before 1 January 1984 w/ legal residence status)
7. The exemption also covers dependents of the aforementioned nationals.

Document Requirements:

1. Must have a valid and existing visa and ACRI-card at the time of entry;
2. Must present valid Re-entry Permit or validly extended Re-entry Permit, unless otherwise exempted;
3. With pre-booked DOT/DOH-accredited quarantine facility for at least ten (10) nights. Check out  https://quarantine.doh.gov.ph/facilities-inspected-as-of-february-4-2021/ for the list of accredited quarantine facilities.

Special Non-Immigrant Visa Holders

The following visa holders are allowed to enter the country, as per the guidelines of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF-EID). Visas should be valid at the time of entry, and no new visas are being issued.

1. Special Investor’s Resident Visa (SIRV);
2. 47(a)(2) visas issued by the Department of Justice;
3. 9(d) visas under CA no. 613 issued by the Bureau of Immigration;
4. RA8756 visas (Regional Office Headquarters [ROHQ] visa)
5. Visas issued by the following economic zones:
   – Aurora Pacific Economic Zone (APECO)
   – Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA)
   – Authority of the Freeport rea of Bataan (AFAB)
   – Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA)
   – Clark Development Corporation (CDC)

Document Requirements:

1. A valid and existing visa at the time of entry;
2. ACR I-Card and valid Special Return Certificate or validly extended Special Return Certificate, unless otherwise exempted:
3. With pre-booked DOT/DOH-accredited quarantine facility for at least ten (10) nights.

9A Visa Holders with Entry exemption document

This is only applicable for business purposes and must be endorsed by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), Department of Transportation (DOTr), or other national government agencies to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Only the aforementioned government agencies will endorse the letter to the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila, which will issue the necessary approval for travel ban exemption.

 

Additional Reminders:

Travelers from the following countries are temporarily not allowed to enter the Philippines (until June 30th):

• INDIA
• Pakistan
• Nepal
• Bangladesh
• Sri Lanka
• Oman
• United Arab Emirates

 

For updates, it is best to check the website of the Philippine Embassy in your country, the Bureau of Immigration, the Department of Foreign Affairs, and their corresponding social media pages.

If you have any visa-related inquiries or in need of assistance, do not hesitate to get in touch with us, and we will be glad to assist you.