New Testing and Quarantine Protocols for Arriving International Passengers

With the increased danger of the new COVID variant, Omicron, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) released guidelines for travelers arriving in the Philippines starting December 3, 2021.

Who are the accepted arriving travelers?

Since the Entry of Foreign Tourists coming to the Philippines remains suspended. Those covered by the guidelines are the following:

• Filipinos returning to the country via government-initiated repatriation, non-government initiated repatriation, and Bayanihan Flights Coming from RED  Countries.
• Filipinos and Eligible Foreigners coming from Yellow and Green Countries

Protocols for Filipinos arriving from Red Countries

• Filipinos arriving in the Philippines from Red Countries must undergo a 10-day mandatory facility quarantine.
• On the 7th Day, RT-PCR Test will be conducted
• released will be done upon completion of the 10-day mandatory facility quarantine and presentation of negative RT-PCR Test results.

For reference, the red list countries include the following:

• South Africa
• Botswana
• Namibia
• Zimbabwe
• Lesotho
• Eswatini and Mozambique
• Austria
• Czech Republic
• Hungary
• The Netherlands
• Switzerland
• Belgium
• Italy

Filipinos and Eligible Foreigners arriving from Yellow and Green Countries

For Fully Vaccinated Individuals

• A negative result of the RT-PCR test was taken within 72 hours from departure.
• Facility-based quarantine until the release of a negative RT-PCR test result.
• Swabbing will be done on the 5th day.
• Upon receiving a negative RT-PCR test result traveler must undergo home quarantine until the 14th day. Counting of the days will start from the day of arrival.

For Filipinos or Eligible Foreign travelers that are partially vaccinated, unvaccinated, or those whose vaccination status cannot be validated the following protocols shall apply:

• A negative result of the RT-PCR test was taken within 72 hours from departure.
• Facility-based quarantine until the release of a negative RT-PCR test result.
• Swabbing will be done on the 7th day.
• Upon receiving a negative RT-PCR test result traveler must undergo home quarantine until the 14th day. Counting of the days will start from the day of arrival.

For minors, regardless of country of origin and vaccination status will follow the quarantine and testing requirements of their parents/guardians.

Those who already arrived in the Philippines and are currently undergoing quarantine before the new protocols took effect, shall continue the testing and quarantine protocols that were in place at the time of their arrival.