FOREIGN nationals with long-term visas will be allowed entry into the Philippines starting August 1.
Malacañang Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. made this announcement on Friday, July 17, saying that the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases reached this decision after its meeting on Thursday, July 16.
This also applies to individuals who were born in the Philippines, but have become naturalized citizens of other countries.
“Beginning 01 August 2020, foreign nationals with long-term (immigrant visa under Sec. 13 of CA 613; RA 7919 and EO 324, including native-born foreign nationals) shall be allowed entry in the Philippines while maintaining the priority of returning Overseas Filipinos,” the ITAF-EID Resolution No. 56 reads.
Foreigners who are traveling to the Philippines must have valid and existing visas as no new entry visa would be accepted upon arrival.
Roque also said that foreigners traveling to the Philippines must also comply with quarantine and testing requirements, apart from having valid visas.
“Foreign nationals must also secure a pre-booked accredited quarantine facility and a pre-booked COVID-19 testing provider,” he said.
Roque reiterated that as the airports and seaports in the Philippines are complying with social distancing rules, a maximum capacity of travelers will be enforced. The resolution passed by the IATF says that it will prioritize returning overseas Filipinos in the ports of entry.
While the Philippine government shoulders the quarantine and testing costs for returning overseas Filipino workers, returning Filipinos who are not OFWs normally shoulder the quarantine and test costs out of their own pockets.
The quarantine procedure normally takes at least three days (and maybe up to a week) as arriving passengers have to wait for confirmation from the appropriate agency of their COVID-19 test result.
In March, the Philippines banned the entry of foreign nationals into the country.
Online posts recently circulated stating that Filipinos who are U.S. passport holders and not dual citizens were being denied boarding privileges for their return flights to the Philippines.
This created some confusion for Filipinos in America who had become naturalized U.S. citizens and who did not apply for dual citizenship through the Philippine Embassy or consulate near their area.
Consul General Henry Bensurto Jr. of the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco clarified to community advocates that the ban was temporary, and was part of the efforts of the government to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
Dell Merano, area manager of PAL in the Bay Area, previously told the Asian Journal that there have been very limited instances when passengers were not allowed to board their flights in San Francisco International Airport (SFO) because they are U.S. passport holders.
She said that the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco expedited these passengers’ dual citizenship applications upon being advised by PAL. The passengers were able to board the next available flight to the Philippines when they presented their documents.
“Majority of our passengers have been able to board their flights to the Philippines,” Merano said. “Based on our experience, passengers who have had problems come from the interior of the U.S. who use domestic flights coming from their cities to connect with their international flights. These are very minimal in number.”
Merano revealed that they do advise their passengers on the current travel restrictions/regulations to the Philippines and have posted a reminder for passengers to check the Philippine government and provincial websites. She encourages Filipinos who become naturalized citizens of other countries to apply for dual citizenship in order to prevent unnecessary complications when traveling to the Philippines, as this pandemic has shown.
Filipino Americans who are traveling to the Philippines are advised to call the Philippine Consulate in their area and check with representatives of international airlines for any requirements needed to gain entry to the Philippines if they need clarification or more information.
[In the Bay Area, visit www.philippinessanfrancisco.org or call (415) 433-6666 for the Philippine Consulate General. The Consulate in Los Angeles, covering Southern California, Southern Nevada and the state of Arizona, can be reached at www.philippineconsulatela.org or by phone (213) 639-0980. The Consulate in New York, covering 10 states in the East Coast, can be reached at (212) 764-1330 and www.newyorkpcg.org]
Thanks for the information.WHAT AIRLINE COMING FROM Chicago can fly to the Philippines.
This ludicrous, if not crazy. The impact on the Philippines economy will be horrendous
What if you still is in possesion of an old passport that you have before you became a US citizen?
Thank You for this good infremation
Why does it take so long to get the test results when there are existing test procedures that takes only about 10 minutes? A minimum of 4 days to 14 days waiting period is too long for those visiting for 10 days only. Even a 4 day waiting period is too long for a short time visitor. This means the short term visitors must board the return flight after coming out of successful quarantine. I am not against testing but there are available fast testing procedures to safely expedite the process.
Hello Good Morning, Can i ask? My bf from U.S.A he wanted to come 5 months ago, until now to the Philippines, to get marry with me. But hes not allow to come. If they have any pull special visa for that? Or when the Tourist travel Will open? I was worrying how long we cant see each other? ?? We are hoping to see each other for the first time. ?
Hope you Will answer me please! Thank you! ??
I am married to a Filipino woman she is in the Philippines can I travel to see her
Do I make an appointment in the town I’m visiting? And where do I stay while I’m waiting 3 days for my test results
Can a US citizen Travel to the Philippines . To see his wife and kids there
My husband is German, Im a Filipino; we both residence in Taiwan for almost 7 years.. now Im in the Philippines and He will come to Philippines .. How we can apply the one tear stamp visa as balik bayan.. please help.
Mitch Sevilla, you will have to wait when the covid-19 is over. There’s no way your bf can travel to Philippines because he’s not a dual citizenship. Everything in the Philippines such as legal paperwork, applying passport etc. are suspended. The best thing you can do is patience.
Am a Filipino holding German passport after marriage.Do I need a visa to visit Philippines?
When is Philippine Consulate will be open in Houston? I live in San Antonio TX.
HI. I HAVE RECOGNITION AS FIL CITIZEN because I cant apply for dual citizenship back then. Am I allowed to enter Philippines to visit my family? Thank you!
November 25 2020 thru December 22,2020 is my flight from Texas to Clark airport
US passport is what I have.
Are they going to make me quarantined at required hotels for 3 days?
I know I still have over 2 months to wait
But do you think I should reschedule my flight or keep it the way it is?
Please help!
Thanks Tess
Mam how many days quarantine coming from Houston Tx
I am a dual citizen. I intend to return to the Philippines for good. Hence, I purchased a one-way ticket to MNL. Is that good enough?
I understand that I’m required to take a swab test upon arrival at the NAIA and; stay in a hotel (on my own expense) while waiting for the result of my swab test. If I test covid19-free, may i be allowed to continue my 14-days quarantine at home, since I will be alone in my home in Caloocan City?
this is for mitch sevilla. August 1 open na ang Naia sabi ni Roque. nung July 16, 2020.
I came back to Philippines last June, and the processing and Swab test are very systemic. I was impressed. It took me 3-4 days in the quarantine facility until I received the result. As an OFW all expenses was shouldered by the government but for those balikbayan you have to prebook the hotel ( accredited by the government) facilty before you arrive in the Philippines. The swab test and the hotel is under your expense. Once you receive the result either you can ask your family or get a private vehicle to go to your province or destination. Some LGU’s do care enough to pick up their people ( coordinated with the Red cross) from certain location and allocating some facilities to do the quarantine, some are not so you have to show up and declare your travel history to the local barangay office and get a clearance after 14 days if you do not manifest any symptoms. I hope atleast this one gives you an idea. Stay safe ❤️
One more thing, Im actually currently in America now and have traveled different states as a tourist. Philippines have let their people go for non essential traveling but depends on your destinations requirements. Foriegns nationals is still not allowed to enter the Philippines unless youre holding a long term visa ( sad but true, favorable with Chinese people) and if your not you have to wait untill they open for tourism. So only Filipino passport holder can enter for now. Have patience guys. This chaos and trials will be over soon. In Gods will.
I have a question. , I am using a US passport holder but I am A dual citizen. Will I be allowed to enter Philippines without a filipino passport on my next visit?
Yes you can. That is what i was told by one of the employees at the Phil Cons.Affairs NY today. But bring along with you your oath of allegiance and your order ( original) and PAL should be your airlines. Your US passport will be stamped when you check in at the airport. But check with PAL as well.
My husband is stuck in LAX he suppose to travel yesterday to come and visit me and the kids here in the philippines.but There not letting him to travel.. what do i need to do??
I’m in Nevada, USA. I have a passport and in 2019, I was supposed to the Philippines to marry my longtime girlfriend. When will I be allowed to enter the country
Hi i just want to ask because next year im planning to go home in the philippines but im a us citizen. Is us citizen allowed now to go home in the Philippines next year?
I am a USA citizen. I lived in the Philippines from December of 2018 tell March 2020 whe I had to have emergency surgery and flue back to USA. My wife is dual citizen, but we are separated right now can I go home to Philippines. If you know how I can go please tell me
Nope, you’re screwed.
I am in the same position. I am married to a Filipina, have a Filipino daughter (5 mos old) and own property in the Philippines.
I have been separated against my will (4 mos – 1/2 of my daughter’s life) from my family since Oct 2020. I am a disabled US Army and returned to the US for medical reasons too.
I even missed my daughter’s 1st Christmas and my wife’s 23rd birthday. I never needed an entry VISA before. An American passport was good enough.
I have agreed to all of their nonsensical draconian demands, but they still refuse my reentry and reunification with my family. So much for the Philippine FALSE “Family First” mantra. If they truly believed in “Family First” then they should expedite the Foreigner’s VISA and permit the reunification with their Filipino families.
I’m a U.S. citizen and a U.S. passport holder.
My mother is suffering Alzheimers and I want to go home take good care of her while she’s alive. What should I do? Or what’s the requirements do I need?