The government has lifted the ban on the entry of foreigners from “Red list” countries, provided that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and subject to additional protocols, Malacañang said.
Acting presidential spokesman and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said starting February 16, 2022, proof of full vaccination shall be made a requirement for entry of all foreign nationals allowed to enter the Philippines.
He said travelers from “Red List” countries who were fully vaccinated would be required to do the following: Present a negative RT-PCR test 48 hours prior to departure; undergo a facility based quarantine and subjected to an RT-PCR COVID-19 test on the seventh day; and complete the rest of the 14-day quarantine at home if they tested negative in the RT-PCR test.
Countries and/or areas under the “Red List” from January 16 to January 31 include: Antigua and Barbuda; Aruba; Canada; Curacao; French Guiana; Iceland; Malta; Mayotte; Mozambique; Mozambique; Puerto Rico; Saudi Arabia; Somalia; Spain and US Virgin Islands.
Meanwhile, the following countries will be under the “Green list” during the same period: Bangladesh; Benin; Bhutan; British Virgin Islands; China; Côte d’Ivoire; Djibouti; Equatorial Guinea; Falkland Islands (Malvinas); The Gambia; Ghana; Guinea; Hong Kong; India; Indonesia; Japan; Kosovo; Kyrgyzstan; Montserrat; Morocco; Niger; Oman; Pakistan; Paraguay; Saba (Special Municipality of the Kingdom of the Netherlands); Saint Barthélemy; Senegal; Sierra Leone; Sint Eustatius; Taiwan; Timor-Leste; and Uganda.
All other countries and territories not listed in either Red or Green are under the “Yellow list.”
Aside from this, Nograles said the government’s pandemic task force had decided to allow Filipinos from “Red list” countries to return to the Philippines without the need for Bayanihan flights but subject to quarantine.
Filipino travelers will be required to present a negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours before their departure, and to undergo facility-based quarantine with an RT-PCR test taken on the seventh day.
The requirement for full vaccination against COVID-19 for foreigners, on the other hand, will not apply on the following: children aged below 18 years old, people medically unable to receive the vaccine as certified by a competent public health authority in the country or port of origin, and foreign diplomats and their qualified dependents/9E visa holders.