ADVISORY NO. 05/2022

NEW ENTRY, TESTING AND QUARANTINE PROTOCOLS FOR ARRIVING OFFICIALS

The Embassy is pleased to announce the new entry, testing and quarantine protocols for foreign diplomats and their dependents, foreign dignitaries and members of their delegation, 9(e) visa holders, personnel of Philippine Foreign Service Posts (FSPs) and their dependents, and Philippine government officials on official travel, known as Arriving Officials, when they enter the Philippines effective 10 February 2022:

Section A.  Fully vaccinated Arriving Officials

1. Negative RT/PCT test taken within 48 hours prior to the time of departure from the country of origin / first port of embarkation in a continuous travel to the Philippines, excluding lay-overs, provided that they did not leave the airport premises nor were admitted into another country during such lay-over.
2. Upon arrival, they shall not be required to observe mandatory facility-based quarantine, but shall self-monitor themselves for any sign or symptom for seven (7) days with the first day being the date of arrival.  They are required to report to the local government unit (LGU) of destination upon the manifestation of any symptoms.
3. They shall be considered fully vaccinated only if they are fully compliant with the following:
   1. The vaccine is included in any of the following:
      1. Emergency Use authorization (EUA) List or Compassionate Special Permit (CSP) issued by the Philippine Food and Drug Administration or
      2. Emergency Use Listing of the World Health Organization.
   2. Possess and present any of the following proofs of vaccination before departing/boarding from the country of origin/port of embarkation and upon arrival in the Philippines:
      1. World Health Organization International Certificate of Vaccination and Prophylaxis; or
      2. VaxCertPH; or
      3. National or state digital certificate of the country/foreign government which has accepted VaxCertPH under a reciprocal arrangement; or
      4. Other proofs of vaccination permitted by the IATF-EID.
4. Arriving Officials who are not compliant with all of the conditions A1-A3 above shall be considered as unvaccinated and shall be subject to the entry, testing and quarantine protocols in Section B below.

Section B. Arriving Officials who are Unvaccinated, Partially Vaccinated, or whose Vaccination Status cannot be Independently Validated

1. Negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours prior to the time of departure from the country of origin / first port of embarkation in a continuous travel to the Philippines, excluding lay-overs, provided that they did not leave the airport premises nor were admitted into another country during such lay-over.
2. They shall be required to undergo home-based quarantine or quarantine at a declared accommodation until the release of their negative RT-PCR test taken on the fifth (5th) day from date of arrival, after which they shall be required to undergo home quarantine until their fourteenth (14th) day from date of arrival.

Section C.  Unvaccinated Minor Dependents of Arriving Officials

1. Minor dependents of Arriving Officials below twelve (12) years of age who are not vaccinated for any reason whatsoever shall follow the quarantine protocols of their parents or accompanying adult/guardian traveling with them.
2. Minor dependents of Arriving Officials from ages twelve (12) to seventeen (17) years of age shall follow the classification and procedures based on their vaccination status (ie Section A for vaccinated or Section B for unvaccinated).

Section D. Fully-recovered Arriving Officials with Positive RT-PCR Pre-Departure Test Results

1. Arriving Officials who have recovered from Covid-19 but who test positive for the 48-hour pre-departure RT-PCR test may nonetheless enter the country, provided they are able to present the following documents prior to departing/boarding from the country of origin/port of embarkation and upon arrival in the PHilippines:
   1. A positive RT-PCR test taken not earlier than ten (10) days but not later than thirty (30) days before the time of departure from the country of origin/port of embarkation;
   2. The positive RT-PCR test taken within forty-eight (48) hours before the time of departure from the country of origin / first port of embarkation in a continuous travel to the Philippines, excluding lay-overs, provided that they did not leave the airport premises nor were admitted into another country during such lay-over; and
   3. c. A medical certificate issued by a licensed physician certifying that the Arriving Official: (i) was an asymptomatic, mild, moderate, severe or critical case of Covid-19, as the case may be; (ii) has completed the mandatory isolation period;) (iii) is no longer infectious; and (iv) has been allowed free movement and travel.
2. Upon arrival, the Covid-19 positive Arriving Officials shall be subject to the following protocols:
   1. If fully vaccinated, they shall not be required to observe mandatory facility-based quarantine, but shall self-monitor themselves for any sign or symptom for seven (7) days with the first day being the date of arrival.  They are required to report to the local government unit (LGU) of destination upon the manifestation of any symptoms; or
   2. If unvaccinated, partially vaccinated or if their vaccination status cannot be independently determined, they shall be required to undergo home-based quarantine or quarantine at a declared accommodation until the release of their negative RT-PCR test taken on the fifth (5th) day from date of arrival, after which they shall be required to undergo home quarantine until their fourteenth (14th) day from date of arrival.

Section E.  Exemption from One Health Pass Requirement

Arriving Officials are exempted from the One Health Pass requirement.

The rules above modify and supersede all previous rules on the entry, testing and quarantine protocols for foreign diplomats and their dependents, foreign dignitaries and members of their delegation, 9(e) visa holders, personnel of Philippine FSPs and their dependents, and Philippine government officials on official travel.

(Per CIR-82-OSEC-2022-S dated 02 March 2022 and CIR-360-OUCSCA-2022)