NextGen Day

MANILA, Philippines — Beginning April 1, foreign visitors will be able to visit the Philippines without an entry exemption document (EED), according to Malacanang.

This comes after the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) passed Resolution 165 on Thursday, which permits foreigners to enter the nation without needing an EED as long as they follow all visa criteria and immigration entrance and exit procedures.

In a virtual press conference, acting Deputy Presidential Spokesperson and Communications Undersecretary Michel Kristian Ablan said, “There is no longer a listing of which country the foreign national originates from, as long as they can present valid proof of vaccination and [follow the] guidelines.”

Foreign travelers can enter the country under IATF-EID Resolution 165 if they are completely vaccinated and have sufficient proof of immunization.

The World Health Organization International Certificate of Vaccination and Prophylaxis, VaxCertPH, national or state digital certificates of foreign countries accepting VaxCertPH, and other proof of vaccination permitted by the IATF-EID are all accepted proofs of vaccination for foreigners.

They must also have a negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test or a negative laboratory-based antigen test within 48 hours of their arrival in the nation.

They must also have passports valid for at least six months at the time of their arrival, as well as valid tickets for a return trip to their port of origin or next port of destination within 30 days of their arrival.

Foreign wives and children of Filipino citizens, as well as former Filipino citizens with Balikbayan privileges, are exempt from the rule regarding valid tickets.

Foreigners must also obtain travel insurance for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) treatment costs from reputable insurance companies prior to their arrival in the Philippines, with a minimum coverage of USD35,000 for the duration of their stay in the country.

Foreigners who do not completely comply with the IATF-rules EID’s and requirements will be refused entry into the nation and will face appropriate exclusion proceedings.

Foreign visitors are no longer required to adhere to facility-based quarantine once admitted to the country, but they must self-monitor for seven days for any sign or symptom of Covid-19.

Foreigners holding a valid and current EED issued before April 1 will be admitted.

“With the new restrictions on foreign national entry, IATF Resolution No. 1310A dated 05 August 2021 allowing for interim visa issuance shall no longer be implemented commencing 01 April 2022,” according to the resolution.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Department of Justice, the One-Stop-Shop of the Department of Transportation, the Bureau of Quarantine, and the Bureau of Immigration have been directed to guarantee that the new directive is implemented smoothly.

Tourism is good for the economy.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat stated in a statement that the eased rule will help to revitalize the country’s English as a Second Language (ESL) industry by allowing visitors to enter the country visa-free or with their 9A visas and apply for their special study permit upon arrival.

“Visitors who come for our education tourism—ESL in particular—stand to benefit from this development,” Romulo-Puyat remarked.

Local ESL schools, mostly in the country’s top ESL destinations like Baguio and Cebu, have expressed a willingness to accommodate foreign students, according to Romulo-Puyat.

Despite the pandemic, the Department of Transportation has been pushing the country as an ESL hub and has pioneered initiatives such as the Master Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) to upskill and certify teachers from throughout the country.

Prior to the pandemic, data from the Bureau of Immigration (BI) showed that applications for Special Study Permits (SSP) had been steadily increasing.

SSP applications increased from 22,561 in 2013 to 59,428 in 2018. The BI issues SSPs to foreigners who intend to study in the Philippines for a limited period of time.

The IATF-EID and the DFA were thanked by Romulo-Puyat, who said the recent step will assist tourism enterprises to recoup revenue and promote the economy.

She also praised President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s Executive Order (EO) 166, which states: “The National Government shall endeavor to further relax requirements relating to international travel and provide quarantine exemptions for vaccinated individuals entering the country, in order to boost international tourism, increase foreign investments, and restore jobs in the tourism sector.”

Domestic travel limitations would be eased, and standards for domestic travel and local tourism will be streamlined and standardized, according to the EO.

“As we progress toward more eased entrance regulations for international tourists, the Department of Transportation anticipates a brighter future for the country’s tourism industry.” “We will make certain that this transition is carried out in strict compliance with the required health and safety standards,” Romulo-Puyat stated.

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