Tourism and Restrictions
Last updated: November 24, 2021
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has heavily affected the tourism industry. Leisure tourism is opening up in the Philippines but travel restrictions have been put in place to control the further spread of the virus.
For those who want to travel to the re-opened destinations and top tourist spots in the Philippines, we’ve collected the information you need to plan your vacation in the new normal. Read on to find out which Philippine destinations are open for leisure travel, what are their travel requirements and other restrictions and guidelines imposed by the national and local government units.
Is the Philippines open for tourism?
International travelers: No
Leisure tourism of international travelers or foreign citizens outside the Philippines is not yet allowed. International flights or inbound travel to the Philippines are limited to essential travel only for eligible passengers.
No, foreigners are not allowed to enter the Philippines, except for those traveling for essential purposes and those who are traveling with a Filipino spouse or parent. Those under the exception will be allowed entry if they can present the required supporting documents.
Are foreigners allowed to enter the Philippines now?
No. Currently, only the following foreigners are allowed to enter the Philippines:
Balikbayans under RA 6768 - This is limited to nationals from non-visa required countries under EO 408 and former Filipinos and those traveling with a Filipino or former Filipino spouse or parent.
Foreign nationals with valid and existing visas - Those with a 9(a) visa are required to present an entry exception document from the country’s foreign post abroad.
Is it safe to travel to the Philippines now?
In terms of health, the national government and the local government units have safety guidelines in place to lessen the spread of COVID-19. These include the wearing of face masks, social distancing, and the requirement of a negative COVID-19 test result and/or a vaccination card or certificate when crossing local borders. Following these rules will reduce your chances of contracting the disease.
Tourist spots are generally safe, but it’s always best to be alert, make sure all your belongings are secure, and be cautious when interacting with strangers.
Are US citizens allowed to travel to the Philippines?
No. Only US citizens who are Balikbayans or traveling with a Filipino or former Filipino spouse or parent are allowed to travel to the Philippines. Those with valid and existing visas are also allowed.
What requirements are foreigners required to present to enter the Philippines?
Travel to the Philippines without a visa is restricted. Below are the following requirements for foreigners traveling to the Philippines:
Balikbayan
Must come from a non-visa required country under EO 408
Those traveling with their Filipino spouses and parents need to provide proof of filiation
Foreign nationals with valid and existing visas
Valid visa and ACR I-Card
Those with a 9(a) visa are required to present an entry exception document from the country’s foreign post abroad
All inbound travelers are also required to undergo quarantine at an accredited quarantine hotel or facility. The length of the quarantine depends on which classification their origin of country is in and the traveler's vaccination status, but each traveler must present a confirmed booking as part of the requirements for entry.
Green List Countries, Yellow List Countries, and Countries under the Philippine Travel Ban
The IATF has adopted three classifications for all countries and territories.
Green countries - Those that are classified as having a low risk for COVID-19 infections.
Yellow countries - Those that are classified as having a moderate risk for COVID-19 infections
Red countries - Those that are classified as having a high risk for COVID-19 infections.
Countries under the Green List
Those coming from green countries and are fully vaccinated are exempted from undergoing quarantine upon arrival in the Philippines. They need to present a negative RT-PCR test result taken 72 hours prior to their departure from the country of origin.
Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated travelers from green list countries need to undergo quarantine in a government-approved facility upon arrival in the Philippines. They need to take an RT-PCR test on the 5th day and will be released once they get a negative result.
Unvaccinated minors may be accompanied by a parent or guardian during quarantine.
There are currently 44 countries and territories on the list (effective November 16 to 30, 2021):
American Samoa
Bhutan
Chad
China (Mainland)
Comoros
Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
Federated States of Micronesia
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China)
India
Indonesia
Japan
Kosovo
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Malawi
Mali
Marshall Islands
Montserrat
Morocco
Namibia
Niger
Northern Mariana Islands
Oman
Pakistan
Palau
Paraguay
Rwanda
Saint Barthelemy
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Sint Eustatius
South Africa
Sudan
Taiwan
Togo
Uganda
United Arab Emirates
Zambia
Zimbabwe
To check the updated list, visit the Bureau of Immigration’s website.
Countries under the Yellow List
Countries that are neither in the green nor red list are considered part of the yellow list.
Those coming from yellow countries and are fully vaccinated need to present a negative RT-PCR test result taken within 72 hours prior to their departure from their country of origin. Upon arrival, they need to undergo a 4-day quarantine in a government-approved facility. They need to have an RT-PCR test on their 3rd day of quarantine and will be released once they get a negative result. They are also encouraged to self-monitor until their 14th day in the country.
Those who are fully vaccinated but do not have a negative RT-PCR test result need to undergo a 6-day quarantine in a government-approved facility upon arrival in the Philippines. They need to have an RT-PCR test on their 5th day of quarantine. Four days of home quarantine must also be done immediately after.
Unvaccinated travelers from yellow list countries need to undergo 8 days of quarantine in a government-approved facility upon arrival in the Philippines. They need to take an RT-PCR test on the 7th day, and an additional 6 days of home quarantine after their facility-based quarantine.
Countries under the Red List
There is a Philippine travel ban to those coming from the countries included in the Red List. The only exceptions are Filipinos returning to the Philippines via government and non-government repatriation and bayahinan flights.
There are two territories on the red list (effective November 16 to 30, 2021):
Faroe Islands
Netherlands
Is an International Certificate of Vaccination (ICV) required by the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) to enter the Philippines?
An International Certificate of Vaccination (ICV) is accepted as proof of a traveler’s fully vaccinated status, but other documents may also be accepted in its place. These include a VaxCertPH digital vaccination certificate or a national/state digital certificate of the foreign government where they were vaccinated, which has accepted VaxCertPH under a reciprocal arrangement.
How to get an ICV
ICVs are issued by the country where you got the vaccine. If you got your vaccines in the Philippines, you can get your ICV by booking an appointment via icv.boq.ph. It costs PHP300, and a PHP70 convenience fee will also be charged. Alternatively, you can apply for a vaccination certificate via vaxcert.doh.gov.ph to prove your fully vaccinated status when entering the Philippines.
What to Do Upon Arrival at a Philippine Airport
After you land in the Philippines, you need to follow the guidelines set by the IATF. These include wearing face masks and face shields, filling up a Case Investigation Form (CIF), and using the Traze Mobile App. For the complete requirements and procedures for each airport, check this arrival guide.
Is quarantine required for international travelers entering the Philippines?
Yes. Depending on the traveler's vaccination status, they must quarantine at a government-approved hotel or facility for at least 6 days and continue their quarantine at home for at least 4 days.
What To Do During the Stay at the Quarantine Hotel
From the airport, you need to go directly to your quarantine hotel. Wait for the confirmation of the schedule of your test. Should you exhibit symptoms before your scheduled test, you need to inform the hotel staff immediately so a medical officer can assess you.
On the day of your test, present your passport and the other required documents. If your test results are negative, you will be released for home quarantine. However, if your test results are positive, you will be transferred to a hospital for treatment.
During your stay at your quarantine hotel, you won’t be allowed to leave your room, so make sure to pack your own entertainment and bring it along with you! Guide to the Philippines has Manila hotel quarantine packages with airfare from US and Canada that come with free virtual guided tours and interactive activities like the Intramuros Tour, Palawan Tour, Cordillera Tour, Filipino Language Class, Baybayin Class, Kapampangan Cooking Class, and Juan Luna Mystery Game.
For more details, please check this arrival guide
Airlines Flying to the Philippines
These airlines have flights to the Philippines:
Philippine Airlines - The flag carrier currently has flights from Australia, Canada (including Vancouver (YVR) to Manila), Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Vietnam, and the USA, including Los Angeles (LAX) to Manila, San Francisco (SFO) to Manila, Hawaii (HNL) to Manila, and New York (JFK) to Manila routes.
All Nippon Airways (ANA) - The airline has flights from Japan.
AirAsia - The airline has flights from China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand.
Aseana Airlines -The airline has flights from South Korea.
Cebu Pacific - The airline has flights from Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and United Arab Emirates.
China Airlines - The airline has flights from Taiwan.
Emirates - The airline has flights from the United Arab Emirates.
Etihad Airways - The airline has flights from the United Arab Emirates.
Japan Airlines - The airline has flights from Japan and the USA.
JetStar - The airline has flights from Singapore.
Korean Air - The airline has flights from South Korea and the USA.
Malaysia Airlines - The airline has flights from Malaysia.
Qatar Airways - The airline has flights from Qatar.
Singapore Airlines - The airline has flights from Singapore.
Thai Airways - The airline has flights from Germany, India, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Sweden, and Thailand.
Turkish Airlines - The airline has flights from Turkey.
Vaccines accepted in the Philippines
There are currently 8 COVID-19 vaccines which have Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Here is the list:
Pfizer-BioNTech
AstraZeneca
Sinovac-Coronavac
Sputnik V
Janssen
Covaxin
Moderna
Sinopharm
Which Philippine destinations don't have an RT-PCR test requirement for fully vaccinated travelers?
If you are vaccinated can you travel without COVID test?
Yes, fully vaccinated travel is available in the Philippines, but not for all destinations. Several destinations in the Philippines have opened to fully vaccinated tourists, exempting them from the requirement of obtaining a negative RT-PCR or rapid COVID test for travel.
Here is the list of destinations fully vaccinated travelers may visit without having to undergo a COVID-19 test (as of November 17, 2021)
Destinations in Luzon without RT-PCR for fully vaccinated:
Abra
Albay
Baguio
Baler
Bataan
Batangas
Benguet
Camarines Norte
Camarines Sur
Cavite
Clark
El Nido
Ilocos Norte (starting December 1, 2021)
Laguna
Occidental Mindoro
Oriental Mindoro
Nueva Ecija
Pampanga
Pangasinan
Puerto Galera
Subic Bay Freeport Area
Tagaytay
Tarlac
Destinations in Visayas without RT-PCR for fully vaccinated:
Aklan
Antique
Bacolod City
Bohol
Boracay
Capiz
Cebu
Dumaguete City
Eastern Samar
Guimaras
Iloilo
Negros Occidental
Negros Oriental
Northern Samar
Ormoc
Romblon
Tacloban
Destinations in Mindanao without RT-PCR for fully vaccinated:
Bukidnon
Camiguin
Cotabato
Davao City
Davao de Oro
Davao del Norte
Davao del Sur
Davao Oriental
General Santos City
Misamis Occidental
Misamis Oriental
Sarangani
Sultan Kudarat
Sulu
Zamboanga City
Zamboanga del Norte
Zamboanga del Sur
Zamboanga Sibugay
Will you be able to travel without COVID vaccine?
Yes. Some destinations in the Philippines only require travelers to present a government-issued ID to enter, but others still have a negative RT-PCR test or antigen test result as part of the requirements before you can board a domestic flight in the Philippines. Some destinations also require a mandatory quarantine for travelers, as well as a negative test result after a number of days in the destination.