Philippines to lift travel ban on 10 countries including UAE and Oman

The Philippines will lift its travel ban on a total of 10 countries, including the UAE and Oman, starting September 6.

The ten countries include: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, UAE, Oman, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.

“International travelers coming from the above mentioned countries shall, however, comply with the appropriate entry, testing and quarantine protocols, depending on the country’s approved ‘listing’,” said the spokesman.

The announcement was made by Harry Roque, a spokesman for Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte who approved the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF).

Currently, those allowed to enter the country include Filipino citizens, foreign spouses, and parents or children of Filipino citizens with valid visas.

Foreign nationals with valid and existing visas, or with entry exemption documents, and diplomats are also allowed to travel to the Philippines.

Foreign tourists are still not permitted to enter the country and visa on arrival services have been suspended.

Those flying to the Philippines must submit a negative PCR test result taken not more than 48 hours prior to departure.
On arrival, there will be another PCR test which will be free for Filipinos. Foreign nationals will have to pay for the test.
Irrespective of their vaccination status, all arrivals must quarantine.

Those arriving from the country’s newly designated “Yellow List” representing countries with a moderate risk of Covid-19 infections,  must quarantine for 14 days, the first 10 days of which will be at a government-approved hotel. If travellers receive a negative Covid-19 test result after the tenth day, they can continue the remainder of quarantine at home.

For those arriving from Red List countries, they must quarantine for 14 days, with at least 10 days spent in in a government-approved hotel. Forefingers are not permitted to enter the Philippines.

There are around 33 destinations on the Philippine’s Green List. Fully vaccinated travellers from green list destinations are only required to complete seven days of hotel quarantine. Unvaccinated travellers flying from green countries must follow the rules in place for travellers from yellow countries.

Although the travel ban on the 10 countries including the UAE and Oman will be lifted on September 6, it is still unclear on which list the countries will be placed.