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❗️ Published: 21 October 2020. Please check with PAL or your airline for the latest requirements.

The government will be allowing Filipinos to travel abroad for non-essential purposes starting 21 October 2020. However, travelers must be able to provide certain requirements.

Since March of this year, a ban on outbound travel has been put in place in the Philippines. Filipinos, except overseas workers, holders of student visas, and permanent residents abroad were not allowed to fly out of the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

But the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has announced their decision to lift the ban. Those who intend to travel abroad for non-essential purpose will be allowed to do so provided that they comply with the requirements mandated by the IATF.

WHAT'S COVERED IN THIS GUIDE?

List of Requirements for International Travel

If you’re a Filipino who wish to travel from the Philippines to another country for a non-essential purpose, here are the requirements you must have:

Confirmed round-trip tickets. You must have a return ticket.
Travel and health insurance, if traveling using a tourist visa.
Negative COVID-19 test result taken within 24 hours before departure. The type of test depends on the country of your destination.
Signed immigration declaration form acknowledging the risks of travel. You can download the form here.

However, keep in mind that on top of these, travel restrictions may still be in place in other countries and may also have certain restrictions and requirements. The travel policies differ from state to state so it’s best to contact the appropriate agency in the country of your destination to know what other documents you need to bring and what other protocols you need to follow to be allowed entry.

Upon return, travelers must still follow the existing protocols for returning overseas Filipinos. This normally includes undergoing a swab test and a mandatory 14-day quarantine. But asymptomatic travelers may not be required to undergo quarantine and testing if the country of origin has low to mid level of COVID cases, based on the standards of the World Health Organization.

More Information

These are uncertain times so travel policies are subject to change. Hence, it is important to get in touch with the Philippine Bureau of Immigration before you start planning your trip. Here are the contact information of the BOI.

E-mail: immigPH@gmail.com, binoc_immigration@hotmail.ph, immigration.helpline.ph@gmail.com
Phone: +632 8465-2400, +632 8524-3769
Website: www.immigration.gov.ph