COVID-19 Philippine Advisory: Updated Guidelines from Government Agencies

COVID-19 Philippine Advisory: Updated Guidelines from Government Agencies

20 March 2020

• Department of Transportation (DOTr) lifted the 72-hour window for individuals departing overseas. Provided below are the joint guidelines for the lifting of the ban (19  March 2020).

• Bureau of Immigration (BI) have amended their skeletal workforce schedule, deferring application of visas and other transactions, and resuming normal operations by 13 April 2020 or once the Enhanced Community Quarantine has been lifted or amended. (as of 19 March 2020)

• Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is temporarily suspending visa issuance in all its Foreign Service Posts effective immediately and will be valid and effective until further notice. (20 March 2020)

Details on the above follows:

Outbound Passengers

1.  Overseas Filipino Workers, balikbayans, and foreign nationals will be allowed to leave at any time during the quarantine in Luzon provided they travel only to the airport within 24 hours of the date and time of their departure.

2.  Outgoing passengers are advised to present documents of their departure, such as an electronic ticket or flight itinerary.

3.  Filipino citizens are strictly not allowed to take an outbound international flight to countries where travel restrictions are in place.

4.  On transportation arrangements, outbound passengers may be accompanied by only one companion or driver to and from the airport. Their companion is advised to carry a copy of the passenger’s e-ticket or itinerary.

Inbound Passengers

1.  Inbound international passengers will be allowed entry, subject to strict immigration and quarantine protocols.

2. Passengers coming from Italy and Iran, where cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have soared, should provide a medical certificates of good health and should be validated by their respective embassies.

DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS:

1. All visa-free privileges including those based on Visa Waiver Agreements, those under Executive Order 408, s.1960, and for holders of Hong Kong and Macau SAR passports, Macau-Portuguese passports, and British National Overseas passports, are likewise temporarily suspended, effective 22 March 2020.

2.  It must be noted that foreign spouses and children of Filipino nationals are exempted from this temporary suspension.

3.  The temporary suspension of visa issuance will deem all previously issued visas canceled, and foreigners with visas issued by Philippine Foreign Service Posts (primarily 9a Temporary Visitor/Tourist visas) will not be allowed entry into the country starting 22 March 2020.

4.  However, visas previously issued to accredited Foreign Government and International Organization officials and their dependents will remain valid and will be honored when entering the country even after said date. The same is true for previously issued visas to foreign spouses and children of Filipino nationals.

5.  This temporary suspension has no impact on foreign nationals that are already in the country or on holders of visas (i.e. 9G,  47A2, E.O. 226) issued by other government agencies. 

BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION:

1.  Temporarily suspended select transactions (listed on the next page) except for passengers intending to depart the Philippines;

2.  Foreign nationals whose visas will expire during the duration of the Enhanced Community Quarantine shall be allowed to file their applications for extension provided this is done within 30 days from the lifting of the Enhanced Community Quarantine.

** Advisory to the Public – 19 March 2020