Foreigners entering PH required to prove full COVID-19 vaccination starting Feb. 16

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 14) — Foreign nationals allowed to enter the Philippines starting the second half of February must prove their full COVID-19 vaccination status, the country’s pandemic task force said Friday.

“Beginning 16 February 2022, proof of full vaccination shall be made a requirement for entry of all foreign nationals allowed to enter the Philippines,” said a resolution of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) dated Jan. 13.

Accepted as vaccination status proof are World Health Organization international certificates of vaccination or prophylaxis; VaxCertPH-issued COVID-19 vaccine certificates; or national/state digital certificates of the foreigner’s government which also accepted VaxCertPH as status proof under a reciprocal arrangement.

LIST: National COVID-19 vaccine certificates of other countries PH accepts as status proof

However, the resolution also provides exemptions to this requirement.

Minors need not present proof of vaccination status before boarding an airplane or vessel to the Philippines. Also covered are people medically unable to receive the vaccine certificate, but this must be “certified by a competent public health authority in the country/port of origin.”

Foreign diplomats and their qualified dependents or 9(e) visa holders are likewise exempted, said the IATF.

“The DOTr, through the Civil Aeronautics Board, is hereby instructed to mandate the airlines to require foreign nationals travelling to the Philippines to present proof of full vaccination prior to boarding flights to any points in the Philippines,” the resolution read.