The Philippines’ Bureau of Immigration (BI) has announced that foreigners who were given entry exemption document before the implementation of last month’s travel ban may now enter the Philippines.
BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said foreigners with entry exemption documents issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) before March 22 are now allowed to enter the country during the implementation of travel restrictions, which was extended until April 30. The revised rule is under the latest resolution of the Inter-Agency Task on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).
Morente said other foreign nationals are still prohibited from entering the Philippines and that the Balikbayan privilege for former Filipinos remains suspended. “The foreign parent, spouse, and children of Filipinos may enter the country, provided they are travelling with the Filipino principal, and have a valid entry visa,” he said.
Currently, based on the IATF’s policy, the BI also allows the following foreigners with valid entry visas to enter the country, including Diplomats and members of international organizations; those involved in medical repatriation endorsed by the DFA and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA); Seafarers; and those with an emergency, humanitarian and analogous cases approved by the chairperson of the National Task Force Against Covid-19 (NTF) or his authorized representative.
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