MANILA -- The Bureau of Immigration (BI) clarified that only fully-vaccinated foreigners coming from more than 150 countries listed in an executive order can enter the Philippines without a visa starting on Feb. 10.

In an advisory, BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said foreigners whose country of nationality is not listed under Executive Order No. 408 cannot avail of the visa-free privilege, thus they are required to secure visas before traveling to the Philippines.

Under the said EO, nationals from 157 countries may be admitted into the country without a visa for an initial stay of 30 days.

Said countries include Canada, Japan, Singapore, USA, New Zealand, Malaysia, and South Korea.

Morente said that foreign tourists from countries not listed under EO 408 need to secure a 9(a) visa and an entry exemption document (EED) through any of the Philippine embassies or consulates abroad.

“They should also be fully vaccinated or else they will be denied entry even if they have valid 9(a) visas and EED,” he added.

The BI chief stressed that all foreigners entering the country are now required to present the appropriate proof of full vaccination as set by the IATF or else they will be turned back at the airports and booked on the first available flight to their port of origin.

Morente, meanwhile, explained that former Filipinos qualified to avail of the one-year Balikbayan privilege should also be fully vaccinated before they could enter the country.

The Balikbayan program allows former Filipinos, including their foreign spouse and dependents who are traveling with them, to enter the country visa-free for one year.

The IATF also ruled that arriving alien tourists are required to present a negative RT-PCR test, taken at least 48 hours prior to their departure from their country of origin, a return ticket, a passport valid for at least 6 months, and a travel and health insurance for Covid19 with a minimum coverage of US$35,000 valid for the entire duration of their stay. (BI)