MANILA -- Malacañang on Friday, March 25, 2022, announced that beginning April 1, 2022, foreign nationals may now enter the Philippines without the need of an Entry Exemption Document (EDD), subject to conditions.

Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Michel Kristian R. Ablan announced, which has been earlier approved by the Inter-Agency task Force (IATF) in its 165th meeting.

These conditions include: (1) full vaccination of foreign nationals, except only for minor children below 12 years of age traveling with their fully vaccinated parents; (2) They must also carry an acceptable proof of vaccination; (3) Passport valid for a period of at least 6 months at the time of their arrival to the Philippines.

These foreign nationals must also obtain, prior to arrival, a travel insurance for COVID-19 treatment costs from reputable insurance providers, with a minimum coverage of USD 35,000.00 for the duration of their stay in the Philippines.

Usec Ablan said these foreign nationals must also present a negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours or a negative laboratory-based antigen test taken within 24 hours, prior to the date and time of departure from the country of origin/first port of embarkation in a continuous travel to the Philippines, excluding lay-overs adding that he/she has not left the airport premises or has not been admitted into another country during such lay-over.

“Except for foreign spouses and/or children of Filipino citizens and former Filipino citizens with Balikbayan privileges under Republic Act No. 9174, including their foreign spouse and/or children who: one, are not balikbayans in their own right, and two, are traveling with them to the Philippines, they must have valid tickets for their return journey to the port of origin or next port of destination not later than 30 days from date of arrival in the Philippines,” Ablan clarified. (OPS)