Traveling to the Philippines

Traveling during this pandemic has become a complicated and unpredictable exercise, with requirements and restrictions varying from one country to the next. For the Philippines, the entry of foreign nationals for non-essential purposes remains suspended. Holders of valid immigrant/non-immigrant visas, meanwhile, are allowed entry subject to the latest health protocols whether they are coming from green-, yellow-, or red-listed countries.

A foreign national can, however, enter the Philippines for business or employment purposes on a case-to-case basis by securing Entry Exemption Documents (EED) from the Department of Trade and Industry-Board of Investments (DTI-BoI) and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA). These agencies may endorse travel exemptions to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for foreigners and companies whose activities are considered critical or essential in manufacturing or export industries. However, DTI-BoI endorsement does not guarantee DFA approval or the grant of entry from the Bureau of Immigration (BI). An EED can be used only once and is valid for 90 days. Once expired, the company can file a new application subject to compliance upon evaluation.