Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Jaime Morente announced that the agency will be implementing the extended travel ban on travelers coming from 7 countries due to emerging Covid-19 variants.
In an advisory, the BI stated that passengers coming from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Oman and UAE are still not allowed to enter until June 15, following the pronouncement of the Palace.
“Those who have a travel history from said countries within the last 14 days from the date of their arrival in the Philippines, will also be prohibited from entering the country,” said Morente. “However, those who will only be transiting in the region—meaning they will not exit the airport and will not be cleared by immigration authorities there, and will only be landing for a layover, may be allowed to enter the Philippines,” he added.
BI Port Operations Division (POD) Chief Atty. Carlos Capulong reiterated that foreign nationals entering the country for tourism purposes are still not allowed.
Travel ban in 7 countries extended, tourists still not allowed in PH –BI
“Only Filipinos, Balikbayans, and foreign nationals with valid and existing visas who are not coming from the 7 restricted countries may be allowed to enter the Philippines,” said Capulong. “Those who will be entering under a 9(a) Temporary Visitors’ Visa or a Special Resident Retirees Visa would need to present an entry exemption document to be allowed to enter,” he added.
Morente said that with the aggressive vaccination drive of the government, he is hopeful that travel restrictions will ease in the latter part of the year.
Visas under EO 226 as amended by RA 8756 are given to foreign personnel employed as executives, their spouses, and unmarried children under twenty-one years of age, regional or area headquarters of multinational companies. Said visas are often valid for a period of three years or equivalent to the alien’s employment contract with the headquarters.
However, Morente clarified that not all SIRVs might be allowed to enter. “SIRVs issued under Executive Order No. 63 in tourism-related projects and tourist establishments are still restricted. Only those issued under EO 226 may be allowed for now, following the IATF ruling,” he stated.
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