After months of quarantine with hopes of keeping the coronavirus at bay, the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases has eased restrictions on international travel. Basically, you can now travel internationally, even if your trip is non-essential. This decision was made despite the fact that COVID-19 cases are still rampant in the Philippines.
Before this recommendation, Filipinos could only leave the Philippines for essential travel. You either had to be a resident of another country or be an overseas worker. Now, all you need is the following:
- If you have a tourist visa, you need to submit your confirmed round-trip tickets.
- Although no amount has been specified yet, you need to have enough travel health insurance to cover accommodations and rebooking fees in case you end up stranded abroad.
- You need to execute a ‘declaration’ stating that you are aware of the risks involved in traveling.
That aside, you also need to make sure that your country of destination has not banned Filipinos from entering.
Upon your return, you will be required to take a COVID-19 swab test and be quarantined until you test negative for the coronavirus.
The current travel restrictions will be lifted 15 days after the government announces it in their Official Gazette. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque estimates this will be by mid-August 2020. He explains that this is being done for the economy and reminds Filipinos to follow health safety protocols on all of their trips.
Will you be traveling anytime soon?
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