philippine airlines travel advisory covid 19

PAL issues advisory on passenger restrictions for international travel

Aside from restricting the number of Manila-bound passenger arrivals from international flights to 1,500 a day for all airlines tomorrow (March 18), the government temporarily suspended the entry of Foreign Nationals and Returning Overseas Filipinos who are non-OFWs beginning 12:01AM this Saturday, March 20, up to April 19, 2021.  

Those who are allowed to travel to the Philippines within the 30-day period include Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), holders of 9(e) visas (Diplomatic visa), passengers on medical repatriation and their escorts duly endorsed by the Department of Foreign Affairs - Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs or the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.

Distressed Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROFs) duly endorsed by the Department of Foreign Affairs - Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs, as well as emergency, humanitarian and other cases approved by the National Task Force on Covid19 are also allowed to travel within the period.

The restrictions are part of a series of the state's pandemic control measures, according to the advisory which Philippine Airlines (PAL) released this afternoon (March 17).

If passengers  belong to the profile of those prohibited to fly to the Philippines within the 30-day period, they have three options, according to the flag carrier.

They can rebook on the flight of their choice, on the same cabin class, with rebooking service fees waived.

They can also ask for a refund of their ticket cost or convert their tickets into a travel voucher for future use.

To comply with the new restrictions, airlines will need to cancel a number of international flights to and from Manila during the 30-day period.  

PAL will announce flight cancellations once the details are confirmed.

In collaboration with

In compliance with Ease of Doing Business Law (R.A. 11032), an act promoting ease of doing business and efficient delivery of government services.

Entry Guidelines

As per IATF Resolution No. 2 (s. 2022) on the ENTRY, QUARANTINE and TESTING Requirements of inbound travelers to the Philippines

A. FULLY VACCINATED (Filipino and Foreign Travelers)

- No pre-departure COVID-19 Test requirement - Must have received the 2nd dose in a 2-dose series or a single dose COVID-19 vaccine more than fourteen (14) days prior to the date and time of departure from the country of origin/port of embarkation.

B. UNVACCINATED or PARTIALLY VACCINATED (Filipino and Foreign Travelers)

1. Travelers 15 years and older shall present a remotely supervised/laboratory-based Rapid Antigen Test administered and certified by a healthcare professional in a healthcare facility, laboratory, clinic, or other similar establishment taken 24 hours prior to the date and time of departure from country of origin/first port of embarkation in a continuous travel to the Philippines, excluding lay-overs; provided that, he/she has not left the airport premises or has not been admitted into another country during such lay-over. 2. Travelers 15 years and older who fail to present a negative pre-departure testing shall be required to undergo a laboratory-based Antigen Test UPON ARRIVAL at the airport. 3. ACCOMPANIED minors below 15 years of age who are NOT VACCINATED for any reason whatsoever shall follow the quarantine protocols of their parent/s or an accompanying adult/guardian traveling with them. 4. UNACCOMPANIED minors below 15 years of age who are NOT VACCINATED for any reason whatsoever shall follow the protocols set forth in Section B (1) and (2) above. NOTE:- Any inbound traveler, whether Filipino or Foreign national, who shall test positive for COVID-19 through rapid antigen test shall be subjected to the latest prevailing quarantine and isolation protocols of the DOH.

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PAL releases updated arrival protocols following detection of Omicron variant in other countries

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) on Monday reported the revised arrival protocols, following the expansion of the list of “Red” countries amid the detection of the new COVID-19 variant.

According to PAL, the following protocols took effect starting Sunday, November 28:

Arrival protocols for both green and yellow countries or regions:

• In compliance with IATF regulations, the testing and quarantine protocols for all inbound international travelers in all ports of entry will comply with the testing and quarantine protocols for “yellow” list countries.
• Inbound travelers from Hong Kong will also be subject to protocols for “yellow countries

Overseas Filipinos or eligible foreigners from green and yellow countries:

• Fully vaccinated travelers will need to submit a negative RT-PCR test taken within 72 hours prior departure, third-day swabbing, and self-monitoring until the 14th day from arrival.
• Those without a negative swab test result will have to submit to a facility-based quarantine until release of results, fifth-day swabbing, and home quarantine until the 10th day from arrival.
• Travelers unvaccinated or partially vaccinated will be subjected to a facility-based quarantine until the release of negative results, seventh-day swabbing, and home quarantine until the 14th day from arrival.

Malacañang earlier on Monday announced the temporary suspension of the implementation of a resolution allowing the entry of fully vaccinated foreigners with visa-free privileges due to concerns involving the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, Malacañang announced Monday.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated the Omicron as a variant of concern , and many countries are racing to try and contain it. The origin of the variant is currently unclear, but South African scientists were the first to announce the discovery on November 25.

The Philippines has so far placed several countries under the Red List until December 15, in efforts to prevent the spread of the variant.  — RSJ, GMA News

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The Latest: Philippines imposes airport entry restrictions

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MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government has decided to temporarily ban the entry of foreigners and limit the entry of returning Filipinos at Manila’s international airport to 1,500 daily as it struggles to contain an alarming surge in coronavirus infections.

A government body dealing with the pandemic said the monthlong travel restrictions would start Saturday and aim to prevent the spread into the country of coronavirus strains from other countries which are believed to be more contagious. Among those to be allowed limited entry are homebound Filipino workers.

Philippine Airlines said it would announce some flight cancellations to comply with the temporary restriction.

Manila and other cities in the capital region reimposed 7-hour night curfews for two weeks starting Monday and locked down dozens of villages amid the surge in infections which some officials attributed to public complacency and critics blamed on the failure of the government’s response to the pandemic.

The Philippines has reported more than 631,300 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 12,848 deaths, the second-highest totals in Southeast Asia after Indonesia.

THE VIRUS OUTBREAK:

VACCINES: More than 72.1 million people, or 21.7% of the U.S. population, have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some 39 million people, or 11.8% of the population, have completed their vaccination.

CASES: The seven-day rolling average for daily new cases in the U.S. decreased over the past two weeks from 67,570 on March 1 to 55,332 on Monday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

DEATHS: The seven-day rolling average for daily new deaths in the U.S. decreased over the past two weeks from 1,991 on March 1 to 1,356 on Monday, according to Johns Hopkins University.

STATE VACCINATION RATES: The percentage of the population that received at least one dose of vaccine, according to the CDC: New Mexico (29.3%); Alaska (28.1%); South Dakota (27.6). States with the lowest rates: District of Columbia (17.9%); Alabama (17.4%); Georgia (15.9%).

— US schools weigh whether to seat students closer together

— EU regulator ‘convinced’ AstraZeneca benefit outweighs risk

— Follow AP’s pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic , https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

HERE’S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:

CANBERRA, Australia — The Australian government is ramping up its COVID-19 vaccination support for Papua New Guinea in a bid to contain a concerning wave of infections in a near-neighbor.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Wednesday that 8,000 doses of Australia’s vaccine would be sent to Papua New Guinea next week for use by front-in health workers. Morrison and his Papua New Guinea counterpart James Marape would ask AstraZentica to send Australia’s nearest neighbor another 1 million doses as soon as possible.

The European Union this month blocked a shipment destined for Australia of more than 250,000 AstraZenica doses from leaving Italy because the Australian need was not considered great enough.

PARIS — France’s prime minister says he wants to boost confidence in the AstraZeneca vaccine by getting an injection as soon as his government authorizes its use again.

France suspended AstraZeneca jabs on Monday while it waits for the European regulator to clear up any doubts about possible side effects.

At age 55 and with no known underlying health problems, French Prime Minister Jean Castex isn’t, strictly speaking, among the groups yet eligible for vaccination in France, which has prioritized injections for the most vulnerable.

But speaking to broadcaster BFM-TV, Castex said Tuesday that he wants to get an AstraZeneca injection to set an example.

“Given what is happening, what has just happened, with AstraZeneca, I told myself, in effect, that it would be wise that I get vaccinated very quickly, as soon as the suspension is, I hope, lifted,” he said.

Castex added that he wants to demonstrate to his fellow citizens “that vaccination is the exit door from this crisis.”

PHOENIX — Just over 1 million Arizona residents are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19, state officials announced Tuesday.

That represents nearly 14% of the state’s estimated population of nearly 7.3 million or about one of every seven residents.

“Every dose of the COVID-19 vaccine administered to an Arizona resident represents an essential step forward in our fight against COVID-19,” Gov. Doug Ducey said in a statement.

The Department of Health Services said nearly 2.6 million doses had been administered as of Tuesday morning to over 1.6 million people. The doses included the two-shot Pfizer and Moderna vaccines and the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

The state’s vaccination program began in December and now includes four large outdoor state-run sites, including three in metro Phoenix and one in Tucson. Vaccines also are being administered across the state at county sites, pharmacies, congregate care facilities and other locations.

The health services department said it is preparing to allow vaccinations for all people 16 or older by May 1 and also preparing to move some outdoor vaccination operations to indoor locations or to nighttime hours as summer approaches to protect staff, volunteers and vaccine patients from extreme heat.

HELENA, Mont. — Montana’s governor says all state residents will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine beginning on April 1.

Gov. Greg Gianforte’s announcement on Tuesday comes after President Joe Biden said last week the vaccine would be available to all adults in the country by May 1.

Vaccines are currently available to Montana front line health care workers, residents 60 or older and those with certain medical conditions.

Educators are eligible through a federal partnership with several pharmacies in the state.

Over 142,000 Montana residents, accounting for 13% of the state’s population, have received the vaccine doses necessary to become fully immunized to the virus.

HONOLULU — More tourists traveled to Hawaii on Saturday than the state has seen in a single day since the start of the pandemic.

About 26,400 trans-Pacific and interisland travelers were screened by the state’s Safe Travels program on Saturday, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Tuesday.

That’s Hawaii’s busiest day since coronavirus restrictions caused travel to plummet last year.

Data compiled by the Hawaii Tourism Authority showed that about 18,700 travelers were flying on Saturday for vacation or pleasure.

The Transportation Security Administration said Friday was its busiest screening day since March 15, 2020, with nearly 1.36 million people going through checkpoints in the United States.

LAS VEGAS — Nevada health officials say people age 55 and older can self-report to their pharmacists any underlying health conditions that make them eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccinations.

A state statistics official said Tuesday that as eligibility broadened this week in the statewide coronavirus inoculation process, deaths from COVID-19 have fallen to an average of about four per day. That number peaked at 40 per day in mid-January.

Officials widened efforts to vaccinate to people with underlying conditions, disabilities and the homeless at retail pharmacies, including at supermarkets. It’s being called a step toward getting more shots in more arms statewide.

JACKSON, Miss. — Appointments to get the coronavirus vaccine in Mississippi opened up for everyone over the age of 16 on Tuesday, and thousands of residents rushed to book their shots.

Robin McCall made appointments for her 17-year-old twin daughters. She has a 15-year-old son who has been treated for leukemia.

“He has a compromised immune system so these vaccines for our family are very important for him,” McCall said. McCall was already able to get vaccinated weeks ago because he has a qualifying health condition.

As of Tuesday, 592,500 people in Mississippi had received one dose of the vaccine, according to the state Department of Health. Around 330,000 residents were fully vaccinated. The entire state has a population of around 3 million.

People can get vaccinated at state-run drive-thru sites in counties across the state, at private clinics and community health centers and some pharmacies, like Walmart and Walgreens.

People eligible to receive the coronavirus vaccine can make an appointment at COVIDvaccine.umc.edu or by calling the COVID-19 call center at 1-877-978-6453.

Before Tuesday, vaccinations in Mississippi were available for anyone ages 50 and older, staff at K-12 schools, first responders, health care workers and those who are at least 16 and have health conditions that might make them more vulnerable to the virus.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Arkansas is making the coronavirus vaccine available to 1 million more people in the state.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Tuesday announced the state was opening up the vaccine to those in 1C of its vaccination plan. That category includes food service, prisoners and people with certain health conditions that put them at risk.

Hutchinson cited President Joe Biden’s goal to make all adults in the country eligible for the vaccine by May 1. He also cited a slowdown in demand for the vaccine, particularly in Arkansas’ rural areas.

WASHINGTON — More than 22 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines will be distributed in the next week, a new record in the U.S. fight to contain the coronavirus.

The White House announced that states will receive more than 16 million doses of the three approved coronavirus vaccines, slightly higher than last week. The balance will go to federally administered programs, including mass vaccination sites, retail pharmacies and community health centers.

White House COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients informed governors on a Tuesday call of their allotments. Most of this week’s doses will be from Moderna and Pfizer, but some supply of Johnson & Johnson is beginning to ship.

The supply is set to accelerate even further next week when the federal government expects J&J to begin shipping 4-to-6 million doses per week.

The increased supply comes as more states are lifting eligibility criteria for the vaccines ahead of President Joe Biden’s mandate that all adults be eligible for vaccination by May 1.

ROME — Italy registered 502 coronavirus deaths on Tuesday, its highest daily number since late January.

The health ministry says that increased the known toll to 103,001 deaths, the second-highest toll in Europe after Britain.

Admissions continue to rise at Italy’s intensive care units and other hospital departments for patients with COVID-19. Italy is struggling to tamp down a surge of cases, including among young people. Health experts say it is fueled in part by variants of the coronavirus.

With nearly 20,400 new cases in the last 24 hours, Italy has totaled 3.2 million confirmed infections. A slowdown in delivery of vaccines by manufacturers and other logistics problems had bogged down Italy’s vaccine rollout, but the pace of injections has improved in recent days.

On Monday, Italy joined several other European nations in temporarily suspending use of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

QUEBEC CITY — A Canadian company is moving its plant-derived COVID-19 vaccine candidate into final-stage testing.

Medicago announced Tuesday it will enroll up to 30,000 volunteers in a study in Canada and the U.S., and potentially expanding to several other countries.

Medicago uses plants as living factories to grow virus-like particles, which mimic the spike protein that coats the coronavirus. British partner GlaxoSmithKline contributes an immune-boosting chemical called an adjuvant to the vaccine.

While numerous COVID-19 vaccines are being rolled out around the world, global health authorities are looking to additional candidates in the pipeline in hopes of eventually increasing the supply.

ZAGREB, Croatia — Croatia’s drug agency says it is “unlikely” an AstraZeneca shot was the cause of death of a 91-year-old woman who died three days after receiving it.

Croatia’s medicine agency says an investigation has revealed the lung blood clotting she suffered is unrelated to her receiving the shot.

The AstraZeneca vaccine is the main shot used in Croatia’s vaccination campaign, which has been suffering from a general shortage of shots.

GENEVA — A World Health Organization spokesman says a widely expected report by a team of experts who travelled to China to look into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic is “likely” to be pushed back until next week.

Spokesman Christian Lindmeier says the report was “simply not ready” and the team members who have been working with Chinese officials to draft it “want to get it right.”

“What we hear from the technical experts — from the mission members — is that the report mostly likely now will come out next week,” Lindmeier told a U.N. briefing on Tuesday.

The U.N. health agency previously revised its plans to first publish a summary report, then a longer version, opting instead to issue a single full report. The team leader, WHO’s Peter Ben Embarek, said this month the plans were to release the report in the week of March 15.

PARIS — France’s health minister is praising the AstraZeneca vaccine as a “precious tool” against the coronavirus and hopes the government will quickly rescind its decision to suspend its use.

France is among European countries waiting for the European regulator to clear up any doubts about reported side effects. France suspended shots of the vaccine on Monday, while the European Medicines Agency investigates reports of blood clots.

The agency said Tuesday it remains convinced that the benefits of the AstraZeneca shot outweigh the risks, and it expects to issue a recommendation about its use on Thursday.

Veran also reiterated complaints voiced by France about delays in deliveries of the AstraZeneca vaccine. He says deliveries expected in the coming three weeks are “infinitesimal -- I weigh the word -- compared to the promises that were made.”

clock This article was published more than  2 years ago

Tips for traveling in the Philippines right now, from people who just went

Flights to manila may be more expensive than they were before the pandemic.

Underwater photographer Erik Lucas has regularly traveled to the Philippines since 2014, using those trips to teach workshops on capturing the Pacific country’s vibrant marine life . Then the pandemic hit, and Lucas waited years to return. “The moment they announced that they were reopening without quarantine, I booked tickets,” Lucas says.

The Philippines began welcoming fully vaccinated international travelers from approved countries in February. On April 1, the archipelago will reopen to fully vaccinated travelers from all countries.

While there are covid-specific entry requirements to get to the Philippines, Lucas felt the end result was worth the additional effort, and he encourages other travelers to visit. “Absolutely go,” he says.

To prepare for your own trip, By The Way collected advice from recent visitors and travel experts on how to navigate a pandemic trip to the Philippines.

Should you travel to a Level 4 country?

Know the basic travel requirements

Fully vaccinated travelers must provide proof of immunization (your white CDC card will do) as well as A negative RT-PCR result from a test taken within 48 hours of departure to the Philippines. This timeline excludes layovers as long as travelers stay within airports.

Children under 12 are exempt from the vaccination requirement if they are traveling with a fully vaccinated parent.

Visitors who are unvaccinated, partially vaccinated or whose vaccination status can’t be confirmed also have to provide proof of a negative PCR test taken within 48 hours of their flight to the Philippines, in addition to other quarantine requirements .

All travelers must register with the One Health Pass (OHP), apply for an e-Health Declaration Card (e-HDC) and show that they have purchased travel insurance that includes covid-19 treatment with a minimum coverage of $35,000. Lucas used the Squaremouth platform to find the travel insurance he needed to meet the Philippines’ entry requirements.

Once you’ve arrived, there may also be specific domestic travel restrictions depending on the destination. Check to make sure if you need an additional coronavirus test before taking trips within the country .

Airports are slammed. Here are 6 ways to manage the chaos.

Keep track of travel restrictions online

As with all trips during the pandemic, it is critical to watch for updates to travel restrictions ahead of your trip.

“It changes all the time,” says Pow Belgado, who visited the Philippines in March to see her family in Manila and Batangas. She turned to the Facebook page of the Philippines’ Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF). “They’re very up to date,” she says, adding that the page made understanding travel restrictions more manageable with easy-to-read graphics.

Belgado also recommends checking for news through the Philippine embassy and contacting its staff if you have any confusion. “I had a question and they emailed me back on a Sunday,” she says. “I was quite surprised.”

Hans Van Der Sande, treasurer of the casino and resort complex Okada Manila, relied on updates from the Philippine Airlines website. Its Covid-19 Travel Guide offers information for passengers flying to, from and within the Philippines.

You can also visit the official tourism website or the Department of Health ’s website.

Anticipate fewer flight options

Daniel Robbins booked his flight to the Philippines as soon as he heard about the reopening plan. Because Robbins was so early, there weren’t great flight options to get from Los Angeles to Manila; airlines are still ramping up services to the country.

“[I got] like the only [flight] available before it started getting very expensive,” he says. “I had to fly from California to Hawaii, Hawaii to Guam, Guam to Manila. It took forever.”

While planning for his 2½-week trip to Manila and Cebu, Norman Villaroman — a native of the Philippines and founder of the family travel blog Go Places With Kids — also noticed tickets were more expensive than before the pandemic.

As demand rises for flights to the Philippines, the cost of tickets should go down, and options should increase. Villaroman says travelers should make sure the flight is flexible in case they need to cancel or reschedule based on the results of a coronavirus test.

How to use vaccine passports for international travel

How to prepare for your travel day

Travelers will have to present their essential documents — such as proof of vaccination and OHP QR code — at their departure airport when checking in for their flight, again before they board and upon landing in the Philippines. They will also be asked to show their travel insurance and test results before departing.

“They check every step of the way,” Lucas says, noting that he was surprised how thoroughly they reviewed his travel insurance policy.

Robbins arrived at the airport much earlier than usual, giving himself four hours in case something went awry. Before he left home, he made sure he had multiple copies of every required document for his trip. “I didn’t want to rely on them only being on my phone,” he says.

What happens when you land

Visitors will have to show their essential travel documents when they arrive in the Philippines. The process is smooth, Belgado says, but she recommends sitting as close as you can to the front of the plane so you can be one of the first to the counters for your document review.

Once you have gone through immigration and coronavirus procedures at the airport, you are free to leave and begin your adventure. Just make sure you keep track of your vaccination card throughout your trip — most hotels require guests to provide proof of vaccination to enter and check in.

“Having your vaccine card is almost as important as having your passport,” Van Der Sande says.

Aside from vaccine requirements, Van Der Sande says the only other major coronavirus precaution is that masks are required in public places .

Otherwise, there aren’t many restrictions limiting a traveler’s experience in the Philippines. Bars and restaurants are open, but they may have limited capacity. Belgado says she went to the beach, malls and casinos, and “it felt normal.”

Robbins enjoyed the reduced capacity on his snorkel excursion. Although that meant customers had to wait a little longer for their turn to board a boat, people weren’t packed in together like they would be before the pandemic.

13 places vaccinated travelers can go without taking a coronavirus test

Plan your coronavirus tests to get home

As a reminder, anyone coming to the United States must get an approved test within a day of their flight.

Belgado says people staying in Manila should have no problem finding and arranging a coronavirus test, but if you’re staying in a smaller or more remote destination, plan your test with more care. While staying in Batangas, she didn’t realize the testing lab needed to send out her sample to another facility, so getting results took much longer than she expected. She had to splurge on a second test to make sure she could get the results in time.

When planning your own tests, Belgado says, ask the lab how long they will need to process a test within your travel window.

To cut the stress of finding a test locally, Villaroman packed an at-home test that is approved for U.S. travel restrictions. Should you go this route, note that tests must be approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and be taken over a video call with real-time supervision from a telehealth service. Some options include Qured’s antigen self-tests and BinaxNOW’s kit (not the over-the-counter version found at drugstores; you have to order the COVID-19 Ag Card Home Test online and make sure it includes video-call support). Detect’s coronavirus test uses the same technology as a PCR lab test and delivers results in about an hour.

“I also brought some extra at-home tests for peace of mind just so I could test myself if I had symptoms,” Villaroman says, echoing advice from many coronavirus experts .

More travel tips

Vacation planning: Start with a strategy to maximize days off by taking PTO around holidays. Experts recommend taking multiple short trips for peak happiness . Want to take an ambitious trip? Here are 12 destinations to try this year — without crowds.

Cheap flights: Follow our best advice for scoring low airfare , including setting flight price alerts and subscribing to deal newsletters. If you’re set on an expensive getaway, here’s a plan to save up without straining your credit limit.

Airport chaos: We’ve got advice for every scenario , from canceled flights to lost luggage . Stuck at the rental car counter? These tips can speed up the process. And following these 52 rules of flying should make the experience better for everyone.

Expert advice: Our By The Way Concierge solves readers’ dilemmas , including whether it’s okay to ditch a partner at security, or what happens if you get caught flying with weed . Submit your question here . Or you could look to the gurus: Lonely Planet and Rick Steves .

Update April 12, 2024

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Philippines Travel Advisory

Travel advisory july 24, 2023, philippines - level 2: exercise increased caution.

Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed.

Exercise increased caution to the Philippines due to  crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping.  Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Do Not Travel to:

• The Sulu Archipelago, including the southern Sulu Sea, due to  crime, terrorism, civil unrest,  and  kidnapping .
• Marawi City in Mindanao due to  terrorism  and  civil unrest .

Reconsider Travel to:

• Other areas of Mindanao due to  crime, terrorism, civil unrest,  and  kidnapping .

Country Summary : Terrorist and armed groups continue plotting possible kidnappings, bombings, and other attacks in the Philippines. Terrorist and armed groups may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, markets/shopping malls, and local government facilities. The Philippine government has declared a “State of National Emergency on Account of Lawless Violence in Mindanao.”

Read the  country information page  for additional information on travel to the Philippines.

If you decide to travel to the Philippines:

• Monitor local media for breaking events and adjust your plans based on new information.
• Avoid demonstrations. 
• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.   
• Follow the Department of State on  Facebook  and  Twitter .   
• Review the  Country Security Report  for the Philippines.
• Visit the CDC page for the latest  Travel Health Information  related to your travel.
• Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the  Traveler’s Checklist .

The Sulu Archipelago and Sulu Sea – Level 4: Do Not Travel

Terrorist and armed groups continue to conduct kidnappings on land and at sea for ransom, bombings, and other attacks targeting U.S. citizens, foreigners, civilians, local government institutions, and security forces.

The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in the Sulu Archipelago and Sulu Sea as U.S. government employees must obtain special authorization to travel to those areas.

Visit our website for  Travel to High-Risk Areas .

Marawi City in Mindanao – Level 4: Do Not Travel

Civilians are at risk of death or injury due to conflict between remnants of terrorist groups and Philippine security forces in Marawi.

The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Mindanao as U.S. government employees must obtain special authorization to travel there.

Mindanao – Level 3: Reconsider Travel

The Philippine government maintains a state of emergency and greater police presence in the Cotabato City area, and in the Maguindanao, North Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat provinces.

Terrorist and armed groups continue to conduct kidnappings, bombings, and other attacks targeting U.S. citizens, foreigners, civilians, local government institutions, and security forces.

Travel Advisory Levels

Assistance for u.s. citizens, philippines map, search for travel advisories, external link.

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COVID-19 international travel advisories

If you plan to visit the U.S., you do not need to be tested or vaccinated for COVID-19. U.S. citizens going abroad, check with the Department of State for travel advisories.

COVID-19 testing and vaccine rules for entering the U.S.

• As of May 12, 2023, noncitizen nonimmigrant visitors to the U.S.  arriving by air  or  arriving by land or sea  no longer need to show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19. 
• As of June 12, 2022,  people entering the U.S. no longer need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test . 

U.S. citizens traveling to a country outside the U.S.

Find country-specific COVID-19 travel rules from the Department of State.

See the  CDC's COVID-19 guidance for safer international travel.

LAST UPDATED: December 6, 2023

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