Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, & Spain Make Red List
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced the implementation of the updated country risk classification effective January 1. In an advisory, BI Commissioner Jaime Morente shared that they will be implementing the latest resolution from the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) on the new red, yellow, and green lists (PHILIPPINES IMMIGRATION).
Said listing will be in place starting the new year, up until January 15, 2022, per the Bureau’s latest PRESS RELEASE.
Under the red list are Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, and Spain. Foreign nationals coming from red list countries, or have a travel history there within the last 14 days preceding arrival, shall be barred entry and be sent back to their point of origin.
Filipinos coming from red list countries, on the other hand, may be able to return via government- or non-government-initiated repatriation flights or bayanihan flights (PHILIPPINES IMMIGRATION).
Also updated are the countries included in the green list:
Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, British Virgin Islands, China (Mainland), Cote d’ Ivoire (Ivory Coast),
Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Fiji, The Gambia, Guinea,
Hong Kong (Chinese Special Administrative Region), Indonesia, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia,
Montserrat, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Rwanda, Saba (Special Municipality of the Kingdom of the Netherlands),
Saint Barthelemy, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sint Eustatius, Taiwan, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Togo, Uganda and United Arab Emirates.
All other countries, territories, or jurisdictions not mentioned are under the Yellow List.
“Only Filipinos, balikbayan, and foreign nationals with long-term visas coming from green and yellow list countries may be allowed entry to the Philippines,” said Morente.
“Following the latest resolution, tourists are still not allowed to enter the country,” he clarified.
Meanwhile, despite the travel restrictions due to the Covid-19 Omicron variant, Morente shared that things are looking better in the international travel sector.