PH allows entry of foreigners with investor, work visas starting November 1

The Philippines has allowed the entry of select foreigners on November 1, Malacañang announced on Friday, October 23.

“The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) on Thursday, October 22, allowed the entry of foreign nationals starting November 1, 2020,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement on Friday.

Roque said foreign nationals allowed in the country beginning November are limited to the following:

• Those with visas issued by the Bureau of Immigration under Executive Order No. 226 or the Omnibus Investments Code, and Republic Act. No. 8756. This refers to foreign personnel of regional or area headquarters and regional operating headquarters of multinational companies, their respective spouses and unmarried children under the age of 21, if accompanying them or joining them later.
• Those with 47(a)(2) visas or work visas issued by the Department of Justice
• Those with visas issued by the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, or visas granted to investors and their dependents, and workers in the freeport zones

Roque said the entry of the foreign nationals are still subject to conditions.

“They must have valid and existing visa at the time of the entry and must likewise have a pre-booked accredited quarantine facility.  In addition, they must be subject to the maximum capacity of inbound passengers at the port and date of entry and must follow applicable immigration laws, rules and regulations,” he said.

Roque also announced that the IATF has lifted the pre-boarding testing requirement for outbound Filipinos.

This amends IATF Resolution No. 79, which asked for a negative antigen test result taken within 24 hours before departure as a pre-boarding requirement. – Rappler.com