Foreign nationals with valid visas allowed to enter PH starting May 1

Foreign nationals with valid immigrant or non-immigrant visas are permitted to enter the Philippines starting May 1, according to the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

This directive aligns with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) resolution allowing the return of foreign students, investors, and workers.

Foreign tourists, however, remain prohibited from entering the country.

Foreign nationals qualified under the Balikbayan Program, along with their foreign spouses and children, may also avail of this entry privilege.

Those holding valid and existing Special Resident and Retirees Visa (SRRV) or Section 9(a) temporary visitors' visas need an entry exemption document from the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Passengers coming from India or with recent travel history to India are still barred from entering the country.

Except for diplomats and members of international organizations, arriving foreign passengers must present pre-booked accommodation in quarantine-accredited hotels.

They are also subject to a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test on the sixth day of their arrival at an isolation facility.

Entry is contingent upon the maximum capacity of inbound passengers at the port and the date of entry.