TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF TRAVEL INTO THE PHILIPPINES OF FOREIGNERS AND RETURNING OVERSEAS FILIPINOS (ROFs) WHO ARE NON-OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS (NON-OFWs)
The Philippine Embassy informs the public of the latest directive of the National Task Force Against COVID-19 (NTF-COVID-19) in Memorandum Circular No. 5, s. 2021 (NTF MC No. 5, s. 2021), to wit:
"D. In light of efforts to prevent the entry of SARS-COV-2 variants from other countries and the further rise of cases, all concerned agencies are hereby directed to limit the number of inbound international passengers/arrivals to only One Thousand Five Hundred (1,500) a day and to temporarily suspend the entry of Foreign Nationals and Returning Overseas Filipinos who are non-OFWs beginning 0001H of 20th March until 19th April, except the following:
- Holders of 9(e) visas;
- Medical Repatriation and their escorts duly endorsed by the Department of Foreign Affairs - Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers' Affairs (OUMWA) or the Overseas Filipino Workers Administration (OWWA);
- Distressed ROFs duly endorsed by the Department of Foreign Affairs - Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers' Affairs (OUMWA);
- Emergency, humanitarian, and other analogous cases approved by the NTF COV/0-19. "
Said Memorandum was issued as part of the Philippine Government's response against the surge of confirmed COVID-19 cases and its variants.
In order to aid the Philippine Embassy in effectively evaluating each request for exemptions, below are the specific documentary requirements of medical repatriation and repatriation of distressed OFs:
Below are copies of Memorandum Circular No. 5, s. 2021, UMRAF, and the updated RIF.
Please be guided accordingly.
IATF Memorandum Circular No. 5, s. 2021
Repatriation Investigation Form (RIF)
Unified Medical Repatriation Assistance Form