PCR Test Requirements from Philippines to Various Foreign Destinations
Here are the latest PCR Test Requirements from Philippines to various foreign destinations as updated last June 8, 2021. The countries listed below require incoming passengers and visitors to take a COVID-19 Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test prior to arrival, whether the reason for the travel is essential or non-essential.
This updated PCR Test Requirements from Philippines is subject to change without prior notification.
Quick Links for PCR Test Requirements from Philippines
PCR Test Requirements for Asia
Cambodia
Medical Certificate issued by health authorities, recognized and certified by the Government of his/her home country indicating that he/she is COVID-19 (RT-PCR Test) negative with validity no more 72 hours from the departure time
Upon the arrival, Cambodians and Non-Cambodian nationals alike will be escorted to a designated COVID-19 center for testing, where they will be accommodated, and they must wait up to 24 hours for their results before being allowed to enter the Kingdom.
China
Chinese and foreign travelers who are to fly from the Philippines to China take Nucleic Acid Tests and Serum Antibody Test for COVID-19 within 3 days (72 hours) before boarding and only those who test negative will be allowed to board the plane.
All China-bound seafarers should provide negative certificates for BOTH nucleic acid and IgM anti-body tests for COVID-19 within 48 hours prior to boarding the vessel.
Hong Kong
Original copy of Negative Nucleic Acid Test Result Certificate indicating pax name, passport number or ID issued within 72 hours before departure
Note: The laboratory test result must state negative for SARS-CoV2 or not detected SARS-CoV2 / coronavirus
Note: Beginning August 10, 2020, no need to have ID or travel document number of the relevant traveler on the test report. The test report can be a copy, either paper or electronic, doesn’t need to be “original”.
Indonesia
ALL passengers must have a medical certificate with a negative Coronavirus (COVID-19) PCR test result valid for 3 days (3×24 hours) before departure.
If no certificate is presented upon check-in, they can have their PCR test upon arrival. They are subject to quarantine for 14 days at their own expense.
Mandatory Quarantine for all incoming passengers. Upon arrival they undergo re-tests and quarantine for 5 days in a designated hotel.
Macau
Effective June 05, 2021, all arriving passengers (Macau Residents) must have proof of three (3) Negative COVID-19 nucleic acid test (RT-PCR) within seven (7) days (each at least 24hrs apart) and the third test must not exceed 72 hours before boarding. Aside from 3 negative nucleic test, passenger must have proof of negative IGM serum antibody test or a COVID-19 vaccination certificate.
Malaysia
Travelers must present a NEGATIVE COVID-19 RT-PCR test result within 72 hours prior to arrival in Malaysia. The 72 hours will be calculated from the time the sample was collected.
Japan
Effective March 19, 2021, all entrants (including Japanese nationals) must provide a certificate of inspection or Certificate of Testing for Covid-19 within 72 hours prior to departure. If passenger is unable to submit the certificate, they will not be allowed to enter in Japan based on Quarantine Law.
Seafarers: Pre-entry test negative certificate conducted within 72 hours before departure.
All arriving passengers from Philippines are required to take a PCR-test to be conducted by Japan local Quarantine.
Papua New Guinea
Negative RT-PCR Test result issued at most 7 days before departure
Singapore
All passengers who are traveling from or have travel history to the Philippines within the last 14 days prior to entry into or transit/transfer through Singapore, will be required to take a COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test within 72 hours before departure.
Sea crew: the crew must have a negative result from a COVID-19 test (polymerase chain reaction (PCR) type) taken at a government-approved or ISO 15189-accredited testing facility not more than 72 hours prior to departure for Singapore.
South Korea
Effective January 08, 2021, all foreign nationals from all foreign countries must submit a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours before their departure.
The Negative COVID-19 PCR Test Result will only be accepted if it was issued by one of the hospitals designated by the Embassy.
Taiwan
ALL travelers coming to Taiwan and transit passengers are required to provide a certificate of COVID-19 RT-PCR negative result issued within 3 days before they are allowed to board their flight to Taiwan regardless of nationality (Taiwan or Foreign nationals) or travel purpose (study, work, diplomatic or official business and others).
The testing method of negative test result should be a nucleic acid test (such as PCR, RT-PCR, NAA, NAT or others).
The certificate of COVID-19 RT-PCR negative result must be issued by a medical institution certified by the local government in the place of departure. Such certificate shall be written in English or Chinese or both.
Thailand
PCR test result issued no more than 72 hours before departure
Vietnam
Must be tested for SAR CoV.2 by REALTIME PCR for 3 to 7 days before entering Vietnam. The SAR CoV.2 test must be performed at a government-approved laboratory or a laboratory of the World Health Organization.
PCR Test Requirements for the Middle East
Here are the PCR Test Requirements from Philippines to various countries in the Middle East (Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Dubai.
Kuwait
Negative PCR test result issued within the previous 96 hours prior to departure.
If requested, 10% of pax on each flight will be selected for random COVID-19 PCR test upon arrival
Qatar
All passengers whose original flight is from the Philippines are subject to mandatory COVID-19 PCR Test done 48 hours before departure from the testing centers approved by their local health authority.
The PCR test result should be negative before they are allowed to board the aircraft to Qatar, or enter Qatar through any ports of entry (HIA/Abu Samra land border/ sea port).
Saudi Arabia
Negative result (PCR) test from a verified laboratory, and it must be done not later than 72 hours* before the scheduled departure to KSA.
RT-PCR Test validity is 72 hours from the time the test was conducted/taken.
Dubai
Negative COVID-19 PCR test no later than 72 hours before departure.
All UAE residents, GCC citizens, and tourists arriving to DXB/DWC will need to do a pre-travel (before departure) PCR test, irrespective of the country they are coming from.
PCR Test Requirements for North America
America / USA
Effective January 26, 2021, all arriving passengers from a foreign country to the US are required to present a proof of a negative COVID-19 test or documentation of having recovered from COVID-19.
A NEGATIVE COVID-19 test (RT-PCR or Antigen) from a licensed health care provider or a public health official, tested within 3 days prior to flight departure (Qualifying Test); or
A written or electronic Documentation of recovery from previous COVID-19 infection in the form of a positive viral test within 3 months of departure, and a letter from a licensed health care provider or a public health official showing stating that the passenger has been cleared for travel (Document of Recovery).
*According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, ‘Viral Test’ means a viral detection test for current infection (i.e., nuclei acid amplification test or antigen test) approved or authorized by the relevant national authority for the detection of Covid-19 (SARS-CoV-2).
New York – additional requirement
Filipinos travelers to New York may “test out” of the mandatory 14-day quarantine. Travelers must obtain a test (RT-PCR) within three days of departure, prior to arrival in New York.
The presentation of the negative test result will not be presented upon arrival. The passenger will just keep his/her negative test result ready in case he/she chooses to do the “test out” option and undergo the NYS Health Office random check.
Canada
All arriving passengers, aged five or older, including Canadian citizens, permanent residents of Canada, and persons registered as Indian under the Indian Act, traveling to Canada are required to:
Provide a written or electronic documentation showing they received a NEGATIVE molecular COVID-19 test (RT-PCR or RT-LAMP) conducted within 72 hours prior to their initial scheduled time of departure; or
A written or electronic documentation of a prior COVID positive test conducted between 14 – 90 days before the initial scheduled time of departure.
COVID test reports should be in either English or French where possible in addition to, if applicable, the language used where the tests are conducted.
PCR Test Requirements for Europe
United Kingdom
A negative COVID test taken within 3 days prior to departure to the UK applies to all adult passenger arrivals.
Test must be of a diagnostic-standard test such as a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test, and could in some cases include LAMP and Lateral Flow tests within set limits.
PCR Test Requirements for Oceana
Australia
Effective January 22, 2021, passengers traveling to Australia will be required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 (RT-PCR) test result conducted 72 hours or less prior to the scheduled departure time of your flight (or first flight if you have one or more connecting flights booked for your travel to Australia).
New Zealand
Effective January 25, 2021, all travelers to New Zealand (except those from Australia, Antarctica and most Pacific islands) legally must now have a COVID-19 (RT-PCR) test taken and a negative result returned within 72 hours of their first scheduled international flight.
Papua New Guinea
Negative RT-PCR Test result issued at most 7 days before departure
This updated PCR Test Requirements from Philippines list is sourced from Philippine Airlines website.