As COVID-19 vaccines become more accessible to every country, international borders have begun to open for some countries. Some countries finally began opening their borders to international tourists. That being said, foreign tourists can start exploring some countries (Such as Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, etc.) again with some minimum requirements. They must follow some protocols and present documents at the airport before going out of the country. One of them could be a Bureau of Quarantine Yellow Card or International Certificate of Vaccination (ICV).
If you plan to travel abroad, you might consider getting a yellow passport from the Bureau of Quarantine.
What is the International Certificate of Vaccination (ICV)?
The International Certificate of Vaccination (ICV) or “yellow passport,” or “immunity passport,” is a card or a document that consists of a record of an individual’s vaccinations that are required for traveling abroad. The World Health Organization member states recognize this yellow card.
How to Get a Yellow Passport in the Philippines
Getting a yellow passport or International Certificate of Vaccination (ICV) in the Philippines is not required. But if you want to get one, here are some of the easy steps that you can follow through the entire process.
- Prepare all the requirements needed.
- Register to the Bureau of Quarantine’s website.
- Start booking an appointment.
- Choose your preferred BOQ office.
- Book an appointment and choose your preferred date.
- Submit a copy of your passport, vaccination card, and a valid ID.
- Proceed to payment.
- Visit the BOQ office on your scheduled appointment.
- Wait for the release of your yellow passport.
Prepare all the requirements needed.
Make sure that you have already prepared all the requirements and documents needed to get qualified for getting a yellow passport or ICV. Prepare your valid passport, vaccination card, and a valid ID. These are all needed when booking an appointment with the Bureau of Quarantine.
Register to the Bureau of Quarantine’s website.
Head over to the online system of the Bureau of Quarantine and create an account. Provide a valid e-mail address and a strong password to log in to the site.
Start booking an appointment.
After registering to the website, make sure you review the terms and agreement, then select “book an appointment,” click a “ new certificate,” and fill out all the necessary information asked from the website.
Choose your preferred BOQ office.
After providing all the necessary information, you may choose the nearest or preferred BOQ office. BOQ office has a lot of different satellites from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
For Luzon branches:
- BOQ Main Office (Manila)
- Robinsons Manila
- SM Mall of Asia
- SM North Edsa
- Eastwood
- Grand Canal (McKinley)
- La Union
- Laoag
- Bataan
- Clark, Pampanga
- Subic
- Subic Harbor Point
- BOQ Station – Batangas
- BOQ Station – Palawan
- BOQ Station – Tabaco, Albay
For Visayas branches:
- Kalibo, Aklan
- Iloilo
- Cebu
- Robinsons Cebu
- Bohol
- Bacolod, Negros Occ.
For Mindanao branches:
- Zamboanga
- Cagayan de Oro
- Davao
- General Santos
Book an appointment and choose your preferred date.
After successfully uploading those required documents mentioned above, you may start booking an appointment by choosing your preferred date and time.
Submit a copy of your passport, vaccination card, and a valid ID.
Ensure that you have prepared a copy of your passport, vaccination card, and a valid ID. You must upload all of them to the website. Ensure that you have selected “International Certificate of Vaccination for COVID-19” as the type of BOQ service you are availing of.
Proceed to payment.
If you have successfully booked an appointment, you must pay for it. You can pay via over-the-counter payments through LBC and 7-Eleven. Easier options would be online payments via GCash, Dragonpay (Paymaya), or Metrobank. Make sure you have a copy of your receipt as you will need it to present on the day of your appointment. You may screenshot the receipt after getting through the payment process.
Visit the BOQ office on your scheduled appointment.
Show up on your appointment date at the BOQ office, then take all the documents with you. Bring your valid passport, vaccination card, and a screenshot of your receipt.
Wait for the release of your yellow passport.
After the staff confirms all the information you have provided, you can wait for a few minutes to get your yellow passport or the International Certificate of Vaccination (ICV). It won’t take you so much time to wait for it unless there are many applicants on the day of your appointment. Better to come early!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it mandatory to get a yellow passport in the Philippines?
It is not mandatory to get a yellow passport or ICV for those planning to travel abroad. Not all countries require to present this card. On the other hand, some countries might ask for a vaccination certification. So make sure you thoroughly check all the documents needed for the country you are planning to visit.
What are the needed requirements for the ICV for COVID-19?
You must provide a valid passport, a vaccination card, and a valid ID to request an ICV for COVID-19.
Who can apply for ICV for COVID-19?
Those who are fully vaccinated and got boosted may apply for the yellow card of the International Certificate of Vaccination for COVID-19. Either it is for a requirement to work abroad or for leisure purposes.
How much is the International Certificate of Vaccination for COVID-19?
You will need to pay Php 300 for the documentation plus Php 70 for the convenience fee.
How long does the yellow card get released?
The release of the yellow passport will not cost you too much time. But the entire process might take you an hour or hours, depending on the number of applicants.
Does the yellow card have an expiration date?
No, the card has no expiration date. It is not stated on the card itself.
If you have any more questions about getting a yellow passport or BOQ Yellow Card, check out the Bureau of Quarantine’s FAQ here.
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A travel blogger in the Philippines, Ara Patria (The Adventuress) pursues her passion and love for traveling. She’s been blogging for years, where she writes about her own travel experiences and promotes the wonders of the Philippines. Not only does she promote the beauty of her country, but she also focuses on promoting sustainable tourism. She dreams to travel the world and inspire other people through her own written works and captured moments with her camera.
The Adventuress is a travel blogger with a purpose. She aims to inspire and influence other people through her personal experiences, stories, and lenses. Outside her blogging world, she is an English teacher, an SEO specialist, TEFL/TESOL certified, and a Korean Honorary Reporter.
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