AsiaKoreaNews

South Korea-bound Filipinos To Present Negative COVID-19 PCR Test Result Within 48 Hours Prior To Departure

The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Philippines announced today, 16 July, that the South Korean government has decided to require all foreigners—including transfer passengers—arriving in South Korea from July 20 to present a negative COVID-19 PCR Test result issued within 48 hours before the traveler’s flight departure time.

According to the Embassy, the Negative COVID-19 PCR Test Result must be shown at the time of check-in at the airport and upon the time of arrival at the quarantine authority in South Korea. 

As an example, the embassy said that passengers on flights departing on July 20 (Mon) 23:55 have to present their Negative COVID-19 PCR Test Result issued between July 19 (Sunday) and July 20 (Monday).

It must be noted that the Negative COVID-19 PCR Test Result will only be accepted if it was issued by one of the hospitals designated by the embassy. 

The following are the hospitals designated by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Philippines:

The Embassy stresses that this directive is not related to visa issuance, which means, even though you already carry a visa, you have to take an additional COVID-19 PCR Test before your flight.

At the moment, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Philippines is not accepting new visa applications. The processing of visas that have already been received prior to this newly-announced rule will also be put on hold. Exemptions have been put in place for visas of diplomats, officials, seamen, and spouses and children of South Korean nationals. 

Recently, South Korea saw an increase in COVID-19 cases which have been confirmed to be from people entering the country aboard an airplane from the Philippines. So if you have any plans of traveling to South Korea in the near future for a holiday, or maybe, to check out the N Seoul Tower and Nami Island to relive your favorite K-Drama moments, you might want to get ready for a lengthy entry process to ensure your own and everybody else’s safety. 

 

 

For more inquiries, you may send an e-mail to ph_visa@mofa.go.kr.

 

 

*Featured image via Shutterstock

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