NZ to the Philippines: Karla’s two-way journey experience

Martin Go
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The Philippines recently reopened its borders to international travellers on 10 Feb 2022 after 2 years. Business travel to Manila is now easier.

In this article, Karla Ponferrada shares her experience travelling to the Philipines from New Zealand and back in November 2021. As a former Filipino citizen, she was able to enter the Philippines under the Balikbayan programme. Unfortunately, Karla tested positive for Covid-19 48 hours before her flight back to New Zealand.

Read on to know more about her experience and how she handled it. If you are travelling soon and need to keep up-to-date with travel restrictions, keep Covid Entry Check handy and get the latest with one click. Covid Entry Check also gives you easy access to testing facilities closest to you.

Travelling to the Philippines travel restrictions
Step 1: Visit Covid Entry Check and key in your travel route and click “Show me”
travel restrictions Philippines to New Zealand on 18 February 2022
Step 2: Click “Expand details” and you will see complete and up-to-date travel information for your travel route. The information above is for New Zealand last updated Feb 17, 2022

Pre-Arrival

What was the purpose of your trip from New Zealand to the Philippines? Please let us know the dates and where you were travelling from and to.

The main purpose of my travel was to attend my sister’s wedding. My last visit was before Covid-19, so thought to extend my stay to spend time with my family, friends & my fiance. I flew from Christchurch to Manila with transit in Singapore on the 13th of November 2021. I arrived the same day.

Were you restricted from entering the Philippines? If so, why and what did you need to enter?

No, I wasn’t. I entered the Philippines under the Balikbayan program (a program that allows former Filipino citizens to enter the Philippines visa-free for 1 year) 

Were there many like you travelling to the Philippines?

I believe there were only 2 of us on the same flight route travelling from New Zealand to the Philippines.

What was the pre-arrival process like? Was a permission, pre-quarantine, health declaration, testing, medical insurance needed prior to booking a flight or flying off?

Under the Balikbayan program, I didn’t need to apply for a visa, but I needed to provide proof of Filipino citizenship such as old passport or birth certificate at check-in.

As New Zealand was one of the countries on the green list at that time and I was already fully vaccinated, I didn’t need to do the mandatory hotel quarantine upon arrival in the Philippines. I only needed to have a negative test result 48 hrs before my departure (Singapore transit requirement but the Philippines require 72 hrs pre-departure test), register for One Health Pass and Traze App, and prepare proof of vaccination.

On transit at Singapore Changi Airport
In transit at Singapore Changi Airport

On flight

What was the process like checking in and flying off from New Zealand?

Checking-in took longer than usual as the ground crew needed to ensure I have all the documentation required to travel & enter the Philippines. It was also the same process when I boarded my flight from Singapore to Manila.

What documentation did you need before boarding your flight?

Boarding my flight in New Zealand, they just asked for my boarding pass. However, in Singapore, they asked for my Traze app, Vaccination certificate, One Health Pass & boarding pass. 

What were the checkpoints you had to go through at the airport and immigration?

It was the same process in New Zealand pre-covid. 

Were you anxious about the risk of contracting COVID-19 on flight?

I got a little bit paranoid on the flight – changing my mask every 3-4 hrs and sanitizing my hands every time I touch something. I was also anxious about moving around like limiting myself to go to the toilet.

Upon Arrival

Can you share in detail what happened when you landed and the good / bad SOP you had to go through?

When we landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) airport, there were people who were waiting for us outside the plane & explained to us the process that the passengers have to go through.

Bad SOP: people checking were a bit confused of who needs to go on quarantine and who are exempted. Although it’s understandable as the list keeps on changing every 15 days.

Everything else went smoothly. Maybe because there were not many travellers arriving at the same time.

Did you have to bear the cost of the test, quarantine, etc?

I didn’t have to spend anything on tests & quarantine because we were exempted to go on quarantine. 

Post Arrival

How do you feel about travelling during the pandemic?

It was so different pre-covid. Travelling during the pandemic, I was very cautious of every surface I touched, people I came across, and the places I visited.

What was your experience in the Philippines like? Were there many tourists and activities?

I didn’t go out much. I stayed most of my time at home. I only went out if I needed to. My travels were also limited to visiting family.

Quarantining in a hotel room after testing positive for Covid-19
Quarantining in a hotel room after testing positive for Covid-19

Returning to New Zealand

Was it easy returning to New Zealand? Describe your experience

Generally speaking, as long as you secure a managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) spot & have a negative pre-departure test, it’s easy to return to NZ.

However, it wasn’t easy returning for me and my sister. We were supposed to fly back to NZ on 13th January but unfortunately, I tested positive of covid 48 hrs before our flight, so we had to contact the airline to reschedule our flight. We also notified the MIQ team to cancel our travel voucher and re-issue it when we’re fit to travel. 

We isolated in a hotel for 10 days until we were issued a Medical Certificate. With the uncertainty of when we can fly back to NZ, we moved from one accommodation to another. 

It took us 3 Covid-19 tests to get a negative test result and be able to fly back. 

We managed to fly back to New Zealand on 30 January 2022. 

Flight to New Zealand
Flight to New Zealand

Do you have any travel advice for our readers and users?

Travel policies change from time to time & are different in every country. Before travelling, know the requirements & restrictions of the country you’re travelling to and the requirements for getting back to the country you’re returning to.


Get all the travel information you need with a single click at Covid Entry Check. We’re excited to bring people back together again through business travel. If you’re looking for a travel management platform that understands the new era of travel, give TruTrip a try or book a demo with us to find out more.