This email contains important information for New Zealanders wishing to depart the Philippines. Please read and follow instructions carefully. Please pass this message on to any other New Zealanders who may not be registered but could be affected by this information. Flights from the Philippines to New Zealand The New Zealand Government is working with Philippine Airlines to bring New Zealanders and their family members home from the Philippines via a flight departing Manila International Airport (NAIA) Sunday 19 April. We are also looking at options for New Zealanders in other parts of the Philippines to travel to Manila by domestic sweeper (one-off domestic charter) flights to be able to travel onwards from Manila to New Zealand, which would fly into Manila on Saturday 18 April. Further details – including likely timing, pricing, and how to book will be provided once confirmed. If you are interested in registering for a flight, please provide the required information requested at the bottom of this message and email NZEMManila@mfat.govt.nz New Zealand Border Restrictions On 10th April, the New Zealand Government introduced further managed isolation requirements for international arrivals into New Zealand. Please consider these requirements before deciding whether you would like to take advantage of this opportunity. Every passenger entering New Zealand will be screened for COVID-19 on arrival. Passengers will be disembarked in small groups and met by Government officials at the gate. When passengers disembark the plane health officials will discuss isolation and transport arrangements and answer any questions passengers may have. For more information on self-isolation see the Ministry of Health website’s Border Controls page and read their passenger arrival factsheet on managed isolation/quarantine. Consular assistance This is an increasingly difficult situation and we fully appreciate the heightened stress many travellers are facing. The New Zealand Embassy is operating remotely with reduced services due to the Enhanced Community Quarantine measures in Luzon and the Philippines, if you do require urgent consular assistance, including if you are facing financial difficulties, please contact the 24/7 New Zealand consular assistance line on +64 9 920 2020. Financial difficulty New Zealanders wishing to depart the Philippines but are unable to pay the costs for the flights upfront are asked to still register their interest for the flights using the process described below and additionally email: DM-CONS@mfat.govt.nz to discuss finance options. You must include "PHILIPPINES FLIGHT" in the subject line, and explain your financial situation within the body of the email. Your situation will be considered on a case-by-case basis. INFORMATION FOR PHILIPINES TO NEW ZEALAND FLIGHT: When will the flight depart, and from where? We expect one flight to depart Manila for Auckland on Sunday 19 April. Those needing to travel to Manila by domestic sweeper (one-off domestic charter) flights would need to do so on Saturday 18 April. Those needing to overnight in Manila will be required to make a hotel booking. Confirmation of departure times for this flight and a list of hotels near Manila International Airport (NAIA) will be provided to registered passengers as soon as possible. Who will be able to take this flight? Seats will be available in priority order to: New Zealand citizens and permanent residents and their family members. Family members who are not New Zealand citizens or permanent residents must apply to Immigration New Zealand for permission to enter New Zealand at. A full list of others that might be eligible to enter New Zealand can be found here (e.g essential health workers and other essential workers): https://www.immigration.govt.nz/formshelp/request-for-travel-to-new-zealand We encourage those who have a relevant visa and believe that they are eligible for an exemption to enter New Zealand under our current border settings to apply by 9:00am Thursday 16 April for an exemption. *** Please copy and paste the information below and email to: NZEMManila@mfat.govt.nz with the following subject line "PHILIPPINES FLIGHT" I wish to register interest in the flight from Manila to Auckland. Below is my travel information (please complete for each traveller – including children): Required Information Surname as per Passport: First Name as per Passport: Passport Number: Place of Birth: Country of Issue: Date of Issue: Date of Expiry: Personal Email: Personal Phone Number (we must be able to contact you in this number in the Philippines). Please note if you have contact via whatsapp only): What City are you in: Gender: Nationality (If not NZ, please also provide entry status): New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs Address: 195 Lambton Quay, Private Bag 18 901, Wellington 6160, New Zealand Ministry Telephone: +64 4 439 8000 24/7 Consular emergency call: 0800 30 10 30 or +64 99 20 20 20 Fax: +64 4 439 8515 Office Hours: Mon-Fri 8.30am to 5pm, NZ time. https://register.safetravel.govt.nz
PAL Sweeper Flight scheduled to leave Dumaguete Saturday. You have to register with a PAL ticket office not later than 8PM today. Got the information from the US Embassy Manila. Same travel criteria, hotel reservation and onward flight. They didn't say what time the flight leaves but did say the cost would be standard.
Part (2): We understand that many New Zealanders are waiting for confirmation from Philippine Airlines on the 18 April sweeper flights to Manila and the 19 April flight to Auckland. We are working with Philippine Airlines to help get you on board this flight. Seats are now being allocated in priority order to New Zealand citizens, New Zealand permanent residents and their families, and others who might be eligible - as outlined in our earlier email seeking Expressions of Interest. Philippine Airlines are processing bookings in accordance with these criteria. We appreciate that this can be frustrating in already difficult circumstances that many are facing. We ask that you remain patient – we will be in touch in due course. Please note that due to a high volume of demand, we are no longer receiving new Expressions of Interest to the New Zealand Embassy for the flight departing Manila this weekend. New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs Address: 195 Lambton Quay, Private Bag 18 901, Wellington 6160, New Zealand Ministry Telephone: +64 4 439 8000 24/7 Consular emergency call: 0800 30 10 30 or +64 99 20 20 20 Fax: +64 4 439 8515 Office Hours: Mon-Fri 8.30am to 5pm, NZ time. https://register.safetravel.govt.nz