Philippines Urges Oman to Remove HIV Certificate Rule for Travellers

Philippine authorities call for scrapping Oman’s HIV certificate rule for Filipino visa-free tourists.

Publish date: Sunday، 19 April 2026 Reading time: 1 min read

Philippines Urges Oman to Remove HIV Certificate Rule for Travellers

The Philippines has officially raised concerns with the Omani embassy in Manila regarding a requirement for a negative HIV medical certificate imposed on certain Filipino travellers heading to Oman.

In a statement, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) noted it had made “strong representations” calling for the removal of the rule, which has attracted attention among travellers and migrant groups.

Rule Only Applies to Visa-Free Tourists

Omani authorities clarified that the HIV certificate requirement is limited to tourists entering Oman under visa-free arrangements. The embassy emphasized that Filipinos travelling on work visas are excluded from the rule, alleviating worries among overseas workers bound for the Gulf nation.

High-Level Meeting Scheduled

The Omani embassy also confirmed that the requirement is currently under serious review by the government. A meeting is expected to take place next week to discuss the matter and evaluate potential amendments to the policy.

While officials have not disclosed a timeline for a final decision, they said discussions are actively underway.

Optimism Over Resolution

The DFA expressed optimism that the issue would be resolved in the near future. “The DFA expects a positive outcome given the good and strong relationship between the Philippines and Oman,” the agency said.

The Philippines and Oman share longstanding diplomatic and labour relations, with thousands of Filipinos employed across various sectors in the sultanate. The two countries have previously collaborated on initiatives related to labour protection, consular assistance, and travel facilitation measures.

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Philippines Urges Oman to Remove HIV Certificate Rule for Travellers

Rule Only Applies to Visa-Free Tourists

High-Level Meeting Scheduled

Optimism Over Resolution

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