eTravel Philippines: Philippines' Digital Travel Registration

What Is eTravel Philippines?

eTravel is the Philippines' official digital travel registration system, and completing it is required for nearly every trip into or out of the country. Registering directly through the government's own platform, etravel.gov.ph, or the eGovPH app, is entirely free.

If you'd rather have someone double-check your details and file it for you, Travel Declaration offers an optional, paid assisted-filing service. It's never required — but it's there if you want the peace of mind.

More Than an Arrival Card: An All-in-One Registration System

Unlike a typical arrival card, eTravel is built to serve several government functions in a single form. It combines immigration clearance from the Bureau of Immigration, a health declaration managed by the Bureau of Quarantine, a customs declaration from the Bureau of Customs, and, for some travelers, travel tax payment. One registration, four functions — that's what sets eTravel apart from simpler entry forms used elsewhere.

Who Needs to Register for eTravel

Arrival Registration: Required for Everyone

If you're arriving in the Philippines, eTravel applies to you. That includes Filipino citizens, foreign nationals, and airline or vessel crew members. Whether you're arriving for a beach holiday or a business meeting, arrival registration is not optional.

Departure Registration: Mainly for Filipino Citizens

Departure registration works a little differently. It's generally required for Filipino citizens and crew members leaving the country. Foreign nationals departing the Philippines typically don't need to complete a departure registration.

Who Is Exempt

A small group of travelers is exempt from eTravel registration altogether:

• Foreign diplomats and their dependents
• Foreign dignitaries and members of an official delegation
• Holders of a 9(e) visa (issued to accredited foreign government officials)
• Holders of diplomatic, official, or service passports under special visa arrangements

Minors aren't exempt — they need their own registration linked to their own passport, though a parent or guardian can complete it on their behalf.

Is eTravel Free? Beware of Fraudulent Websites

Yes — registering for eTravel through the official government platform costs nothing. This is confirmed directly by Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco, who issued a public statement warning travelers away from fee-charging imitation sites:

"The eTravel registration process is absolutely free of charge. We, therefore, advise the traveling public to register only in the government's official website at <https://etravel.gov.ph>."

That warning exists for good reason. The Bureau of Immigration has reported travelers being charged roughly ₱3,000 to ₱5,000 by scam websites posing as the official portal — often billed in US dollars. Some of these travelers only discovered they'd been defrauded when their fake QR code failed to scan at immigration counters in Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

The lesson is simple: register only at etravel.gov.ph or through the eGovPH app. If a site asks for payment to register, it isn't the official one.

When to Register: The 72-Hour Window

Submit your eTravel registration within 72 hours (3 days) before your scheduled arrival in, or departure from, the Philippines. This window is confirmed by the Bureau of Customs and applies to both directions of travel.

Registering too far in advance can actually work against you — submissions made outside the 72-hour window have been reported as invalid. Set a reminder for three days out rather than filing weeks ahead.

Where and How to Register for eTravel

Registering via the eTravel Website

Head to etravel.gov.ph and create an account if you don't already have one. This involves email verification, setting a password, and entering your personal details. Once your account is set up, you can register a specific trip whenever you're within the 72-hour window.

Registering via the eGovPH App

Prefer your phone? The eGovPH app, available on iOS and Android, gives you access to eTravel alongside other Philippine government services. You'll sign in using your phone number or email, an MPIN (Mobile Personal Identification Number), and facial verification. From there, the app walks you through the same registration flow as the website.

Both options are completely free. Stick to these two official channels only.

Information You'll Need

Before you start, have the following on hand:

For your account (one-time setup):

• Full name, sex, and birth date
• Mobile number
• Citizenship and country of birth
• Passport number
• Residential address
• A digital selfie for verification

For each trip:

• Whether you're registering for yourself or a family member
• Mode of travel (air or sea) and direction (arrival or departure)
• Occupation and purpose of travel
• Flight or vessel details, including date, airline, flight number, and port/terminal
• Your Philippine accommodation address (for arrivals) or destination country and address (for departures)
• Health, customs, and — if applicable — currency declarations

Step-by-Step: Registering for Arrival

Step-by-Step: Registering for Departure

1. Sign in to your existing eTravel account, or create one if needed.
2. Start a new declaration and select "Departure."
3. Enter your travel details: occupation, purpose of travel, traveler type, and destination country/address.
4. Enter your flight details: departure date, airline, flight number, and departure airport/terminal.
5. Review, submit, and save your QR code.

Remember: departure registration generally applies to Filipino citizens and crew members rather than foreign nationals.

Registering Your Family

Traveling with your spouse, kids, parents, or siblings? One eTravel account can register immediate family members using the "Add Family Member" feature — each person still receives their own individual QR code, so everyone is covered at the border.

Friends and other non-family travel companions aren't included in this feature. Each of them will need to create their own account and complete their own registration.

Can You Edit Your eTravel Registration?

Made a typo or need to update a flight detail? You can edit a submitted registration through the platform's "Update Registration" or "Edit Registration" feature, as long as border authorities haven't yet processed or verified your record on arrival. Once that happens, changes are no longer possible, so it's worth reviewing your details carefully before you land.

Understanding Your QR Code

After submitting, you'll receive a QR code that's scanned at the border. Reports suggest a color-coding system where a green code means you can proceed as normal, while a red code flags you for secondary inspection by border or quarantine officers. Some travelers have also mentioned encountering a blue variant, though what it signifies isn't consistently documented. Regardless of color, keep your QR code accessible — saved to your phone and, ideally, screenshotted as backup — until you've cleared the border.

eTravel Is Not a Visa

Completing eTravel doesn't replace or substitute for a Philippine visa, or for whatever visa-free arrangement applies to your nationality. It's a separate registration step required in addition to, not instead of, your visa status. Make sure your visa or visa-free eligibility is sorted independently of your eTravel registration.

eTravel and the Philippine Travel Tax: What's the Difference?

This is a point worth getting straight before you travel: eTravel registration itself is free. The Philippine travel tax is something else entirely — a long-standing government levy administered by TIEZA (the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority) that existed long before eTravel did.

Since August 2025, applicable travelers can declare and pay this tax as part of their eTravel registration, which is why the two sometimes get confused. The standard rate is ₱1,620 for economy-class passengers, with exemptions available for certain travelers, including OFWs and diplomats, under TIEZA's own criteria.

To be clear: the travel tax is a separate government fee, not a cost of using eTravel, and it has nothing to do with any paid assisted-filing service. eTravel registration remains free regardless of whether the travel tax applies to you.

Declaring Cash and Currency in eTravel

If you're carrying significant cash, you'll need to declare it as part of your registration:

• Carrying more than ₱50,000 in Philippine currency requires prior authorization from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). Without it, you risk penalties or confiscation.
• Carrying more than US$10,000 (or the equivalent in another currency) must be declared within the eTravel form itself.

These thresholds apply regardless of your nationality or purpose of travel.

The Health Declaration (eHDC)

Built into your eTravel registration is the Electronic Health Declaration Card, or eHDC — managed by the Bureau of Quarantine as part of the country's health-surveillance efforts. It's designed to help identify and respond to infectious disease risks and public health concerns. You won't need to visit a separate system or portal for this; it's completed as part of the same eTravel form.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Frequently Asked Questions