eTravel Philippines: How To Register Step By Step (2026 Guide)
eTravel Philippines is the free online declaration that every traveler arriving in the Philippines has to complete before landing. It replaced the old paper arrival card and health checklist, and it now carries your immigration details, health questions and customs baggage declaration in one record. When you finish, you get a QR code that airport officers can check on arrival.
This guide walks through who has to register, when the window opens, exactly what the form asks for, and what happens at the airport. It also covers the separate rule that trips up many visa-free visitors: proof that you will leave the country.
Key takeaways
- Register only at etravel.gov.ph or in the official eGovPH app. Registration is free.
- All arriving passengers and crew must register, Filipinos and foreigners alike, within 72 hours before arrival.
- Outbound Filipino passengers must also register before departure. Foreign visitors generally only need a departure entry if they are declaring currency above the limits.
- Each trip needs a new registration and a new QR code. Save a screenshot or print it.
- US citizens can visit visa-free for up to 30 days, but the Philippines expects visa-free visitors to hold a return or onward ticket.
What Is eTravel Philippines?
eTravel is the Philippine government’s “One-Stop Electronic Travel Declaration System.” It launched in December 2022 to replace the One Health Pass, the paper arrival card and the paper health declaration. In May 2023 the Bureau of Immigration also retired paper departure cards and moved them onto the same platform.
Since 2024 the system has also carried the Bureau of Customs forms: the electronic Customs Baggage Declaration Form (e-CBDF) and, when needed, the Currency Declaration Form (e-CDF). In practice this means one online submission covers immigration, quarantine and customs, and one QR code represents the whole record.
The Bureau of Immigration still links to the portal and reminds travelers to register before they fly. There is no separate visa attached to eTravel. It is a declaration, not a permit to enter.
Who Must Register for eTravel
The Bureau of Immigration has stated that all passengers and crew members arriving in the Philippines must register through etravel.gov.ph. That applies to foreign tourists, returning Filipinos, balikbayans and dual citizens. Babies and children traveling with you also need their own entries.
Departure is where nationality matters. According to the Bureau of Immigration’s published guidance, only outbound Filipino passengers are required to complete the eTravel departure registration. Foreign travelers leaving the country generally do not file a departure entry unless they need to declare currency above the customs thresholds through the e-CDF.
Some categories are exempt, according to the Bureau of Immigration:
- Foreign diplomats and their dependents
- Foreign dignitaries and members of their delegations
- Holders of diplomatic or official passports
- Holders of 9(e) visas
| Traveler | Arrival registration | Departure registration | When to file
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign visitor (including US citizens) | Required | Only if declaring currency above the limits (e-CDF) | Within 72 hours before arrival |
| Filipino citizen or dual citizen | Required | Required | Arrival: within 72 hours before. Departure: within 72 hours and at least 3 hours before your flight |
| Airline crew | Required | Follow airline and BI instructions | Within 72 hours before arrival |
| Diplomats, official passport holders, 9(e) visa holders | Exempt | Exempt | Not applicable |
When To Register: The 72-Hour Window
You can only complete the eTravel arrival registration within 72 hours of your scheduled arrival in the Philippines. Count back from your landing time in Philippine time, not from your departure time at home. A US traveler on a long-haul route with a connection can easily cross the date line, so do the math against the arrival time on your booking.
For Filipinos leaving the country, the Bureau of Immigration set the departure window at no earlier than 72 hours and no later than 3 hours before the scheduled flight. If your plans change, you can log back in and edit some details before your record is processed at the border.
A practical rule: register the day before you fly, once your seat and flight number are confirmed. That leaves time to fix a typo and avoids filling the form on airport Wi-Fi.
Is eTravel Philippines Free?
Yes. The official portal states that eTravel is free, and the Bureau of Immigration has repeated publicly that registration is “absolutely free of charge.” There is no processing fee, no express tier and no paid certificate.
Any site that asks for a card payment to complete your Philippines eTravel registration is not the government system. Some charge for “assistance” that you can do yourself in ten minutes, and some are outright scams.
What Information the eTravel Form Asks For
Have your passport and flight confirmation open before you start. The form is long but straightforward, and most mistakes come from typing names or passport numbers differently from the passport itself.
| Section | What you enter | Tip
|
|---|---|---|
| Personal details | Full name, sex, date of birth, nationality, country of birth, passport number | Copy the spelling exactly as printed on the passport data page |
| Contact details | Email address, mobile number with country code, country of residence | Use an email you can open on your phone at the airport |
| Travel details | Airline, flight number, port of origin, arrival date and time | Use the final flight that lands in the Philippines, not your first leg |
| Philippine address | Hotel, rental or host address where you will stay | A hotel booking for your first night is enough |
| Health declaration | Short questionnaire on symptoms and recent exposure | Answer truthfully; quarantine officers may follow up |
| Customs declaration | Baggage contents and, if applicable, currency carried | Declare foreign currency over US$10,000 or more than PHP 50,000 |
The arrival form focuses on your inbound flight. It does not issue or check an onward ticket. That check happens elsewhere, mainly at airline check-in and at the immigration counter, which we cover below.
How To Complete eTravel Registration Step By Step
The process works the same on a laptop or on the eGovPH app. Set aside about 10 to 15 minutes.
- Open the official site. Type etravel.gov.ph directly into your browser or open the eGovPH app from the App Store or Google Play. Do not click ads in search results.
- Sign in or create an account. Enter your email address and verify it with the code sent to your inbox, then set a password so you can return to edit or retrieve your QR code.
- Choose your travel type. Select arrival (or departure, if you are a Filipino leaving the country) and air travel. Cruise passengers use a separate cruise registration.
- Enter personal and passport details. Match the passport exactly, including middle names.
- Add contact and travel details. Enter your flight number, airline, origin and arrival date, plus your address in the Philippines.
- Complete the health questions. These take a minute or two.
- Complete the customs declaration. Fill the e-CBDF and add an e-CDF if you are carrying currency above the limits.
- Review and submit. Check your name, date of birth and passport number one last time before you submit.
- Save the QR code. Take a screenshot, download it and keep the confirmation email. A printed copy works too.
Traveling as a family or group? Each traveler needs an individual record and QR code, even when one person fills them in from the same account.
Your eTravel QR Code at the Airport
The QR code is your proof that you registered. Airline staff may ask to see it at check-in before you board a flight to the Philippines. On arrival, immigration officers can confirm your registration from your passport, and the Bureau of Customs asks passengers to show the QR code at the customs area for clearance.
Keep the code available offline, because roaming data may not work the moment you land. If you lose it, log back in at etravel.gov.ph to retrieve it. Remember that a QR code is tied to one trip. If you fly to Manila again next month, register again.
What Happens If You Do Not Register
The government has not published a fine for arriving without eTravel. The practical cost is delay. Airlines may ask you to complete the registration before they let you board, and that is stressful on a phone at the gate.
Paper arrival and departure cards still exist, but the Bureau of Immigration has said they are meant for passengers who are not able to register online. Customs also keeps paper baggage forms at the customs area for travelers who could not file in advance. Treat these as a fallback, not a plan.
The Onward Ticket Rule for Visa-Free Visitors
eTravel is only half of the entry picture. According to the US State Department’s Philippines page, US citizens do not need a visa for tourist stays under 30 days. Your passport should be valid for six months beyond your planned stay.
Philippine consulates list the conditions for that visa-free entry: a passport valid at least six months beyond your stay, and valid tickets for your return to your port of origin or your next destination. In other words, if you fly in on a one-way ticket, the airline or the immigration officer can ask how and when you are leaving.
This is where many backpackers, digital nomads and island-hoppers run into trouble. They plan to fly on to Vietnam or Bali but have not chosen a date yet. Our guide to proof of onward travel for the Philippines explains what airlines typically accept, and the complete 2026 proof of onward travel guide compares the options across countries.
If you need a verifiable departure flight within your 30-day stay without committing to a full fare, you can get an onward ticket reservation before you check in. Plan any extension with the Bureau of Immigration after arrival; the airline will judge your ticket against the initial 30 days.
Departure Registration for Filipinos
If you are a Filipino citizen leaving the Philippines, you complete a separate eTravel departure registration. File it within 72 hours of your flight and at least 3 hours before departure. The steps mirror the arrival form, with your outbound flight in place of the inbound one.
Dual citizens should register using the passport they will present to Philippine immigration. Foreign nationals leaving the country should check with their airline, and file an e-CDF if they carry foreign currency over US$10,000 or more than PHP 50,000 in Philippine currency.
Scam Warning: Fake eTravel Sites
The Bureau of Immigration has warned travelers about fake eTravel websites charging fees reported at PHP 3,000 to PHP 5,000, according to the Philippine News Agency. Lookalike sites often use words like “Philippines,” “travel” and “arrival card” in their domain and rank in search ads.
Watch for these red flags:
- The address is anything other than etravel.gov.ph (or the official eGovPH app)
- The site asks for a card payment, “processing fee” or “express service” charge
- Someone on social media offers to file for you and asks for passport photos
- A message threatens that your trip will be canceled unless you pay
If you already paid a third-party site, check whether you actually have a valid record by logging in at the official portal. If you cannot find one, register again yourself for free.
eTravel Philippines FAQ
How many days before my flight can I register for eTravel?
You can register within 72 hours of your scheduled arrival in the Philippines. Earlier than that, the arrival date will not be accepted.
Do I need eTravel if I am a Filipino citizen?
Yes. Filipinos register for arrival like everyone else, and outbound Filipino passengers also register before departure, no later than 3 hours before the flight.
Do foreigners need eTravel when leaving the Philippines?
Under the Bureau of Immigration’s guidance, departure registration is required for outbound Filipino passengers. Foreign visitors generally only file a departure declaration if they carry currency above the customs limits.
Can I print my eTravel QR code?
Yes. A screenshot on your phone or a printed copy both work. Keep the confirmation email as a backup.
Does eTravel ask for a return or onward flight?
The arrival form asks for your inbound flight and your address in the Philippines. Proof of a return or onward ticket is a separate visa-free entry condition that airlines and immigration officers may check.
Can I edit my eTravel registration after submitting?
Yes, you can log back in and edit some details before your record is processed at the border. If your flight changes by more than a day, re-check that your arrival date still falls inside the 72-hour window.
Other Arrival Cards You May Need
Heading somewhere else on the same trip? These guides cover other digital arrival forms:
- Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC)
- Check-MIG Colombia
- Mexico Tourist Card (FMM)
- Aruba ED Card
- Dominican Republic E-Ticket
Final Word
eTravel Philippines is quick, free and mandatory for every arriving passenger. Register at etravel.gov.ph within 72 hours of landing, match your passport exactly, and keep the QR code on your phone and on paper.
Then check the other half of the entry rules. If you are arriving visa-free on a one-way ticket, have proof that you will leave within 30 days. When you need that proof fast, Fast Onward Tickets can issue a verifiable onward flight reservation in minutes.