eTravel Philippines: how to register and get your QR code

eTravel is the Philippines’ free online arrival form: one registration at etravel.gov.ph or in the eGovPH app that covers immigration, the health declaration and the customs declaration. Every foreign visitor flying in must complete it within the 72 hours before arrival, and the result is a QR code you show to the airline before boarding and to officers on landing.

What eTravel is

eTravel replaced the paper arrival card and the separate health declaration with one digital form. The official FAQ calls it “a digital single data collection platform for passengers arriving in and departing from the Philippines,” used for border control, health surveillance and economic data. Since May 2024 it also carries the Bureau of Customs baggage declaration (e-CBDF) and currency declaration (e-CDF), with one QR code per passenger for all of it.

Source: eTravel, Frequently Asked Questions, checked 20 October 2026.

Source: PortCalls Asia, BOC and DICT complete roll-out of e-Travel Customs System, checked 20 October 2026.

Who must register

The Bureau of Immigration’s advisory of 6 October 2026 lists three groups:

• Arriving Filipino and foreign crew members
• Arriving Filipino and foreign passengers
• Departing Filipino passengers

Foreign diplomats and their dependents, foreign dignitaries and their delegations, 9(e) visa holders and holders of diplomatic or official/service passports are exempt. For a tourist from the US, UK, Australia or Europe, that means one registration for the flight in and none for the flight out. The same advisory warns that foreign nationals who deliberately give false information can be refused entry.

Source: Bureau of Immigration, Advisory: eTravel Registration, checked 20 October 2026.

When to fill it in

The eTravel FAQ says you can register within 72 hours (3 days) before your arrival, and that you are expected to show proof of registration before boarding your flight. The Bureau of Immigration’s October 2026 advisory words it as registering “at least seventy-two (72) hours prior to the intended travel.” Both point the same way: do it as soon as you are inside the three-day window, and never leave it for the check-in queue.

You need a new declaration for every trip. If you already have an account, sign in and add a new travel declaration rather than creating a second profile.

Is eTravel free?

Yes. The official FAQ says registration is “absolutely free of charge” and that eTravel “does not collect or require any form of online payment.” Search results for “etravel philippines” often show paid look-alike sites with names built around “etravel” on .com or .org domains, offering to file the form for a fee. They are not the government. The only official address is etravel.gov.ph, and the FAQ asks travellers to report sites that charge to the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center at cicc.gov.ph/report.

How to fill in eTravel, step by step

Have your passport, flight booking and the name and address of your first night’s accommodation ready.

1. Create an account. Go to etravel.gov.ph, sign in, or create an account with your email address and a password. The eGovPH app works too, but no app is required; the site works in any phone or laptop browser.
2. Fill in your profile. Choose “Foreign passport holder” and enter your name, sex, date of birth, mobile number, citizenship, country of birth, passport number, issuing authority and issue date, and occupation. Add your permanent address abroad and a face photo.
3. Start a new travel declaration. Choose “For me” (or “For other” when filing for someone else), then Air, then Arrival.
4. Enter travel details. Purpose of travel (holiday for tourists), airline and flight number, the country and airport you fly from, departure date, any transit stop, your arrival airport and date, and where you are staying: hotel or resort name and address, or a private residence.
5. Complete the health declaration. Countries visited in the last 30 days, and whether you have been sick or exposed to someone sick in that time.
6. Complete the customs part. Say whether you carry goods or currency to declare, the number of family members travelling with you, your number of bags, and whether this is your first visit. Sign on screen.
7. Add family members if you are filing for them, then review every field and submit.
8. Save the QR code. Screenshot or download it before closing the page. A copy also arrives by email.

Source: Visa Traveler, How to fill out the Philippines eTravel, checked 20 October 2026.

The QR code: what you show and where

A red code is issued when the information is incomplete or incorrect, or when you report being sick or exposed to illness in the past 30 days. A printed copy is accepted as well as a screenshot.

Source: eTravel, Frequently Asked Questions, checked 20 October 2026.

Families and children

Every passenger has their own QR code, children included. One adult can file for the whole group by choosing “For other” or using “Add family member” before submitting, then save each person’s code.

Customs and currency

The baggage declaration is filled in by all arriving passengers inside eTravel. The currency declaration only applies if you bring in or take out more than USD 10,000 in foreign currency, or more than ₱50,000 in Philippine pesos, which also needs prior written approval from the central bank. Paper customs forms remain available at the customs area for passengers who could not access eTravel.

Source: Philippine Embassy in Seoul, e-CBDF and e-CDF advisory, checked 20 October 2026.

Lost the code or made a mistake

Go to etravel.gov.ph/search, enter your reference number and date of birth, and use “Edit Registration” to see the QR code again or correct your details. Edits are possible until border officers have processed you. If you registered twice, either code works, but show only one.

eTravel only works online, so register while you still have reliable internet at home or at the departure airport, not after landing.

Common mistakes

• Paying a look-alike site instead of using etravel.gov.ph.
• Leaving it until the check-in queue instead of doing it at home.
• Leaving the accommodation address blank or vague.
• Filing only for yourself when travelling with children or a partner.
• Closing the page without saving the QR code.

Once the form is done, plan the first hour on the ground with how to get from NAIA into Manila and pick an area with where to stay in Manila.

Questions people ask

Is eTravel Philippines free?

Yes. Registration at etravel.gov.ph is free and the system never asks for payment, so any site charging a fee is not the official one.

When should I fill in eTravel?

Within the 72 hours before you arrive in the Philippines. Airlines can ask for the QR code before you board, so finish it before you go to the airport.

Do foreigners need eTravel when leaving the Philippines?

No. Departure registration applies to Filipino passengers; foreign visitors register for arrival only.

Does each family member need their own eTravel QR code?

Yes, each passenger gets one QR code. One adult can file for the others through the form's family member option.

What if I lose my eTravel QR code?

Open etravel.gov.ph/search, enter your reference number and date of birth, and the QR code shows again.