etravel.gov.ph: The Official Philippine eTravel System — Complete Guide to Avoid Scams & Register Correctly
etravel.gov.ph is the only official, free website of the Philippine eTravel System — a mandatory government platform for all international arrivals and departing Filipinos. Fake third-party sites charge PHP 3,000–5,000 for registrations that produce invalid QR codes rejected at Philippine airports. All travelers must register within 72 hours before their flight — no earlier, and always for free.
What Is etravel.gov.ph? The Official Philippine eTravel System Explained
The eTravel System (etravel.gov.ph) is the Philippine government's free, web-based platform that collects travel, health, and customs data for all international arrivals and departing Filipinos — replacing paper arrival cards since December 2022.
The official name is the Philippine Travel Information System, and its single official address is https://etravel.gov.ph. No other URL is legitimate.
The system functions as a digital single data collection platform for three government purposes:
- Border control — shared with the Bureau of Immigration (BI)
- Health surveillance — managed by the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) via the Electronic Health Declaration Card (eHDC)
- Economic data analysis — coordinated with the Department of Tourism (DOT)
eTravel is entirely web-based and mobile-responsive — it works on any smartphone, tablet, or laptop browser. You do not need to download an app. The system was built in compliance with the Ease of Doing Business Law (R.A. 11032) and is a joint project of nine Philippine government agencies.
Who Operates the eTravel System?
The eTravel System was mandated by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID). The primary operational agencies are the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) for health data and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for border control. All nine agencies share access to the collected data in real time.
What Did eTravel Replace?
eTravel launched on December 1, 2022, and was fully implemented on April 15, 2023. It permanently replaced:
- ✅ Paper-based arrival cards (the green form filled in on the plane)
- ✅ Paper-based departure cards
- ✅ The quarantine form (separate health declaration slip)
- ✅ One Health Pass (onehealthpass.com.ph — now decommissioned)
- ✅ The old eARRIVAL Card registration system
For the full history of the system and the arrival card, see our dedicated guide.
Is eTravel Registration Free? Warning — Beware of Scam Sites
eTravel registration at etravel.gov.ph is completely free — no payment is ever required, and any website charging a fee for "eTravel registration" is an illegal scam operating against Philippine government advisories.
This is confirmed by the official position of Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco: "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."
How to Identify Fake eTravel Websites
| Feature | Official etravel.gov.ph | Scam / Fake Site |
|---|---|---|
| URL | https://etravel.gov.ph | etravelpass.org, etravel-ph.com, etravel-register.com, etc. |
| Cost | Always FREE | Charges PHP 3,000–5,000 (or USD equivalent) |
| Payment request | None | Credit card, GCash, PayPal, bank transfer |
| QR code validity | Readable by BI/BOQ at airport | Cannot be scanned by government system |
| Government domain | .gov.ph (Philippines government) | .org, .com, .net, .ph (not .gov.ph) |
| Offers | Standard registration only | "Expedited," "priority," or "VIP" registration (these do not exist) |
What Happens If You Use a Scam Site
- The site takes your payment (PHP 3,000–5,000)
- It generates what appears to be a QR code
- You travel to the Philippines with confidence
- At the airport inspection gate, BI or BOQ officers scan your QR code — and the system returns an error. The fake QR code is not in the government database.
- You are directed to the eTravel registration kiosk to complete the real registration from scratch
- This causes significant delays and may affect check-in or connecting flights
How to Report an eTravel Scam
- Report online: https://cicc.gov.ph/report/ — Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC)
- BI direct hotline: (+632) 8-524-3769
- BI trunk line: (+632) 8-465-2400
- If your personal data was stolen, also report to the National Privacy Commission (NPC)
Who Needs to Register on etravel.gov.ph?
All passengers arriving in the Philippines — both Filipino and foreign nationals — and all departing Filipino passengers must complete eTravel registration; foreign nationals leaving the Philippines are not required to register.
✅ Must Register (Arriving)
- Arriving Filipino passengers
- Arriving foreign national passengers (all nationalities)
- Arriving Filipino and foreign airline crew members
✅ Must Register (Departing)
- Departing Filipino passengers only
- OFWs departing for work abroad
- Foreign nationals departing: NOT required
For a full breakdown of who needs to use the eTravel system, including special visa categories, see our dedicated guide. The following groups are exempt: foreign diplomats and their dependents, foreign dignitaries and their delegations, 9(e) visa holders, holders of diplomatic passports, and holders of official/service passports.
Do Departing Foreign Nationals Need to Register?
No. Foreign nationals departing from the Philippines are not required to complete eTravel registration. Only Filipino citizens must register when departing. Departing Filipinos must register within 72 hours before scheduled departure, but not less than 3 hours before the scheduled departure time.
How the eTravel System Works — Step by Step
To register on etravel.gov.ph, create a free account, fill in your passport and travel details, complete the health declaration, and save the QR code — all within 72 hours before your flight.
- 1
Visit etravel.gov.ph
Open any browser on your phone, tablet, or computer. No app download needed.
- 2
Create an account
Register with a valid, accessible email address. This is where your QR code confirmation will be sent.
- 3
Enter your travel details
Provide your passport number (must match exactly), full name as on passport, flight number, travel date, and destination/origin.
- 4
Complete the health declaration (eHDC)
Answer the Electronic Health Declaration Card questions managed by the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ). Covers recent illness history and potential exposure to communicable diseases.
- 5
Complete customs and travel tax sections
As of August 2025, these are required before QR generation.
- 6
Submit and save your QR code
Screenshot it, download it, or print it. Present it at airline check-in and at immigration inspection.
For a full step-by-step registration guide, see our complete walkthrough. Make sure you have all required documents ready before you start.
The 72-Hour Registration Window Rule
eTravel has a strict registration window: you can register starting 72 hours (3 days) before your scheduled arrival or departure — no earlier.
- Arriving passengers: Register within 72 hours before arrival
- Departing Filipinos: Register within 72 hours, but NOT less than 3 hours before departure
- Recommendation: Register at home or hotel before going to the airport
- If you miss it: BOQ and airport staff can assist with on-arrival registration, but this causes delays
Green QR Code vs. Red QR Code — What Each Means
🟢 Green QR Code
Your data is complete, correct, and your health declaration shows no red flags. You proceed directly to immigration — no BOQ stop required.
🔴 Red QR Code
Your data is incomplete or incorrect, OR you indicated in the health declaration that you were sick or exposed to a communicable disease within the past 30 days. Must stop at a BOQ inspection desk before immigration.
For more detail on what your QR code means and how to use it, see our QR code guide.
New in 2025: Travel Tax and Customs Declaration via eTravel
The platform now serves as a one-stop portal consolidating: health declarations (BOQ via eHDC), immigration clearance (BI), travel tax declaration and payment (TIEZA) ← new as of August 2025, and customs declaration (BOC).
Travel Tax Rates and Exemptions
| Passenger Type | Standard Travel Tax |
|---|---|
| Economy class | PHP 1,620 |
| Business/First class | Higher rate (check TIEZA) |
| OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers) | Exempt (with valid POEA/OEC documents) |
| Diplomats | Exempt |
| Balikbayan | May qualify for exemption (check TIEZA) |
For OFWs, balikbayan, and other special categories, see our dedicated OFW and balikbayan eTravel guide.
Customs Declaration Requirements
During eTravel registration, you will be prompted to declare customs-relevant information:
- Carrying more than PHP 50,000 in Philippine currency → You must have prior authorization from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)
- Carrying more than USD 10,000 (or equivalent in any foreign currency) → You must declare this amount
Group and Family Registration — No Group Option Exists
The eTravel system does not offer group or family batch registration — every traveler, including infants and children, needs their own individual eTravel account and QR code linked to their personal passport number.
Practical advice for families and groups:
- Register all members before leaving home — do not attempt group registration at the airport
- Prepare all passports and flight details in advance to make the process efficient
- Each registration takes approximately 5–10 minutes per person
- Use a stable WiFi connection — the form has multiple sections
- If traveling with a group, assign one person to register everyone from the same device, one at a time
For step-by-step help registering for your trip, see our complete eTravel registration guide.
Frequently Asked Questions — etravel.gov.ph
The only official website is https://etravel.gov.ph — operated directly by the Philippine government under the .gov.ph domain. Any other URL offering eTravel registration is not official and is likely a scam. The government does not authorize any third-party website to collect eTravel registrations.
Yes — eTravel registration at etravel.gov.ph is completely free. The government never charges for registration. No credit card, GCash, or bank transfer is ever needed. If a website asks for payment for eTravel registration, it is a fraudulent site. Report it to the CICC at https://cicc.gov.ph/report/.
Yes — eTravel registration remains mandatory in 2025 for all international arrivals (Filipino and foreign nationals) and all departing Filipino passengers. There has been no suspension or cancellation of this requirement.
You can register within 72 hours (3 days) before your scheduled arrival or departure — no earlier. The system will reject registrations submitted more than 72 hours in advance. Departing Filipinos must also register at least 3 hours before scheduled departure.
A green QR code means your data is complete and your health declaration is clear — you proceed directly through immigration with no additional stops. A red QR code means your data was incomplete, contained errors, or your health declaration flagged a concern — you must stop at a Bureau of Quarantine inspection desk before immigration. Both are valid registrations; only the red code adds an extra processing step.
Yes — the eTravel System is fully web-based and accessible from any browser on any internet-connected device. No app download is required. You can optionally use the eGovPH app, which integrates eTravel with other Philippine government services, but it is not mandatory.
Go to https://etravel.gov.ph/search, enter your reference number (from your confirmation email) and date of birth, then press "Continue." You can view and re-download your QR code from there. See our complete QR code guide for full instructions.
No — returning travelers do not need to create a new account each trip. Use the "Edit Registration" tab on etravel.gov.ph to update your flight details and health declaration for each new journey. Your personal data (passport, contact info) will be pre-filled from your previous registration.
Register at the Official etravel.gov.ph — Always Free
Don't use fake sites! Register directly at the official government website. Takes under 10 minutes, always free, no app needed.
Last updated: March 2026 | Source: etravel.gov.ph official FAQ, Bureau of Immigration Philippines