Philippines Arrival Card Replaced by eTravel: History, Customs Declaration & What to Declare (2022–2024)
The Philippines eTravel system permanently replaced the paper arrival card and eARRIVAL Card on December 1, 2022, unifying immigration, health, and customs forms into one digital platform. Since May 10, 2024, it also includes the electronic Customs Baggage Declaration Form (e-CBDF) and Currency Declaration Form (e-CDF). This guide explains the full history and exactly what you must declare when arriving in the Philippines.
What Was the Philippines Arrival Card — and Why Was It Replaced?
The Philippines digital arrival card — now known as eTravel since December 2022 — replaced both the paper arrival card and the eARRIVAL Card (onehealthpass.com.ph), driven by an IATF-EID mandate to digitize all border entry forms. The transition abolished paper-based requirements entirely, bringing the Philippines in line with modern border control systems used by other advanced countries.
The eARRIVAL Card Era (2020–2022): One Health Pass
Before eTravel, the Philippines used a paper Arrival Card (BOC Form 117) — a physical document completed by all incoming passengers covering immigration, customs, and health information. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) introduced the eARRIVAL Card through the portal onehealthpass.com.ph — a digital health surveillance form.
However, the eARRIVAL Card was limited primarily to health data. The paper customs declaration form (BOC Form 117) remained in use alongside it. Travelers arriving during this transitional period had to manage two separate systems.
December 1, 2022: eTravel Goes Live — 8 Agencies, One Platform
On December 1, 2022, the Philippine government launched the eTravel system at etravel.gov.ph, replacing the eARRIVAL Card and its host portal onehealthpass.com.ph. The system was a joint project of eight government agencies:
- Department of Tourism (DOT)
- Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT)
- Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ)
- Bureau of Customs (BOC)
- Department of Health (DOH)
- Department of Transportation (DOTr)
- Department of Justice (DOJ)
- National Privacy Commission (NPC)
In one move, the eTravel platform abolished three separate paper forms: the paper arrival card, the paper departure card, and the paper quarantine form.
May 10, 2024: Customs Forms Integrated into eTravel
The second major milestone came on May 10, 2024, when the Bureau of Customs (BOC) fully integrated the customs declaration forms into the eTravel platform. The traditional paper Customs Baggage Declaration Form (CBDF) was replaced by the electronic Customs Baggage Declaration Form (e-CBDF), and the paper currencies declaration form became the electronic Currencies Declaration Form (e-CDF).
This was rolled out across 9 international airports: NAIA, Puerto Princesa, Kalibo, Caticlan, Mactan-Cebu, Bohol, Francisco Bangoy (Davao), Clark, and Laoag International Airports.
What Does eTravel Replace? Three Forms Consolidated into One
eTravel consolidates three previously separate forms — the immigration arrival card, the health declaration (eHDC), and the customs baggage declaration (e-CBDF) — into one digital registration generating a single QR code. The Philippines refers to this consolidation as the CIQ (Customs, Immigration and Quarantine) integration.
| Era | Forms Required |
|---|---|
| Pre-2020 (paper) | Paper Arrival Card (BOC Form 117) + Paper Customs Form + Quarantine Form |
| 2020–2022 (eARRIVAL) | eARRIVAL Card on onehealthpass.com.ph + Paper Customs Form |
| Dec 2022–May 2024 (eTravel v1) | eTravel at etravel.gov.ph (immigration + health) + Paper Customs Form |
| May 2024–present (eTravel v2) | eTravel (immigration + health + customs) = 1 QR code |
Learn more about the current eTravel requirements and the official eTravel platform.
Who Must Register in eTravel When Arriving in the Philippines?
All arriving passengers must register in eTravel, free of charge, regardless of nationality or visa type. Departing Filipino passengers must also register.
| Traveler Type | eTravel Required? |
|---|---|
| Foreign tourists | ✅ YES |
| Filipino citizens (returning) | ✅ YES |
| Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) / Balikbayan | ✅ YES |
| Permanent residents | ✅ YES |
| Visa on arrival holders | ✅ YES |
| Transit passengers | ✅ YES |
| Foreign crew members | ✅ YES |
| Departing Filipinos | ✅ YES |
| Foreign diplomats and dependents | ❌ Exempt |
For a full breakdown of who needs to register for eTravel, see our dedicated guide.
Philippines Customs Declaration in eTravel: What You Must Declare
Since May 10, 2024, all arriving passengers must complete the electronic Customs Baggage Declaration Form (e-CBDF) in eTravel — covering goods, currencies, agricultural products, and any items exceeding personal-use quantities. The customs portal is accessible through customs.etravel.gov.ph or the main eTravel platform.
General Customs Items — Full Declaration List (e-CBDF)
Per Bureau of Customs regulations, you must declare the following upon arrival:
- Philippine currency (cash, checks, bank drafts) in excess of PHP 50,000
- Foreign currency and foreign monetary instruments in excess of USD 10,000 (or equivalent)
- Gambling paraphernalia
- Cosmetics, skin care products, food supplements, and medicines in excess of quantities for personal use
- Dangerous drugs (morphine, marijuana, opium, poppy derivatives, synthetic drugs)
- Firearms, ammunition, and explosives
- Alcohol and/or tobacco products in commercial quantities
- Foodstuffs, fruits, vegetables, live animals, marine and aquatic products, plants and plant products
- Mobile phones, hand-held radios in excess of quantities for personal use; radio communication equipment
- Cremains (human ashes), human organs or tissues
- Jewelry, gold, precious metals, or gems
- Other goods not mentioned above
Currency Declaration Limits: USD 10,000 and PHP 50,000 (e-CDF)
| Currency | Threshold | Action Required |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign currency (USD, EUR, etc.) | > USD 10,000 (or equivalent) | Declare entire amount in e-CDF |
| Philippine peso (PHP) | > PHP 50,000 | Declare entire amount + obtain prior written authorization from BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas) |
Agricultural and Food Products
One of the most commonly overlooked declaration categories is agricultural goods. You must always declare:
- All foodstuffs (processed or raw)
- Fruits and vegetables (fresh, dried, or processed)
- Live animals and animal products (meat, eggs, poultry)
- Marine and aquatic products
- Plants, seeds, plant materials, and their by-products
The Philippines enforces strict phytosanitary and biosecurity controls to prevent the introduction of plant and animal diseases. Even small quantities of fresh produce, meat, or seeds brought as personal items must be declared.
Duty-Free Allowances for Travelers
| Category | Duty-Free Allowance |
|---|---|
| General goods (all travelers) | Goods with total value ≤ PHP 10,000 — no duties or taxes |
| Filipino citizens — personal effects | Up to 3× per calendar year, total value not exceeding PHP 150,000 |
| Cigarettes | 2 reams (400 sticks) |
| Cigars | 50 sticks |
| Pipe tobacco | 250 grams |
| Liquor/spirits | 2 bottles (total value ≤ PHP 10,000) |
Prohibited Goods — What You Cannot Bring In
The following items are completely prohibited — do not bring them, regardless of quantity:
- Written, printed, or digital materials of an obscene or immoral character
- Materials advocating or inciting treason, rebellion, or sedition against the Philippine government
- Abortion paraphernalia
- Adulterated or misbranded food or drugs
- Counterfeit goods (bags, shoes, clothing, accessories)
- Goods manufactured of gold, silver, or precious metals with misleading quality markings
Health Declaration in eTravel: The Electronic Health Declaration Card (eHDC)
The eTravel registration includes an Electronic Health Declaration Card (eHDC) managed by the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ). The eHDC section in eTravel asks about:
- Countries visited in the past 30 days before arrival
- Current health status and recent illnesses
- Contact with known sick persons or those with communicable diseases within the past 30 days
The health declaration section directly determines the color of your QR code:
🟢 Green QR Code
Data complete and correct; no recent illness history. Proceed directly to immigration inspection.
🔴 Red QR Code
Data incomplete/incorrect, OR recent illness/exposure history. Required to undergo BOQ inspection before immigration.
How and When to Register — The 72-Hour Rule
All travelers must register in eTravel at etravel.gov.ph within 72 hours (3 days) before their scheduled arrival or departure. Registration is free and takes approximately 5 minutes.
- 1
Visit etravel.gov.ph (only official website)
- 2
Create an account using your email address, or log in to an existing account
- 3
Select "Arrival" and enter your travel details: flight number, airline, arrival date, destination airport, and seat number
- 4
Complete the Health Declaration (eHDC) — list countries visited in the past 30 days and answer health screening questions
- 5
Fill out the e-CBDF (Customs Baggage Declaration Form)
- 6
If applicable, complete the e-CDF — for currency exceeding USD 10,000 or PHP 50,000
- 7
Submit your registration and screenshot or download your QR code
For a step-by-step tutorial, see our complete guide on how to register for eTravel Philippines.
At the Airport: Presenting Your eTravel QR Code
At any Philippine international airport, present your eTravel QR code to the Immigration Officer (for arrival confirmation) and then to the Customs Officer (for clearance) — one QR code covers all forms since May 2024.
- BOQ Health Screening — Green QR: proceed normally. Red QR: report to BOQ officer for inspection before immigration.
- Immigration (Bureau of Immigration — BI) — Present your passport and QR code.
- Customs (Bureau of Customs — BOC) — Present your QR code again for customs clearance.
For more details on airport procedures for eTravel, see our airports guide. Learn about the eTravel QR code and what to do if yours is red.
FAQ — Philippines Arrival Card & eTravel Customs
No — the paper arrival card no longer exists. Since December 1, 2022, it has been fully replaced by the eTravel system at etravel.gov.ph. All arriving passengers must register online before arrival instead of filling out a physical card.
The eTravel system (etravel.gov.ph) replaced the paper arrival card, the eARRIVAL Card (onehealthpass.com.ph), and the paper customs declaration form. Registration is done online up to 72 hours before arrival and generates a QR code.
The eTravel system became mandatory on December 1, 2022, replacing the eARRIVAL Card and the One Health Pass portal. Customs forms were fully integrated on May 10, 2024.
Yes. Since May 10, 2024, all arriving passengers must complete the e-CBDF (electronic Customs Baggage Declaration Form) within eTravel. This covers goods, currencies, agricultural products, and commercial quantities of items.
You can bring up to PHP 50,000 in Philippine currency without restriction. Amounts exceeding PHP 50,000 must be declared in the e-CDF and require prior written authorization from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).
Failure to declare dutiable goods results in a 30% surcharge on the total landed cost of those goods, in addition to all applicable duties and taxes (Section 1404, CMTA). Non-declaration of currencies can result in confiscation and criminal prosecution under RA 10863.
The eARRIVAL Card was the predecessor to eTravel — a digital health declaration form used on the portal onehealthpass.com.ph from 2020 to 2022. It was decommissioned on December 1, 2022 when eTravel launched.
Yes — registration on etravel.gov.ph is completely free of charge. Any website or entity charging fees for eTravel registration is a scam. Report fraudulent sites to CICC at cicc.gov.ph/report/.
Register for the Philippines eTravel Pass
The paper arrival card is gone. Register at etravel.gov.ph before your flight — free, mandatory, and takes under 10 minutes.