Philippines eTravel Pass QR Code: Complete Guide — Get, Download, Fix & Troubleshoot

What Is the eTravel QR Code and Why You Need It

The eTravel QR code is your digital entry and exit document for the Philippines, replacing the old paper arrival and departure cards. Since December 1, 2022, the Philippine government officially transitioned from the old eARRIVAL CARD system to the new eTravel platform at etravel.gov.ph.

The eTravel QR code serves three functions in one:

• Immigration document — scanned by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) at the arrival counter
• Health declaration — replaces the Electronic Health Declaration Card (eHDC)
• Contact tracing record — logs your travel and health data for border surveillance

Who is required to have an eTravel QR code:

• All arriving foreign nationals and Filipinos entering the Philippines
• Departing Filipino passengers (including OFWs and balikbayan)

Who is exempt: Foreign diplomats and their dependents, foreign dignitaries and their delegation members, 9(e) visa holders, and holders of diplomatic and official/service passports.

The eTravel system is entirely web-based — no app download needed. Registration is absolutely free of charge. Beware of any website asking for payment — those are scams.

If you haven't registered yet, start with our step-by-step registration guide.

How to Get Your eTravel QR Code (Step-by-Step)

Register at etravel.gov.ph within 72 hours before your flight — your eTravel QR code is generated immediately after successful submission and sent to your email address.

1. 1

   Go to etravel.gov.ph

   Open https://etravel.gov.ph on your phone or computer. No account needed to start.

2. 2

   Fill in your personal details

   Enter your full name, date of birth, passport number, and nationality — exactly as printed in your passport.

3. 3

   Enter your travel information

   Enter your arrival/departure date, flight number, airline, and port of entry in the Philippines.

4. 4

   Complete the health declaration

   Answer all health questions honestly. This section is mandatory and determines your QR code color (green or red).

5. 5

   Submit and save your QR code

   Your QR code is generated and displayed immediately on screen. Download as PDF or take a screenshot before closing the tab.

Download Your QR Code as a PDF

After completing your registration, a "Download PDF" button appears on the confirmation screen. Alternatively, check your confirmation email — it contains a PDF attachment with your QR code.

Print or Screenshot Your QR Code

Two formats are equally accepted at the airport:

• Print: Open the PDF → File → Print (Ctrl+P / Cmd+P). Any paper printout is fine.
• Screenshot: Take a screenshot on your phone immediately after registration, keep it in your camera roll.

At the airport, set your phone screen to maximum brightness before presenting the QR for scanning. Turn off dark mode and auto-lock. Both digital and printed QR codes are officially accepted.

Green QR Code vs Red QR Code — What Each Means at the Airport

A green eTravel QR code means your submission is complete and correct — you proceed directly to the Bureau of Immigration counter. A red QR code means your data is incomplete, incorrect, or flags a health concern, requiring BOQ inspection before immigration processing.

What Happens With a Red QR Code

Receiving a red QR code is not the same as being denied entry. It simply means you need to complete an extra health screening step before immigration.

Process with a red QR code at the airport:

1. Airline staff may note your red QR code at check-in — you are still allowed to board
2. Upon arrival, present your QR code at immigration
3. You'll be directed to the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) desk
4. A BOQ officer will conduct a brief health interview
5. If cleared, you proceed to the Bureau of Immigration counter as normal

Most common reasons for a red QR code:

• Answered "yes" to health questions (recent illness, fever, cough, exposure to infectious disease in the past 30 days)
• Left health declaration fields incomplete
• Submitted incorrect or mismatched personal data

How to avoid a red QR code: Complete all health questions accurately. If you answered incorrectly, use the Edit Registration function (described below) to correct your information and receive a new, green QR code.

eTravel QR Code Not Received? Here's What to Do

If you didn't receive your eTravel QR code by email, check your spam folder first — if still missing, retrieve it directly at etravel.gov.ph/search using your reference number and date of birth.

Your QR code is not lost — it was generated at the moment you submitted your registration. The issue is almost always with email delivery.

Common reasons your confirmation email wasn't received:

• Email went to spam or junk folder
• You entered a typo in your email address during registration
• Email provider delay (can take up to 30 minutes)
• Email was filtered as promotional content

Check Spam/Junk Folder First

1. Open your email app (Gmail, Yahoo Mail, Outlook, Apple Mail)
2. Go to your Spam or Junk folder
3. Search for: "etravel" or "etravel.gov.ph" or "eTravel Registration"
4. If using Gmail, also check the Promotions and Updates tabs
5. If you find the email, click "Not Spam" to prevent future filtering

How to Resend or Retrieve Your QR Code

Your eTravel QR code can be retrieved anytime at etravel.gov.ph/search using your reference number and date of birth.

1. 1

   Go to https://etravel.gov.ph/search

2. 2

   Enter your Reference Number (found in your registration confirmation or shown in the URL after submission)

3. 3

   Enter your Date of Birth (in the format used during registration)

4. 4

   Click "Continue" — your registration profile opens. Click "Download QR" or take a screenshot.

QR Code Not Generated at All — Troubleshooting Table

How to Show Your QR Code at the Airport

Show your eTravel QR code in two moments: to airline staff at check-in before boarding, then again to immigration officers upon arrival in the Philippines. Both digital (on your phone screen) and printed copies are accepted.

Practical tips for showing your QR at the airport:

• Set phone screen brightness to maximum before entering the queue
• Turn off dark mode — low-contrast screens can be hard to scan under airport lighting
• Download the PDF offline before your flight — airport Wi-Fi can be unreliable
• Have your QR ready before reaching the counter to avoid delays

For airport-specific information (NAIA terminals, Clark, Cebu), see our guide to eTravel requirements at Philippine airports.

How to Edit, Fix Errors, or Cancel Your eTravel Pass

You can edit your eTravel registration at etravel.gov.ph as long as it hasn't been processed by BOQ or Bureau of Immigration — use the "Edit Registration" tab with your reference number and date of birth.

1. 1

   Go to etravel.gov.ph and click the "Edit Registration" tab

2. 2

   Enter your Reference Number and Date of Birth

3. 3

   Update the incorrect fields

4. 4

   Re-submit — a new QR code is generated immediately. Use this new QR for travel (discard the old one).

How to Fix a Wrong Passport Number

A wrong passport number is one of the most critical errors — it can cause problems at immigration. Fix it as soon as you notice it, before you reach the airport.

1. Go to etravel.gov.ph/search and enter your Reference Number and Date of Birth
2. Click "Edit Registration"
3. Find the passport number field and correct it
4. Re-submit — a new QR code with the corrected data is issued
5. Download and save your new QR code

How to Cancel Your eTravel Registration

The eTravel system does not have a "Cancel" button — and that's intentional. Your eTravel registration is not a ticket or a booking; it's a data submission to government authorities.

• If your travel plans changed: Simply do not present your QR code. The registration expires and is never processed. There is no penalty for unused registrations.
• If you accidentally registered twice: Both QR codes are valid. Present only one QR code at the airport — choose the one with correct information.