Philippines eTravel
Everything you need for your Philippines eTravel: requirements, processing times and answers to the most common questions.
Official Philippines government portalOverview
The eTravel is the Philippines' free, mandatory online registration that every traveller completes before flying. It is not a visa: it is an electronic travel declaration, the country's One-Stop Electronic Travel Declaration System, that records your trip and produces a QR code for both arrival into and departure from the Philippines. It applies to everyone crossing the border by air or sea, including foreign tourists, business visitors and returning Filipino citizens, and each traveller files an individual declaration, children included.
The declaration replaces the old paper arrival card, customs form and health declaration, gathering them into one digital submission. It is submitted before you travel and is tied to your flight and dates, so the information must match your booking. The eTravel does not grant entry on its own and it does not replace a visa: if your nationality requires a Philippine visa, you still obtain that separately through a consulate, and immigration officers make the admission decision at the border.
The registration is free at the official portal, etravel.gov.ph, and a number of unofficial look-alike sites charge a fee for the very same form. Your eTravel declaration is completed and reviewed in your own language and submitted in the correct window, so your QR code is ready and every detail of your information is right before you reach the airport.
Philippines eTravel questions
What is the Philippines eTravel?
It is the Philippines' free, mandatory electronic travel declaration, the One-Stop Electronic Travel Declaration System. It records your trip and produces a QR code for arrival into and departure from the country. It is not a visa and it does not by itself grant entry; it replaces the old paper arrival, customs and health forms.
Is the eTravel free, and why are some sites charging?
Registration at the official portal, etravel.gov.ph, is free, and the government fee is zero. A number of look-alike sites copy the eTravel name and charge for the same free form. Our service fee is for completing and reviewing your declaration in your language and submitting it in the correct window, and you pay one all-inclusive price with no separate government fee.
When should I submit the Philippines eTravel?
Within seventy-two hours, that is three days, before your arrival into or departure from the Philippines. Registering too early can invalidate the QR code, so it is best completed close to travel. The declaration is tied to your flight and dates, and we submit it in the correct window so your QR code is ready in time.
Does the eTravel cover departure as well as arrival?
Yes. The eTravel is required for both arrival into and departure from the Philippines, so you complete a declaration for your inbound flight and again for your outbound flight. Each submission produces its own QR code for the airport, and each is tied to that flight and its dates.
What QR code do I receive, and what do Green and Red mean?
On submission the eTravel issues a QR code that must be shown to airline staff before boarding and scanned at the border. A Green QR means your information has been reviewed and you are cleared for the express processing lane. A Red QR sends you to secondary inspection, which is why an accurate, complete submission matters.
Do I still need a visa for the Philippines?
The eTravel does not replace a visa. Many nationalities can visit visa-free for short tourist stays, but the eTravel is mandatory for everyone regardless of visa status. If your nationality requires a Philippine visa, you obtain it separately through a consulate; the eTravel is the arrival and departure registration, not the visa.
Who needs to file the Philippines eTravel?
Everyone crossing the border by air or sea, including foreign tourists, business visitors and returning Filipino citizens. Each traveller files an individual declaration, children included. There is no exemption by age or nationality; the declaration is what replaces the former paper arrival and customs forms for all travellers.
What information do I need to register?
Your passport details, your trip details and a short health declaration. For the trip you give your arrival flight or vessel and your accommodation address in the Philippines, a hotel booking being enough, plus your onward flight for departure. You also need a working email address to receive the confirmation and your QR code.
Do I need to print the eTravel QR code?
You do not have to print it: a screenshot or saved copy on your phone is accepted, and it can also be printed if you prefer a paper copy. The QR code must be shown to airline staff before boarding and scanned by immigration officers at the airport, so keep it easy to reach.
What if I make a mistake or my flight changes after submission?
Because the QR code is scanned against your passport and flight, the details must match. If you spot an error or your flight changes, email us with the corrected information as soon as it is confirmed and we resubmit the declaration. Reviewing every field before submission is exactly what reduces these errors.
Which website is the official one for eTravel?
The eTravel is issued through the official Philippine government portal at etravel.gov.ph. Several fee-charging look-alike sites imitate the name and the form, so check the address before entering any personal details. The registration on the official portal is free; only our service fee is shown at checkout.
Is VisitPass an official government website?
No. VisitPass is an independent service, not a government site and not affiliated with the Philippine authorities. We complete and review your free eTravel declaration in your language and submit it within the correct window, so it is right and your QR code is ready before you reach the airport. The government fee for the eTravel is zero.
What happens at boarding if my eTravel has an error?
Your eTravel QR code is checked by airline staff before boarding and scanned again at the airport, so a mismatch between your declaration and your passport or flight can cause questions or a delay at the gate. The most common avoidable issues are a mistyped name, passport number or arrival date. We complete your registration and review it against your travel details first, so the submission you board with is accurate and consistent.
Can I file the eTravel for my children and travel companions?
Yes. Each traveller needs their own eTravel registration and QR code, including children, but you can complete the declarations for your family members and the people you are travelling with rather than asking each one to register separately. We prepare every registration in the group from the passport and trip details you give us, review each for accuracy, and submit them together inside the correct window before you fly.
How do I get the Green QR code for express airport processing?
The Green QR code is issued when the information you submit has been reviewed and accepted, which clears you for the express lane at the airport; a Red code routes you to standard processing instead. The outcome follows directly from a clean, accurate submission, so the value of our review is concrete here: we check your declaration before it goes to the official portal to give your registration the best chance of the Green express result.
Does the eTravel health declaration require any vaccinations?
The eTravel includes a short health declaration about your recent travel and how you are feeling, and it does not by itself impose a vaccination requirement for ordinary tourist trips. Any health or vaccination rules depend on official guidance at the time of your travel, so check current advice for your route. We help you complete the health section accurately as part of preparing and reviewing your eTravel registration.
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Have questions about your eTravel? Email the Philippines desk and we reply within 24 hours.
philippines@visitpass-online.com