Before you enter the Philippines you register on eTravel, a government web platform. We checked who must register, when, what information is collected and what the QR code is for, using eTravel’s official FAQ and data policy. For the whole preparation, see our guide to studying English in the Philippines. Checked on 31 October 2026.
In short
eTravel registration is free and opens 72 hours before arrival. After registering, keep the QR code as a screenshot or printout and show it to airline staff before boarding. The only official website is etravel.gov.ph, so do not enter your details on any site that asks for payment.
Who must register
eTravel is a government web platform that collects data on people arriving in and leaving the Philippines. The official FAQ gives its purposes as border control, health surveillance and economic data analysis. For the whole process, see our guide to studying English in the Philippines.
Those who must register or update are arriving Filipino and foreign passengers and crew members, and departing Filipino passengers. The list does not say how departing foreign passengers are treated.
The FAQ names these exceptions: foreign diplomats and their dependents, foreign dignitaries and their delegations, 9(e) visa holders, and holders of diplomatic and official or service passports.
Whether you also need a visa depends on your nationality. Check the Bureau of Immigration (BI) page for your passport.
When and where to register
You can register within 72 hours (3 days) before arrival. The official site asks travellers to show proof of registration before boarding their flight.
Arrange your mobile data before you fly. Our article on SIM and eSIM for studying in the Philippines covers the options.
| What to check | Answer |
|---|---|
| When to register | Within 72 hours (3 days) before arrival or departure |
| Cost | Free, for registration and updates |
| Where | On the web, in a phone or computer browser |
| App | Works without a download |
| Connection | Needs an internet connection |
| Official website | etravel.gov.ph only |
Based on the official eTravel FAQ (checked 31 October 2026).
What to enter
The official data policy lists these items: email address, name, passport number, sex, date of birth, civil status, nationality, mobile number and address.
The travel details listed are date of arrival, airport or seaport, type of traveller, purpose, country of origin, airline or vessel name, passenger type and flight number.
The policy also lists the dates and names of COVID-19 vaccine doses. It does not say which items are required on the current form, so follow the instructions on the screen.
The FAQ says the information also serves as the health declaration card and checklist. Illness in the past 30 days, or contact with a sick person, affects the colour of your QR code.
The QR code after you register
Before closing the website, take a screenshot of your QR code or download it. You show it to an airline representative before boarding. A printed QR code is also accepted.
The QR code is green or red. Green means the information you submitted was proper and complete. Red means it was incomplete or incorrect, or that you were sick in the past 30 days or had contact with someone with a communicable disease.
With a green QR code you go straight to immigration inspection on arrival. With a red one you go through a further inspection by the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) first.
Fixing mistakes and registering again
If you notice a mistake, you can change some of your data from the “Edit Registration” tab, as long as the border control authorities (BOQ and the Bureau of Immigration) have not yet processed you.
If you lose your QR code, open it again from the same tab. Go to etravel.gov.ph/search, enter your reference number and date of birth, and continue.
If you have registered before, update your details each time you travel instead of starting over. If you registered more than once, either QR code works, but present only one.
Watch out for unofficial sites
The official FAQ says etravel.gov.ph is the only official website of eTravel. Registration and updates are absolutely free, and no online payment is collected.
It warns of fake, fraudulent or scam websites that require payment, and asks people to report them to the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) at cicc.gov.ph/report.
When you search, check that the address shown is etravel.gov.ph before you enter any details.
What the official pages do not say
The FAQ and data policy do not describe how to register children, how to register as a group or how transit passengers are treated. They also give no screen-by-screen steps or time needed.
This article therefore does not cover them. If you are unsure, use the contact form on the eTravel website or ask your airline.
If the procedure changes, BLOOM ABROAD posts it in the news for the Philippines. This article covers the steps, and the news covers changes.
Check the latest notice
Before you leave, check the eTravel notice for the latest guidance. For the whole preparation, see our 8-week pre-departure checklist and the guide to studying English in the Philippines.
