eTravel is the Philippine government's online arrival and departure registration. It is free, you can only complete it in the 72 hours before you travel, and it gives you a QR code that your airline may ask to see before you board in the UK. If you only remember one thing from this guide, make it this: the only official website is https://etravel.gov.ph, and it never asks for payment.
This guide brings together what the official eTravel site, GOV.UK and the Philippine Bureau of Immigration say, then adds the documents to check before you leave home. We read every page named here on 10 November 2026. Rules change, so check the official pages again the week you fly.
What is eTravel?
The official eTravel FAQ describes it as a single digital data collection platform for passengers arriving in and departing from the Philippines. It is used for border control, health surveillance and economic data analysis.
The form asks for your passport details, flight, address in the Philippines and health questions. It also includes customs and currency questions that the Bureau of Customs and the Anti-Money Laundering Council require.
Is eTravel free?
Yes. The eTravel FAQ says registration and updates are "absolutely free of charge" and that the system does not collect or require any form of online payment. GOV.UK says the same: "The e-travel registration is free of charge."
The FAQ warns about fake, fraudulent or scam websites that ask for payment and says https://etravel.gov.ph is the only official website. If a site asks for a card number to register you for eTravel, close it. The Philippine government asks people to report such sites to the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center at https://cicc.gov.ph/report/.
When do I register?
Within the 72 hours before you travel. GOV.UK says you must have a QR code to show you registered "within the 72 hours before your arrival in the Philippines". The eTravel FAQ says you may register within 72 hours (3 days) before your arrival into, or departure from, the Philippines.
On a one-stop trip from London, count back from your landing time in Manila or Cebu, not from your departure time in the UK. A long journey with a stopover in the Gulf or Asia can mean your UK departure falls close to the start of the window. Registering the day before you fly from the UK is a simple way to stay inside it.
Who needs to register?
The eTravel FAQ lists three groups:
- arriving Filipino and foreign passengers;
- arriving Filipino and foreign crew;
- departing Filipino passengers.
It excludes some diplomatic and official passport holders and their dependants.
What this means for most of our customers:
| You are travelling on | Before you arrive | Before you leave the Philippines |
|---|---|---|
| A British passport only | Register | The FAQ does not list departing foreign passengers |
| A Philippine passport (including dual citizens using it) | Register | Register or update your record |
If you are a dual citizen, register with the passport you will show at immigration in the Philippines. Our guide to the balikbayan privilege and dual citizens explains which passport does what.
Does my family need one each?
Yes. The eTravel site says account owners and family members are required to register their travel declarations individually. You can add family members from your own account, and the site then creates a declaration for each person you select. Check that every child has a QR code before you leave for the airport.
How do I register?
- Go to https://etravel.gov.ph in a browser, or use the eGovPH app, which the eTravel site links to. The FAQ says you do not need to download an app, because the site works on a phone.
- Sign in or create an account.
- Choose arrival, enter your passport details and flight number, and answer the health and customs questions.
- Add any family members travelling with you.
- Save your QR code. The FAQ says to take a screenshot or download it before you close the site, and that printing it is fine.
If you lose the screenshot, the FAQ says you can retrieve your QR code at https://etravel.gov.ph/search with your reference number and date of birth. If you made a mistake, you can edit the record until border officers have processed it. If you travel often, you can update an existing record rather than start again.
One practical point: when you enter a flight into Manila, the eTravel site shows a notice telling travellers to ignore the airport terminal it fills in automatically, because airlines have moved terminals at Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Check the terminal with your airline instead.
What do the green and red QR codes mean?
The eTravel FAQ says a green QR code means your information is complete and you can go straight to immigration when you land. A red QR code means the data was incomplete or incorrect, or that in the past 30 days you were sick or exposed to someone with an infectious disease. With a red code, the Bureau of Quarantine inspects you before immigration.
The same site says that as of 22 July 2023 there is no Covid-19 test or vaccination requirement for travel to the Philippines.
What does the airline check before I board?
The eTravel FAQ says you will be required to show your QR code to an airline representative before boarding. GOV.UK says some airlines will not allow you to board a flight to the Philippines if you cannot show it. Keep the QR code where you can open it without mobile data.
The airline will also look at your passport and may ask about your return. GOV.UK says most UK visitors are expected to have proof of return or onward travel, and that immigration officials and airlines may ask for it. A return ticket on the same booking is the simplest proof.
Passport and visa checks for British passport holders
These points come from the GOV.UK entry requirements page for the Philippines, which is written for people travelling on a full British citizen passport:
- Passport validity: the expiry date must be at least 6 months after the date you arrive.
- Visa: you can visit without a visa for tourism or business for up to 30 days.
- Longer stays: you can apply for an extension once you are in the Philippines. The Bureau of Immigration says the first extension adds 29 days, and that one-, two- or six-month extensions can follow. GOV.UK warns that overstaying can lead to fines, detention or deportation.
- Leaving after a long stay: if you have stayed 6 months or more on a tourist visa, GOV.UK says you must get an emigration clearance certificate in the 72 hours before you leave.
- Children travelling without a parent: GOV.UK says non-Filipino children aged 14 or under travelling without either parent need a waiver of exclusion ground for entry.
- Vaccines: a yellow fever certificate is needed if you are coming from a country listed as a transmission risk, and a polio certificate if you are coming from certain countries. GOV.UK points to TravelHealthPro's Philippines page for the full medical requirements, so check it if your trip includes other countries on the way.
GOV.UK says that if you are not sure how the rules apply to you, contact the Philippine Embassy in the UK.
If you were born in the Philippines and became British, you may be able to stay for up to a year instead of 30 days. See our balikbayan privilege guide.
Money and customs on arrival
GOV.UK says you cannot take more than 50,000 Philippine pesos into the country, and that foreign currency over 10,000 US dollars must be declared on arrival. It also says you must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty. The eTravel form includes these customs questions, so answer them honestly.
Coming back to the UK
The return leg has its own checks, and they depend on your status in the UK.
- British citizens, including dual citizens: GOV.UK says that when returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or a certificate of entitlement. A Philippine passport alone is not enough to come home.
- People living in the UK on a visa or with settled status: GOV.UK says you must travel with a valid passport that you have added to your UKVI account, and that your eVisa is checked when you check in with your airline to return to the UK. Make sure your UKVI account shows your current passport before you leave. If an airline or border officer asks for more proof, you can get a share code, which GOV.UK says is valid for 90 days and can be used more than once.
- Philippine passport holders leaving the Philippines: register or update eTravel before departure, as above. You may also need to deal with the Philippine travel tax, or show that you are exempt. Our guide to the Philippine travel tax for UK-based Filipinos covers that.
If you are leaving from Cebu, GOV.UK says there is a departure tax of 850 Philippine pesos payable in local currency or the US dollar equivalent, and that there is no longer a departure tax at Manila airport. It adds that this can change, so check with your airline.
Your eTravel checklist
- Passport valid for at least 6 months after the date you land.
- Return or onward ticket.
- eTravel completed within 72 hours of landing, on https://etravel.gov.ph only.
- A QR code saved for every person in your party.
- UKVI account updated with the passport you are travelling on, if you live in the UK on a visa.
- British passport packed if you are a dual citizen.
- Travel tax sorted, or exemption documents ready, if you are leaving on a Philippine passport.
Book your flights with the paperwork in mind
When you ask us for a quote, tell us which passport each traveller holds and how long you plan to stay. We check that your return date fits your permitted stay and that the airline, stopover and baggage suit your trip, then send you options to compare.
Use the enquiry form or email [email protected]. For airlines and UK airports, see our page on flights to Manila from the UK.
Where to next
- Flights to Manila from the UK
- Christmas flights home to the Philippines
- The Philippine travel tax for UK-based Filipinos
- Philippines destination guide
Sources
We read these pages on 10 November 2026. None of them shows a "last updated" date that we could see. Entry rules can change without notice, so check them again before you travel.
- eTravel, official site: https://etravel.gov.ph/
- eTravel, frequently asked questions: https://etravel.gov.ph/frequently-asked-questions
- GOV.UK, Philippines entry requirements: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/philippines/entry-requirements
- Bureau of Immigration, frequently asked questions: https://immigration.gov.ph/faqs/
- GOV.UK, travel with your eVisa: https://www.gov.uk/evisa/travel-with-evisa
- TravelHealthPro, Philippines: https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/countries/philippines