Philippines Arrival Card 2026: How to Fill It In & Entry Tips

Located in the western Pacific, the Philippines is a country made up of over 7,600 islands. Here, you can experience truly unique nature on islands like Cebu, and the country, with its nearly 117 million inhabitants, warmly welcomes visitors from all over the world.

While the capital, Manila, with its Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL), is the capital of this Southeast Asian nation, its population of around 1.9 million makes it merely one of the largest cities in the island state.

Since December 2022, all travellers have been required to create the Arrival Card, known as eTravel, before their trip, and we’ll explain how it works and what you should keep in mind.

🤔 What is the Philippines eTravel Arrival Card?

The eTravel Information System is an electronically generated arrival card that, with few exceptions, must be completed by all Philippine and foreign nationals. For its own citizens, the Philippine government also mandates that they must use the eTravel Information System when departing the country.

The Philippines Arrival Card is created exclusively online; there is no longer a paper version. You can complete it either on the official eTravel website or using a free Android or iOS app. The eTravel Arrival Card also includes the customs declaration and health self-declaration required for entry.

You can get a quick overview of the Philippines Arrival Card with our handy summary:

💻 How do you fill out the Philippines eTravel Arrival Card?

Since December 2022, registration for the Philippines' eTravel Information System has only been possible online. The distribution of paper forms has been discontinued. However, you have the option to choose between completing it via the Philippine Bureau of Immigration website or via an Android or iOS app.

As the health declaration and customs declaration have been integrated into the eTravel system, there are no longer any paper versions of these entry documents either.

💰 How much does the Philippines eTravel Information System Arrival Card cost?

As the Philippine Bureau of Immigration points out on its website, the eTravel Arrival Card is free of charge. They highlight the recent increase in scam websites issuing paid-for Arrival Cards. These are NOT the official travel document.

The Arrival Card is free of charge, and you will not be presented with a payment screen at any point during the process. You also do not need to provide any bank account or credit card details.

☝️ Are there any exceptions to the Philippines eTravel Arrival Card, and what applies to British travellers?

There are indeed exceptions, but they are few and far between. These exceptions do not apply to British tourists! For them, a valid eTravel Arrival Card is mandatory if they wish to visit the Philippines. The Philippine immigration authorities only list the following group of people as exempt from the eTravel Arrival Card requirement:

• Diplomats and their family members, provided they are travelling with a diplomatic passport
• Foreign officials such as church representatives and politicians, as well as their delegations
• Travellers holding a 9e visa

⁉️ How do I fill out the Philippines eTravel Arrival Card?

Next, we'll take a look at how you can get your Philippines eTravel Arrival Card. Trip.com explains the individual steps in detail. Since there is also a dedicated app, we will also cover how to create it via the app in a separate section.

You should allow around 10 minutes for the whole process. That is, assuming you have all the necessary information to hand, which is exactly where we’ll start.

⚠️ What information do I need to create my Philippines eTravel Card?

To be able to create your Philippines Arrival Card, you need to enter some information about yourself and your trip into an online form. To ensure you are as well-prepared as possible and don't waste too much time filling it out, we have created a small checklist for you. You should have the following data to hand before you start creating your Arrival Card:

• ✅ Your travel details, including arrival and departure dates, flight information, hotel details, etc.
• ✅ Your passport number including expiry date
• ✅ Your personal details such as date of birth, nationality, place of birth, profession, etc.
• ✅ Your email address and mobile number, as well as your profession

📋 Step-by-step: How to create your eTravel Arrival Card online

Once you have your travel details, passport, etc. ready, you can start creating your Philippines Arrival Card. If you use the official Philippine government website for this, the individual steps are as follows:

• Step 1: Load the website and click on “Click here to Sign in”. Then, create your user account by first entering your email address and subsequently the password you were sent
• Step 2: Now start filling it out by first selecting “Foreign Passport Holder” at the top and then entering your personal details into the fields
• Step 3: Now, gradually enter all the requested details. This includes your mobile number, passport information, etc., and then click on “Next” at the bottom.
• Step 4: Now repeat the step with your flight details and, on the next page, with your price details such as your hotel reservation, etc.
• Step 5: Next up is the health declaration and the associated questions
• Step 6: The final step is the customs declaration, including a signature
• Step 7: Finally, you need to confirm all the details one last time by clicking “Submit”. The QR code will now appear on your screen, and you will also receive it by email shortly afterwards.

📋 Step-by-step: How to create your eTravel Card via the app

You can also create your Philippines eTravel Arrival Card using an app. It is available for both iPhone and Android device owners. You can therefore download the app for free from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Once you have downloaded and installed the app, proceed as follows:

• Step 1: Open the eGovPH app and create your user account
• Step 2: Select eTravel from the list of available services
• Step 3: Now start creating your eTravel Card by entering your initial arrival details, then tap “Continue”
• Step 4: Now continue with your travel details and personal information
• Step 5: Next up is your hotel address, before moving on to the health questions
• Step 6: Once you've completed your health declaration, you still need to submit your customs declaration
• Step 7: Next, you need to confirm all the details by tapping “Submit”, and the QR code will appear on your screen. Now, just take a screenshot.

‼️ TIP: Always take a screenshot, as the email containing the QR code may be delayed. Also, remember to check your spam folder in case you haven't received an email.

⏰ When must the Philippines eTravel Arrival Card be completed?

You must complete the Philippines arrival card 3 days BEFORE your entry. In doing so, the Philippines is following the lead of many of its Southeast Asian (neighbouring) countries, as the same deadline also applies to Thailand's TDAC Arrival Card, for example.

Your Philippines Arrival Card is only valid for this relatively short period and therefore cannot be completed immediately after booking your flight. At least, not unless you have booked your flight at short notice.

🛃 Can I still create the Philippines eTravel card at the airport?

Yes, this is theoretically possible. However, it depends on the individual case. Since airlines may want to see the QR code as early as check-in, you could still create your Arrival Card at that very moment.

If your airline transports you without wanting to see the QR code, you can create your Arrival Card after your arrival, for example at Mactan Cebu International Airport (CEB). For this, you have the option of using a smartphone/app or a special eTravel kiosk.

🛂 Philippines entry requirements for British citizens

You can find the latest information on entry requirements for the Philippines on the GOV.UK website. Here, you will be comprehensively informed about the documents you need, the deadlines that apply, and what to expect regarding visas. We have summarised what you need to know about entering the Philippines in this regard below, short and sweet:

• For entry, you'll need a passport that is valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned date of departure
• Entry into the Philippines is not possible with a temporary passport
• Children require a child passport
• Since 2023, you can also apply for an extension of your visa on arrival online

💡 Tips for your trip to Philippines

Before you set off and plan or start your trip to the Philippines, we have a few travel tips ready for you. When it comes to a holiday in the Philippines, you should know or keep the following in mind:

• You can drive in the Philippines with your UK driving licence for up to 3 months, provided you are in the country as a tourist.
• English is the second official national language, which is why you can often communicate in English in the Philippines too
• The best time to travel is between January and May, as there is no monsoon during this period
• The local currency is the Philippine peso (PHP), and 1 GBP is equivalent to 84.30 PHP (as of October 2026)
• Take some cash with you, especially if you're travelling to more remote islands

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