eTravel Card Registration for Travellers to the Philippines

If you are a kababayan or someone living abroad, especially those in Malaysia, and plan to visit the Philippines anytime soon, you must register on the eTravel website as part of the entry requirements of the government into the country. Please keep in mind that the One Health Pass registration is no longer available, and the most recent arrival card in the Philippines is the eTravel Registration card.

To ensure their safety and protection, all inbound travelers, whether international or Filipino residents, must register through the Philippine government’s eTravel portal. This new regulation is part of the country’s efforts to increase safety and security for all citizens.

This post will discuss eTravel registration and how it can be utilized by returning Filipinos and overseas visitors to the Philippines. Keep on reading to learn more!

eTravel Card Registration

Prior to this update, foreign travelers have used the eArrival card as a platform for online health declarations and contact tracking to travel from their point of origin to the Local Government Unit (LGU) of their destination in the Philippines. This enabled them to travel to the Philippines.

The eTravel card registration will serve the same purpose as the eArrival card; however, it will require fewer pieces of information, will be easier to complete, and will have a more user-friendly user interface.

On December 1, 2022, the Philippine government implemented the e-Travel registration, which replaced the eArrival card. As a result, as of December 5, 2022, the One Health Pass Website is no longer accessible to the general public.

The site also has the BOQ-required Health Declaration Checklist. It includes an electronic version of the travel card, which is required for immigration clearance.

Travelers entering the Philippines after December 2nd will be required to sign up for a new electronic travel system being implemented by the government.

Every traveler must use this brand-new electronic travel system to increase overall travel safety and limit the transmission of the coronavirus. Those who do not register in advance will be subject to further quarantine restrictions. Thus, in order to avoid such a predicament, it’s best to be guided by the updated procedures and requirements in order to utilize this system.

The printed Arrival Card obtained through the One Health Pass website will no longer be accepted by the Bureau of Immigration as of the date of the modification. Travelers from other countries must have the digital version of the eTravel Card available through the platform, which you will learn more about in the next sections.

Requirements

In accordance with IATF Resolution No. 2, travelers must be notified of the varied entrance procedures required by the Philippines. The following are the conditions for entering the Philippines, as gathered from the etravel.gov.ph website:

1. COMPLETELY VACCINATED (Filipino and Foreign Travelers)

A COVID-19 test is not required prior to travel. At least fourteen (14) days before departure from the country of origin/port of embarkation, the second dose of a two-dose series or a single dose of the COVID-19 vaccination is necessary.

1. Unimmunized or only partially immunized (Filipino and Foreign Travelers)
2. Passengers aged 15 and over are required to produce the results of a Rapid Antigen Test performed in a laboratory under remote observation and confirmed by a competent medical expert within 24 hours of departing their country of origin/first port of embarkation, excluding layovers.
3. Adults over the age of 15 who failed a pre-departure test are required to submit to a laboratory antigen test ON ARRIVING AT THE AIRPORT.
4. Unimmunized children under the age of 15 are expected to obey the standards set by their parents or legal guardians. Furthermore, they must follow current regulations.

NOTE: Any inbound traveler of any nationality who tests positive for COVID-19 utilizing a fast antigen test will be subjected to the most recent DOH quarantine and isolation guidelines. This is true regardless of the traveler’s home country. Qualifications Every visitor to the Philippines must follow specific entrance requirements in order to enter the country. As previously stated, the requirements differ based on the individual’s age group.

Procedures

Every tourist, including infants and minors, must register for eTravel 72 hours in advance of their trip to the Philippines. This must be completed prior to boarding an airplane. The registration process is as follows:

Visit the eTravel website in your spare time. Remember that this procedure will not cost you anything, so don’t be concerned about the expense. Furthermore, if you come across a website that requests a fee, you know it’s a hoax. The steps for registering on the platform are as follows.

1. Complete your Personal Profile, including your passport number and current job position (if applicable).
2. Enter your mailing address next.
3. Complete the Health Declaration, which includes questions about your COVID-19 vaccinations.

Your information summary is now ready for your approval and submission.

QR Codes

Once all conditions are met, a QR Code will be generated. Take a screenshot of the code before leaving the page because it will be scanned both when you board the plane and when you arrive in the Philippines.

If your submission of the required information and attachments is full and matches the most recent IATF entry criteria, the eTravel system will generate a GREEN QR Code.

If you do not meet the standards, you will be given a RED QR Code when you arrive at the airport. After that, a BOQ representative will decide whether RT-PCR testing or quarantine testing is required.

It is critical to understand that reusing the same code is not allowed. You must register and generate a new QR Code for your forthcoming trip.

UPDATED E-TRAVEL REGISTRATION VIDEO: ETRAVEL REFERENCE NUMBER | ETRAVEL PHILIPPINES GUIDE STEP BY STEP

Assume you want a quick way to keep up with the most recent modifications to e-travel registration protocols. In that case, you should watch this video, which explains how to register for the new e-travel card.

This video will help you understand some of the most essential procedural issues you may face while traveling, giving you some peace of mind in knowing that your travel is safe and well-organized. As a result, be prepared to take notes and adhere to all the recommendations based on the vlogger’s personal experience applying for this card.

Frequently Asked Questions

To comply with the IATF guideline, the eArrival system must be replaced with a new website that includes a health declaration check list. This will be done in order to comply with the government’s travel requirements. When the newly developed website is ultimately available for usage, the entire public will be notified. In the meanwhile, we’ve compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions about the eTravel registration system.

1. What is the most essential function of the eTravel platform?

Visitors from other countries can utilize the eTravel platform to quickly and safely enter their personal information, including medical history and contact information, prior to entering the Philippines. Furthermore, the government is compelled to keep a record of everyone who enters the nation with a medical history that includes specified conditions. This history must include the condition under consideration.

This means that tourists of any age, including babies and children, must first register on the eTravel website before entering the Philippines.

2. Where can I find out more about the requirements for entering the Philippines?

Before you may fly to the Philippines, you must first register with the eTravel website and then submit your registration papers at the airport. Because eTravel registration is an essential stage in the government’s travel procedure, all arriving travelers should be aware of its importance.

According to the requirements of IATF Resolution 168, facility-based quarantine for visitors from foreign countries seeking to enter the Philippines will no longer be required as of May 30, 2022. Instead, they will only be required to submit a negative test result if they are required to do so under certain conditions. This change will be implemented as soon as possible.

3. Why do I have to go through the trouble of signing up for eTravel?

If you enter the Philippines for the first time after September 1, 2021, you must confirm your personal information using the e-Travel registration system. The IATF’s Resolution 135 makes following the procedure in its current version mandatory.

4. Is it necessary to install an app in order to use the eTravel platform in any way?

Because the eTravel platform is web-based, all you need to utilize it is a device that can connect to the internet. It was specifically designed for mobile use. It is accessible via traditional desktop PCs, mobile devices, and other portable electronic devices. It can be accessed via a web browser designed for mobile devices.

5. Can I register a couple of days before my flight (that is, before I leave)?

At least three (3) days before your trip to the Philippines, you must register for eTravel at the airport. Passengers who have already registered at the airport must provide identification documents to confirm their registration. Furthermore, travelers have only 72 hours from the time they board the airline to notify the appropriate authorities of their most recent medical condition. This time limit starts the moment they board the plane.

6. Is it necessary to supply all the information requested by eTravel, such as the Health Declaration Checklist?

The authorities expect that by asking you some of these extra questions, they will be able to determine which group you belong into according to IATF criteria and thus properly direct their inquiry. This will make it easy for you to explore the many categories and seek advice from health specialists.

7. What should I do if I lose the screenshot of my personal QR Code that I had saved on my mobile device?

You can access a range of your personal information, including your QR Code, by logging in to the eTravel website. To do so, go to the website’s homepage and select the “My Profile” option. You can also get your generated code by giving personal information such your date of birth and reference number. Please keep in mind that these codes are only valid for three days and nights; after that, you must register anew.

8. I made a mistake. Will I be able to make changes to my profile after finishing the registration process?

If the border health authorities have not yet screened, processed, and tagged you when you registered for eTravel, you can still amend certain information in the “Open My Profile” part of the website. This is true even if you have been screened, processed, and tagged previously.

Because of the strict nature of the quarantine laws, you will be unable to amend the information you have provided after you arrive. Your arrival date, address, and potentially some further information about yourself will be collected.

Final Thoughts

This article will assist those planning a trip to the Philippines. Before you begin arranging your travel itineraries, it’s critical that you understand the country’s entry requirements.

The eTravel platform has made booking your travel reservations easier than ever. With the updated registration process, you can now access the website from any web-capable device from anywhere. This new approach also makes it easier and simpler for passengers to maintain their accounts.

Never use a website other than etravel.gov.ph to register for a trip to the Philippines. This could lead to you being duped into supplying personal information and cash for the registration procedure, which should be absolutely FREE.

The new etravel.gov.ph website contains a wealth of information about visiting the Philippines. It’s also an excellent starting point for understanding about the country’s entry criteria.

We hope that you found this article helpful, and that by following proper travel guidelines, you can enjoy a safe and hassle-free visit to the Philippines. If it’s been quite some time since your last visit in the country, or if you know someone in the same situation, feel free to bookmark and share this post with them. Have a happy and safe trip!

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