eTravel registration: What, Where, and How

With the holiday season just around the corner, local and foreign tourists are expected to troop to airports and seaports for the much-needed vacation.

Before going to the ports, travelers need to visit the eTravel website, a free of charge online portal for the implementation of electronic passenger registration, border control, economic data analysis, and Health Declaration Checklist.

In an advisory, the Bureau of Immigration said the following are required to register at least 72 hours or three days prior to their intended travel to the country:

• Arriving Filipino and foreign crew members,
• Arriving Filipino and foreign passengers, and
• Departing Filipino passengers.

Exempted from eTravel registration are:

• Foreign diplomats and their dependents
• Foreign dignitaries and members of their delegation
• Holders of 9 (e) visas, and
• Holders of diplomatic and official/service passports.

Since eTravel is a web-based online platform that is mobile-responsive, it can be accessed through cellphones, tablets, laptops, or personal computers.

Travelers are advised to have good and stable internet connection when accessing eTravel website.

Here is the step by step guide to register:

• Visit the website (https://etravel.gov.ph/) and click if you are a Philippine or foreign passport holder
• From the dropdown, choose your citizenship, travel type (arrival or departure), transportation type (air or sea), date of travel
• Enter your email address and then press either continue, update existing record, or registered crew
• Enter your personal details such as name, passport number, gender, birthdate, country of birth, occupation, and mobile number
• Enter your address and permanent country of residence
• Enter your travel details
• Fill up a health declaration

A QR code will be sent after a successful registration. The traveler should take a screenshot or download the QR code as it will be shown to an airline representative before boarding. The QR code can also be printed.

Red or green QR code

If a traveler receives a green QR code, he or she may directly proceed with the immigration inspection. It means he or she submitted the proper and complete information.

However, a red QR code means the traveler will be required to undergo further inspection by the Bureau of Quarantine before immigration formalities. A red QR code is issued when the data submitted is incomplete or incorrect, and/or if for the past 30 days, the traveler was sick or has a history of exposure to a person who is sick or known to have communicable/infectious disease prior to travel.

The eTravel system is in compliance with the Ease of Doing Business Law (Republic Act 11032), which promotes ease of doing business and efficient delivery of government services.—AOL, GMA Integrated News