In brief
eTravel is the Philippines’ web-based arrival and departure registration, and it is free. Its own FAQ requires it of arriving Filipino and foreign passengers and of departing Filipino passengers, and a flight from Manila to Caticlan is not in that list.
- Register at etravel.gov.ph within 72 hours (3 days) before you arrive in or leave the Philippines1.
- Registration is free of charge; the FAQ says no online payment is accepted and warns of “fake, fraudulent, or scam websites” that ask for payment1.
- A green QR code means your data is proper and complete; a red one sends you to a Bureau of Quarantine check before immigration1.
- Carry the QR code as a screenshot or printout, and show proof of registration before boarding1.
- You can edit a registration until border control authorities have processed your data1.
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Where to book Current rates across the island.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need eTravel to go to Boracay?
Only if your journey into the Philippines crosses the border. The FAQ requires registration for arriving Filipino and foreign passengers and departing Filipino passengers1. A domestic flight from Manila to Caticlan is not in its list1.
How much does eTravel cost?
Nothing. The FAQ says registration and updating are free and that no online payment is accepted1.
When can I register?
Within 72 hours (3 days) before you arrive in or depart from the Philippines1.
What does a red QR code mean?
It means the data was incomplete or incorrect, or that you have been sick or exposed to a sick person in the past 30 days. You go to a Bureau of Quarantine check before immigration1.
Can I change my registration after submitting it?
Yes, through the Edit Registration tab, until border control authorities have processed and verified your data1.
Does a foreign visitor leaving the Philippines need to register?
The FAQ lists departing Filipino passengers only1.
The detail
This page is for travellers whose trip to Boracay starts outside the Philippines. It sets out what the official eTravel FAQ says about who registers, what the QR code means and how to avoid paying for something that is free. For the rest of the journey, from the airport to the island, see Getting to Boracay.
The short answer
| If you are… | eTravel registration |
|---|---|
| A foreign passenger arriving in the Philippines | Required1 |
| A Filipino passenger arriving in the Philippines | Required1 |
| A Filipino passenger leaving the Philippines | Required1 |
| A foreign passenger leaving the Philippines | Not in the FAQ’s list1 |
| Flying Manila to Caticlan, or any other domestic leg | Not in the FAQ’s list1 |
The FAQ also requires registration of arriving Filipino and foreign crew, and exempts categories such as foreign diplomats, dignitaries, 9(e) visa holders and holders of diplomatic or official passports1.
Domestic travellers are not in the list
The FAQ describes registration “prior to your arrival into or departure from the Philippines”1. It names international arrivals and departing Filipinos. It does not mention domestic flights, so a traveller on a domestic flight into Caticlan is not covered by anything on that page.
That is a reading of what the FAQ lists, not a statement from the site that domestic passengers are exempt. The sources used here do not say whether any check at the Caticlan jetty port refers to eTravel. The steps asked for at the port are in Boracay entry requirements.
How the QR code works
The registration issues a QR code after you submit your details1.
| QR code | What it means | What happens next |
|---|---|---|
| Green | The submitted information is proper and complete | You go on to immigration inspection |
| Red | Information is incomplete or incorrect, or you have been ill or exposed to someone ill in the past 30 days | A Bureau of Quarantine check comes before immigration |
Source:1.
Take a screenshot or print the code, since proof of registration is shown before boarding1. If you lose it, the search page at etravel.gov.ph/search retrieves it with your reference number and date of birth1.
Registering and editing
- Register on the official site only. The FAQ describes eTravel as web-based, at etravel.gov.ph1.
- Register within 72 hours before travel. The window is three days before your arrival into or departure from the Philippines1.
- Edit through the Edit Registration tab. You can change your entry only until the Bureau of Quarantine and the Bureau of Immigration have processed and verified your data1.
Scam sites
Good to know The FAQ states that registration or updating is “absolutely free of charge” and that no online payment is accepted. It warns against “fake, fraudulent, or scam websites/entities which require payment upon registration/updating”, and directs users to report them to the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center1.
The page names no particular scam site, and neither does this one. The test it gives is simple: any site that asks you to pay to register is not the official one.
Related Articles
Sources (1)
- Philippine Travel Information System (eTravel), Frequently Asked Questions — eTravel, Government of the Philippines; the page shows no date. Accessed 2026-10-14.