eTravel Health Declaration (eHDC) 2026: How to Fill It Out Correctly

Quick Answer: The Electronic Health Declaration Card (eHDC) is built into eTravel at etravel.gov.ph, the Philippines' free one-stop registration for arriving and departing travelers. Register within 72 hours of your flight. It asks about recent illness, symptoms, and exposure history, then issues a QR code: green means proceed straight to immigration, red means Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) screening first. eTravel is always free — sites charging a fee are scams.

Table of Contents

• What is the eTravel Health Declaration (eHDC)?
• Who needs to register, and for arrival or departure?
• When should you register? The 72-hour window
• What questions are on the health declaration?
• Green QR vs red QR: what's the difference?
• What happens if you get a red QR code?
• Is eTravel really free? How to avoid fake sites
• How to register for eTravel, step by step
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Conclusion

What is the eTravel Health Declaration (eHDC)?

The eHDC is the health-surveillance section built into eTravel, the Philippine government's single online form for international travelers. eTravel replaced the old paper arrival/departure cards and now bundles immigration registration, the health declaration, and customs declaration into one system. The health declaration part is administered under the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) mandate to catch and respond to communicable disease risks at the border.

You don't fill out a separate "health form" — the eHDC questions appear as part of the same eTravel registration you complete for immigration purposes. It takes a few minutes on a phone or computer, and it's required before you get your travel QR code.

Who needs to register, and for arrival or departure?

Per the official eTravel FAQ, registration covers:

• Arriving Filipino and foreign passengers (and crewmembers)
• Departing Filipino passengers

Foreign nationals departing the Philippines generally do not need to register on the way out — only arriving travelers (any nationality) and departing Filipinos do. Diplomats, dignitaries, and certain visa holders are exempted; check the FAQ page for the current exemption list before you travel, since exemptions can change.

When should you register? The 72-hour window

You can only register within 72 hours (3 days) before your arrival into or departure from the Philippines — the eTravel system won't let you submit earlier than that. Register too early and the form will reject it; register too late and you risk a rushed submission at the airport. Aim to complete it the day before you fly, and keep the QR code screenshot or printout ready to show at airline check-in, per the official FAQ.

What questions are on the health declaration?

The eHDC section gathers health-surveillance data the BOQ uses to flag possible communicable-disease risk. Based on the official system and traveler guidance, expect questions covering:

Answer honestly. The system cross-checks your answers against the 30-day disease-exposure window (see below) to decide whether you get a green or red QR code.

Green QR vs red QR: what's the difference?

Once you submit eTravel, you receive a QR code in one of two colors, per the official FAQ:

• Green QR code: your submitted information is complete and proper. You proceed directly to immigration inspection on arrival — no extra stop.
• Red QR code: your data is incomplete or incorrect, or you reported illness or exposure to a communicable disease within the past 30 days. You'll need further inspection by the Bureau of Quarantine before immigration processing continues.

A red QR code isn't a penalty — it just routes you through an extra health check before you proceed. Most travelers who answer accurately and completely get green.

What happens if you get a red QR code?

If your QR code is red, BOQ staff at the airport will pull you aside for additional screening before you clear immigration. This can include a basic symptom check and questions about your declared exposure or illness. If BOQ clears you, you continue to immigration as normal. Budget extra time at the airport if you expect a red QR — for example, if you were recently sick or in close contact with someone diagnosed with a communicable disease.

If you're arriving specifically because of a required vaccination for entry (yellow fever, for instance), that's a separate document from the eHDC — see our guides on the yellow fever vaccine and yellow card and Hajj/Umrah vaccine requirements.

Is eTravel really free? How to avoid fake sites

Yes — eTravel is completely free. The official system states plainly: "eTravel registration/update is absolutely free of charge, hence, it does not collect or require any form of online payment."

Despite that, the Bureau of Immigration has repeatedly warned about fake eTravel websites charging travelers ₱3,000–₱5,000 for what should cost nothing. The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) has identified and flagged multiple fraudulent copycat sites impersonating eTravel, and the Bureau of Immigration has issued repeated public advisories — including around Holy Week travel — urging the public to use only etravel.gov.ph.

Red flags of a fake site:

• Any request for a payment card or GCash transfer to "process" your eTravel registration
• A domain that isn't etravel.gov.ph (watch for lookalike names with extra words like "-entrydocs," "-application," or "-processing")
• Pop-up urgency ("register now or be denied boarding") pushing you toward payment

If you land on a site asking for payment to register, close it and go directly to etravel.gov.ph. Report suspicious sites to the CICC.

One legitimate fee does exist inside the same ecosystem but is separate from the free eTravel/eHDC registration: departing Filipino travelers (with exemptions for OFWs, Filipino permanent residents abroad who stayed under a year, and children 12 and under) must pay the Philippine travel tax — ₱1,620 economy class, ₱2,700 business/first class — which the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) integrated into the eGovPH app and eTravel system in 2025. That's a real government fee for a different purpose (tourism infrastructure funding), not a charge for the health declaration itself. Confirm your own tax/exemption status at tieza.gov.ph.

How to register for eTravel, step by step

1. Go to the official site. Open etravel.gov.ph in a browser, or use the eGovPH mobile app. Do not use any other domain.
2. Create or sign in to your account. Provide your email and basic traveler details.
3. Fill out passenger and flight information. Passport details, flight number, arrival or departure date.
4. Complete the Health Declaration (eHDC) section. Answer the illness, symptom, travel-history, and exposure questions honestly.
5. Complete the customs declaration, if applicable (arriving passengers).
6. Pay travel tax, if required. Departing Filipino passengers not exempt will be prompted to settle this before the QR code generates.
7. Submit and receive your QR code. Screenshot or print it — you'll present it at airline check-in and/or immigration.
8. Present the QR code at the airport. Green means straight to immigration; red means a BOQ check first.

Do this within the 72-hour window before your flight — not earlier, and not so late that you're rushing at the gate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is eTravel required for both arrival and departure?

Arrival registration is required for all arriving passengers and crew, regardless of nationality. Departure registration is required only for departing Filipino passengers — foreign nationals generally don't need to register when leaving the Philippines.

How much does eTravel cost?

Nothing. eTravel registration, including the health declaration, is free. The only legitimate government fee in the same system is the separate Philippine travel tax for eligible departing Filipino travelers, not a charge for registering.

What does a red QR code mean?

Your submitted information was incomplete or incorrect, or you declared recent illness or exposure to a communicable disease within the past 30 days. You'll undergo additional Bureau of Quarantine screening before immigration.

How far in advance can I register?

Only within 72 hours (3 days) before your arrival or departure. The system will not accept registration outside that window.

What if I lie or skip a health question?

Incomplete or inaccurate answers can trigger a red QR code and additional screening. Answer accurately — a red QR just means an extra check, not automatic denial of entry.

Is etravel.gov.ph the only official site?

Yes. The Bureau of Immigration has repeatedly warned that copycat sites charging ₱3,000–₱5,000 are scams. Register only at etravel.gov.ph or through the official eGovPH app.

Do I need to pay travel tax through eTravel?

Departing Filipino passengers who aren't exempt (OFWs, Filipino permanent residents abroad under a year, children 12 and under) now settle travel tax through the same eGovPH/eTravel platform, integrated by TIEZA in 2025. This is separate from — and in addition to — the free health declaration.

Where can I report a fake eTravel website?

Report it to the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center at cicc.gov.ph/report.

Conclusion

The eTravel health declaration is free, takes minutes, and only becomes a hassle if you register outside the 72-hour window, submit incomplete answers, or get scammed by a fake site charging for something the government gives away. Register only at etravel.gov.ph, answer the health questions accurately, and budget extra airport time if you expect a red QR code.

If your trip involves a required vaccination on top of the health declaration, see our guides to the yellow fever vaccine and yellow card and Hajj/Umrah vaccine requirements. Traveling for a visa medical exam instead? Check our guides on the US visa medical exam, Canada/Australia visa medical exam, and Japan JPETS visa medical. Need a clinic near you for a pre-travel checkup? Search ClinicFinderPH.