In short (updated October 2026): the Philippines no longer uses a paper departure card. Since 1 May 2023 the Bureau of Immigration collects departure data through eTravel at etravel.gov.ph (or the eGovPH app). Registration is free and opens 72 hours before your flight. When leaving the country, the official eTravel list covers departing Filipino passengers; departing foreign nationals are not on that list, but every foreign visitor must register on arrival.
What happened to the Philippines departure card?
The paper arrival and departure cards that passengers used to fill in for the Bureau of Immigration (BI) have been retired. Arrivals moved to eTravel in December 2022, and the paper departure card was phased out on 1 May 2023. Today “departure card Philippines” simply means the departure registration in eTravel, the Philippine Travel Information System.
eTravel is one online declaration for immigration, quarantine and customs. Since 10 May 2024 a single eTravel QR code covers the immigration, Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) health and Bureau of Customs declarations at all international airports.
Who needs a departure registration when leaving the Philippines?
The official eTravel FAQ lists three groups who must register: arriving Filipino and foreign crew, arriving Filipino and foreign passengers, and departing Filipino passengers.
| Traveller | Arriving in the Philippines | Leaving the Philippines |
|---|---|---|
| Filipino citizen (incl. OFWs, dual citizens on a PH passport) | Required | Required |
| Foreign tourist, business traveller or resident | Required | Not on the official list |
| Airline or ship crew | Required | Follow your carrier’s instructions |
| Diplomats, 9(e) visa holders, diplomatic or official/service passport holders | Exempt | Exempt |
If you are a foreigner and your airline or the immigration counter still asks for an eTravel departure QR code, registering takes a few minutes and costs nothing.
Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs)
OFWs are Filipino citizens, so they register in eTravel both when they leave for their job abroad and when they return. eTravel does not replace the OFW Pass or Overseas Employment Certificate issued by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW); both are separate requirements.
How to register your departure in eTravel
- Within 72 hours (3 days) before your departure, open etravel.gov.ph or the eGovPH app.
- Sign in and choose the Departure registration (returning travellers can update an earlier registration via “Edit Registration”).
- Enter your passport details, flight or vessel, departure date and destination, and answer the health and customs questions.
- Submit and save the QR code: take a screenshot, download it or print it.
- Show the QR code to your airline before boarding and at Philippine immigration.
You can correct a registration through “Edit Registration” until BOQ and BI have processed and verified it. Present only one QR code at inspection; showing different codes can cause delays.
What you need for the departure registration
| Cost | Free. etravel.gov.ph is the only official website. |
| When | Within 72 hours before your departure |
| Documents | Passport, flight or vessel details, email address |
| Device | Any phone or computer with internet; no app needed (eGovPH app is optional) |
| Result | One QR code for immigration, quarantine and customs |
Green or red QR code?
A green QR code means you can proceed to immigration. A red QR code means further inspection by the Bureau of Quarantine, usually because data is incomplete or incorrect, or because you declared an illness or contact with a sick person in the past 30 days.
Lost your QR code? Retrieve it at etravel.gov.ph/search with your reference number and date of birth.
Departure card vs. visa and travel tax
The eTravel departure registration is a data declaration, not a visa or an exit permit. Filipino passengers may also have to settle other departure requirements, such as the travel tax collected by TIEZA, which eTravel does not cover.
Prefer not to fill in the form yourself? Our assisted service can complete it for you for a fee, while registering directly at etravel.gov.ph remains free.
Departure card Philippines: FAQ
Is there still a paper departure card in the Philippines?
No. The paper departure card was phased out on 1 May 2023 and replaced by the online eTravel registration.
Do foreigners need eTravel to leave the Philippines?
The official eTravel FAQ lists departing Filipino passengers only, so foreign nationals are not on the list of required departure registrants. Foreigners must register when they arrive.
How many hours before departure can I register?
Within 72 hours (3 days) before your departure from the Philippines.
How much does the departure registration cost?
Nothing. eTravel is free. Report websites that demand payment as eTravel to the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC).
Do OFWs have to register in eTravel?
Yes. As Filipino citizens, OFWs register when departing and when arriving. The DMW-issued OFW Pass or OEC is a separate document.
Who is exempt from eTravel?
Foreign diplomats and their dependents, foreign dignitaries and their delegations, 9(e) visa holders, and holders of diplomatic or official/service passports.
I travel often. Do I register again every time?
You do not create a new account each trip. Update your details for every trip through “Edit Registration” on etravel.gov.ph.
Sources: eTravel – Philippine Travel Information System (etravel.gov.ph, FAQ); Bureau of Immigration advisory on eTravel registration (immigration.gov.ph, October 2026); Bureau of Customs single eTravel QR code announcement (May 2024). Information checked in October 2026.