A traveller organising a family visit to the Philippines may need to deal with more than one online form. The Philippine eTravel system and New Zealand’s own arrival declaration are separate services, and both official systems are free.
In an advisory dated 7 October, the Philippine Embassy in New Zealand warned people to verify the website before submitting personal information. This is a practical reminder checked on 29 October, not a new registration charge or a new warning issued today.
Start with the official Philippine address
The embassy identifies etravel.gov.ph as the official registration site. The current homepage also states that eTravel is free and links to the government’s eGovPH app.
The advisory cautions against websites that look similar or offer registration services. A request for payment should prompt a check that you are using the actual government service. A third-party assistance fee is not evidence of a government registration fee.
Check the official guidance for who must register and the timing for your particular journey. A completed declaration should not be assumed to replace a passport, a visa or any other entry requirement.
The return journey has a separate New Zealand form
New Zealand Traveller Declaration guidance says everyone entering New Zealand must complete a declaration, including New Zealand passport holders. Each traveller needs their own, including babies and children; holding a visa or NZeTA does not remove the requirement.
For air travel, the earliest submission time is 24 hours before starting the trip to New Zealand. It must be submitted by passport control on arrival. Sea travel has a different timing rule. The site links to guidance for long journeys and stopovers, which is worth checking when flights involve several legs.
Keep the two systems distinct
The New Zealand declaration collects travel, customs, immigration and biosecurity information and links it to the passport. Its questions are available in multiple languages, but answers must be in English. The official site and app can be reached directly from the government homepage.
For a family booking flights, keeping the official links with the itinerary can make the paperwork easier to find when each submission window opens.
Sources: Philippine Embassy advisory, official eTravel homepage and New Zealand Traveller Declaration guidance, checked 29 October 2026.
