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The Bureau of Customs and Department of Information and Communications Technology completed the roll-out of the e-Travel Customs System in all international airports in the country
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All arriving and departing passengers can now fill out the electronic Customs Baggage Declaration Form and electronic Currencies Declaration Form using the e-Travel website or by downloading the eGovPH application
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One QR code per passenger will be used in the e-Travel System starting May 10 for a seamless travel clearance
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) and Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) recently completed the roll-out of the e-Travel Customs System in all international airports in the country.
With this, all arriving and departing passengers can now fill-out the electronic Customs Baggage Declaration Form (e-CBDF) and electronic Currencies Declaration Form (e-CDF), as applicable, using the e-Travel website or by downloading the eGovPH application within 72 hours prior to arrival into or departure from the Philippines.
For a seamless travel clearance, one QR code per passenger will be used in the e-Travel System starting May 10, 2024.
Launched on November 21, 2023, the E-Travel Customs System is a unified digital data collection platform that integrates the border control requirements of BOC, Bureau of Immigration (BI), Bureau of Quarantine, and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).
READ: E-Travel Customs System integrates airport forms into one digital platform
It is an integration of BOC’s Electronic Customs Baggage Declaration Form and Electronic Currencies Declaration Form into BI’s eTravel System.
Its key feature is the electronic customs baggage and currency declaration interface, formerly part of the BOC’s I-Declare System introduced on June 29, 2022.
The collaborative initiative aims to optimize border control, enhance health surveillance, and facilitate economic data analysis.
BOC earlier said the single web portal enhances the overall passenger experience and enables the customs bureau to receive advance information for effective risk profiling. Additionally, timely sharing of information with the Anti-Money Laundering Council and BSP strengthens the nation’s commitment to combat money laundering and ensure financial security, BOC noted.
Upon arrival or before departure, passengers should present their passports to the immigration officer for e-Travel registration confirmation and the QR code to the Customs officer for clearance.
The e-CBDF must be filled-out by all arriving passengers, while the e-CDF is filled-out by arriving and departing passengers when they are bringing-in into or taking out local and/or foreign currencies beyond the allowed threshold.
BOC also reiterates its strict implementation of the rules on cross-border transfer of currencies, particularly the following:
- Any person, who brings into or takes out of the Philippines foreign currency, in excess of $10,000 or its equivalent is required to declare the whole amount brought into or taken out of the Philippines in the e-CDF.
- For Philippine currency, a person may bring into or take out of the Philippines an amount not exceeding P50,000. Amounts in excess of the limit will require prior written authorization from the BSP; and declaration of the whole amount brought into or taken out of the Philippines in the e-CDF.
The BSP, however, allows cross-border transfer of local currency in excess of the limit only for the testing/calibration/configuration of money counting/sorting machines; numismatics (collection of currency); and currency awareness.
BOC noted that violation of the rules on cross-border transfer of currencies or false declaration or non- declaration of Philippine or foreign currencies will result in confiscation by customs authorities.
