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The Bureau of Customs temporarily suspended the QR code requirement for international airport passengers with nothing to declare
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The directive took effect on August 14 and is in response to feedback from the traveling public regarding long queues at customs arrival areas
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QR code scanning is still required for travelers in the red lane and those selected through random, reasonable, or intelligence-based assessments
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) temporarily suspended the QR code requirement for international passengers with nothing to declare at airports. The directive took effect on August 14 and aims to expedite customs clearance for travelers.
In the Philippines, arriving passengers are required to register through the eTravel System and accomplish the Customs Declaration Form before arrival. A QR code is then generated for all passengers, regardless of whether they have goods or currency to declare. Upon arrival, passengers are directed to the appropriate lane: Green Lane for those with “Nothing to Declare” and Red Lane for those with “Something to Declare” or for passengers selected for inspection based on risk assessment.
Under Office of the Commissioner memo 42-2025 dated August 11, passengers directed in the green lane will no longer be required to have their QR code scanned.
Travelers in the red lane and those selected through random, reasonable, or intelligence-based assessments, will still be required to undergo QR code scanning and the standard customs clearance process.
Office of the Commissioner memo 42-2025 suspends Section 6.3 of Customs Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 17-2023, which provides the integration of the Electronic Customs Baggage Declaration and Currencies Declaration in the e-Travel System. The System is a unified digital data collection platform that integrates border control requirements of various agencies and was launched in 2023. Section 6.3 provides the clearance procedure for users of the green lane.
The BOC said while it normally takes just around five to 10 seconds to scan the QR code, a queue still happens during peak times due to the volume of travelers. There are also times some travelers are not aware they should have saved the QR code, which adds to time in the queue.
The BOC said the suspension will not affect their border patrol mandate as bags and luggage still go through x-ray scanning.
The BOC will coordinate with other government agencies involved in the e-Travel System to evaluate whether the QR code scanning for green lane travelers will be stopped permanently.
At a press briefing, Customs commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said the initiative reflects the Bureau’s commitment to balancing efficiency with its core mandate of border protection. “We want our processes to be both traveler-friendly and security-focused. This initiative will help decongest arrival areas while ensuring that our enforcement responsibilities remain uncompromised,” he said.
