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How Do I Spot Fake eTravel and Visa Websites?

Two official portals matter for most travelers: eTravel (the arrival and departure declaration) and the e-Visa portal (for visa-required nationals). Both are run by the Philippine government. Dozens of copycat sites charge $30 to $150 for the same free forms. Here is how to tell them apart in five seconds.

🚨 The Short Answer: Official Philippine immigration sites end in .gov.ph. The eTravel declaration is 100% free, always. The e-Visa portal charges only the official government fee, inside the portal, after you apply. Any other payment request is a scam.

THE ONLY TWO OFFICIAL PORTALS:etravel.gov.ph  ·  evisa.gov.ph

Official vs. Fake: The Signals

✅ Official Signals

• Domain ends in .gov.ph
• No payment for eTravel, ever
• Simple government design, no ads
• No countdown timers or “slots left”
• QR code issued instantly and free

❌ Fake Signals

• Domains like .com, .net, .org, or “etravel-ph…”
• Card payment of $30–$150 “service fees”
• Polished marketing pages with stock photos
• Urgency timers and “express processing” upsells
• App-store apps claiming to be eTravel

The 5-Second Check, Every Single Time

1. Read the domain aloud. Does it end in .gov.ph? If not, close the tab.
2. Check the payment step. eTravel never asks for money. If a card field appears, you are on a fake site.
3. Look for urgency tricks. Timers, “limited slots,” and pop-up discounts do not exist in government systems.
4. Search the site name plus “scam.” Thirty seconds of reading saves you a hundred dollars.
5. Type the address yourself. Never click an ad or a emailed link. Type etravel.gov.ph by hand, or use the links on this website.

💳 I Already Paid a Fake Site. What Now?

1. Contact your bank today. Request a chargeback for services not rendered. Most banks reverse these charges.
2. Keep all evidence. Screenshots, receipts, emails. The bank will ask for them.
3. Redo the form on the official site. It is free. Your paid “confirmation” from the fake site is worthless.
4. Report the URL to us. We publish scam alerts so the next traveler stops before paying.

🗣️ The Reality: How People Get Caught

• Google ads sit above the real site. The first result is often a paid fake. The real portal usually appears below the ads.
• Fake apps live in real app stores. Search results show “eTravel” apps with official-looking icons. The real system is browser-only.
• “Extension services” sites exist too. They claim to file your visa extension online for a fee. The BI portal is the only real channel.
• Emails impersonate the BI. Official BI emails never ask for card details or passport scans by reply email.

🗺️ What Should You Read Next?

How Do I Register for eTravel Safely? →
How Does the Official e-Visa Process Work? →

Have you seen a fake immigration website?

Send us the URL and a screenshot description. We add verified scams to our alert list to protect other readers. Report a Fake Website