Philippines mandates airline APIS data transmission by June 30

How the airline data mandate works

The Bureau of Immigration has ordered all remaining international airlines operating in the Philippines to complete connectivity with its Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) and begin regular passenger data transmission by June 30. The system pulls flight and passenger details from carriers before arrival, runs them against watchlists including Interpol's I-24/7 database and feeds cleared travelers into faster immigration processing at e-gates.

As of June, 34 international airlines at Ninoy Aquino International Airport are linked to APIS and 11 are still finishing integration, the BI said. Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, Kuwait Airways and Etihad Airways were among the first carriers fully integrated in May 2025. The BI has credited APIS with at least one Interpol-flagged interception in Manila so far.

NAIA Terminal 3 added 18 new e-gates in May, expanding the automated lanes that APIS-cleared passengers can use.

Who feels the change

The mandate applies to airlines, not passengers. Travelers flying carriers already connected to APIS will have their passport and flight details sent to Philippine immigration before wheels-down, which the BI says shortens queues and supports e-gate eligibility where available.

Tourists, expats and remote workers don't need to register for APIS or pay anything tied to it. The benefit, faster clearance, only materializes if the carrier has finished integration. Anyone booked on one of the 11 holdout airlines after June 30 could see manual processing if their carrier misses the deadline.

The government's separate eTravel registration remains free and mandatory for arrivals and departures. Officials have repeated warnings about copycat sites charging fees.

What travelers should do

• Use only the official eTravel portal and complete the form within 72 hours of arrival or departure.
• Carry a passport valid for at least six months beyond the intended stay, plus proof of onward travel and accommodation.
• Check whether the booked airline is APIS-connected if counting on e-gate access; ask the carrier directly, since the BI hasn't published the full list.
• Bring a printed or digital eTravel QR code to speed up the manual counters if e-gates aren't available.

Visa rules, the 30-day visa-free stay for most Western passport holders and standard entry requirements all remain unchanged by the APIS rollout.

Read our full Philippines guide for the complete picture and more visa updates across Southeast Asia.