Visa applications from the Philippines increased by about 8% year on year in 2025, according to VFS Global, a visa services provider that represents 33 foreign governments in the country.
Filipino travelers most often applied for visas to Australia, Canada, Germany, Greece, Japan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the UK last year.
“This rise in visa applications from the Philippines last year indicates that travelers’ confidence has returned and people are exploring their favorite global destinations again,” said Atul Lall, regional head for North Asia of VFS Global. “We are confident that this positive travel momentum will continue in 2026 as well.
More applicants also used optional services that make the visa process easier. Visa At Your Doorstep, which allows applicants to submit their visa documents at home or another location, recorded a 62% increase in use in 2025.
VFS Global offers doorstep visa services in the Philippines for 18 countries, including Australia, Japan, Germany, Greece, Switzerland, the UK, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It also operates Mobile Visa Application Centre services, which allow visa applications to be processed in different locations.
Other optional services also saw higher use. These include the Premium Lounge, which provides assisted visa submission in a lounge, and Prime Time, which allows applicants to submit visa applications outside regular office hours and on weekends.
VFS Global said these services do not make visa processing faster and do not affect visa approval decisions.
“We continue to see steady use of personalized services such as Visa At Your Doorstep and Premium Lounge after the pandemic, mainly due to health concerns,” Lall said. “These services help applicants avoid standing in queues. We expect demand for these services, which focus on safer and more convenient travel, to remain strong this year as well.”
The company also advised applicants to submit their visa applications early, as processing timelines vary across embassies. It reiterated that it does not influence the approval or denial of visa applications.
On avoiding fraud, Lall advised applicants to visit official VFS Global websites directly and avoid clicking on links sent to them.
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