Visa applications by Filipinos up 8% in ’25
Visa applications filed from the Philippines rose by 8 percent in 2025, reflecting renewed confidence among outbound Filipino travelers, according to data from visa and passport facilitation services provider VFS Global.
Without disclosing total application numbers, VFS Global North Asia head Atul Lall said the figures were compiled from applications submitted to 33 foreign governments that the company services in the Philippines through its 61 application centers.
In 2025, VFS Global recorded the highest demand for visas to Australia, Canada, Germany, Greece, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
This increase was more modest, however, compared with the sharp rebound seen a year earlier. Visa applications surged by 38 percent between 2019 and 2024, with VFS Global reporting in 2024 that volumes were “higher than ever before.”
“This healthy rise in visa applications from the Philippines last year indicates that travelers’ confidence has been restored and people are exploring their favorite global destinations again,” Lall said on Tuesday.
Growth was particularly strong in VFS Global’s “visa at your doorstep” service, which allows applicants to complete visa requirements at home through an on-the-go application center. Applications through the premium service rose by 62 percent in 2025.
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Lall warned that rising outbound travel demand has also created what he described as an “ideal playing field” for scammers, particularly during the peak travel season from February to September.
He cautioned travelers against individuals posing as legitimate visa facilitators, stressing that VFS Global does not control visa appointment slots or provide real-time application updates, which remain the responsibility of client governments.
Lall also emphasized that the company cannot fast-track applications, guarantee approvals or influence visa decisions.
“VFS Global’s role is only administrative. We have absolutely no role to play in how long it takes you to get the visa,” Atul said. “If anybody tells you otherwise, it is not true.”
VFS Global operates in eight cities across the Philippines and provides services to 33 foreign governments, including Belgium, Canada, Finland, New Zealand, Italy, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine and South Africa.
