- Visa application volume from the Philippines in 2023 grew by 48% against 2022.
- Restoration of travellers’ confidence and easing of travel restrictions major catalysts.
- Acceptance of personalised services such as Visa At Your Doorstep (VAYD) saw over two-fold rise against 2019.
- Popular destinations for Filipino travellers were Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, and Switzerland (in alphabetical order)
Visa application volumes from the Philippines surpassed the pre-pandemic levels in 2023 with restoration of travellers’ confidence to explore global destinations and easing of travel restrictions. According to VFS Global, the visa application volume across all visa categories from the Philippines in 2023 crossed the 2019 pre-pandemic levels by 35%. When compared with 2022, visa application volume from the Philippines grew by 48% in 2023.
Popular destinations preferred by travellers from the Philippines in 2023 were Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, and Switzerland (in alphabetical order).
Kaushik Ghosh, Head – Australasia, VFS Global, said, “This healthy rise in visa applications from the Philippines last year indicates that travellers’ confidence has been restored and people are ready to explore their favourite global destinations again. We are confident that this positive travel momentum will sustain in 2024 as well and we will surpass the pre-pandemic visa application volumes this year. We urge applicants planning to travel overseas from the Philippines to apply for their visas in advance to avoid the last-minute rush.”
Strong demand for personalised services continued to be a defining trend in the 2023 visa application patterns. VFS Global recorded a strong uptick in customised services such as the Visa At Your Doorstep (VAYD) service that empowers applicants to complete their entire visa application submission process from the comfort of their homes or any other location of their choice. Through this premium service, customers can submit their applications, enrol for biometrics, and get their passport couriered back to their location of choice. VAYD bookings in 2023 registered over two-fold increase when compared to 2019. VFS Global offers VAYD services for 11 countries in the Philippines – Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Malta, Switzerland, and UK.
VFS Global also offers its highly flexible Mobile Visa Application Centre (MVAC) facility for visa applicants of 11 countries – Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Malta, Switzerland, and UK – providing enhanced customer convenience, security features, and expanded network reach.
Similarly, the demand for Premium Lounge, an optional service which provides end-to-end personalised assistance with visa application submission from the comfort of a lounge, is rising with the rise in application volumes. Another service named Prime Time, which allows visa application submission outside of working hours and even on weekends, has seen a healthy adoption since pandemic.
Please note that all these premium services are optional and has no bearing in expediting applicant’s visa process or favourable decision-making.
“We continue to see a healthy adoption of contactless and personalised services such as VAYD and Premium Lounge by discerning travellers post the pandemic due to health considerations. These services enhance the overall visa application experience for applicants by avoiding the need for them to stand in a queue. We foresee higher demand for such premium services prioritising safe travel this year as well,” added Ghosh.
VFS Global caters to 29 sovereign governments in the Philippines namely Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, UAE (Dubai), Finland, Italy, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, Ukraine, and USA.
VFS Global’s role in the visa application process is limited to front-end administrative tasks only, which include collecting visa application forms, required documentation as per the checklist, and enrol biometrics, if applicable. VFS Global has no role in the decision-making process of granting or refusing a visa.
Peak Season Travel Guide
ApplyinAdvance
It is recommended to apply for visas as early as booking flights and stay. Most countries accept visa applications up to 90 days (3 months) before your date of travel. According to the revised Schengen Visa Code, effective 09th February 2020, you can apply for a Schengen visa up to 6 months before your date of travel. Particularly this year with higher demand and limited appointment slots available, we urge applicants to apply for their visa as early as possible.
DoNotFallForFraud
Visa applicants are advised to beware of fraudulent entities who charge fees from customers for scheduling appointments or providing any other services using VFS Global’s name or independently. VFS Global does not charge any fee for booking appointments on www.vfsglobal.com which is the official website catering to visa applications. However, some governments require pre-payment of the service fee at the time of booking the appointment. This payment will be reimbursed or deducted during the application process. This step is only to ensure genuine travellers use appointment booking and the system is kept safe from misuse by fraudulent entities. For any assistance, feel free to reach out to one of our staff and to report any instances of fraud, visit https://secure.ethicspoint.eu/domain/media/en/gui/108559/index.html.
Enjoy our optional value-added services for a seamless visa experience such as:
- Visa At Your Doorstep: Apply for your visa and enrol biometrics from the location of your choice.
- Premium Lounge: Get an end-to-end personalised visa submission experience from the comfort of a lounge.
- Prime Time: Apply for your visa beyond normal working hours or even on weekends.
- Form-filling assistance: Allow our expert staff to assist you in completing your visa application on phone or at a visa application centre
- Courier Service: We deliver your passport and documents. It’s quick, safe, and convenient.
- Travel Medical Insurance: Get your mandatory Travel Medical Insurance including Covid-19 coverage from global insurers.
- SMS Alerts: Stay updated on the progress of your visa application.
About VFS Global
As the world’s leading outsourcing and technology service specialist, VFS Global embraces technological innovation including Generative AI to support governments and diplomatic missions worldwide. The company manages non-judgmental and administrative tasks related to applications for visa, passport, and consular services for its client governments, increasing productivity and enabling them to focus entirely on the critical task of assessment.
With a responsible approach to technology development, adoption and integration, the company prioritizes ethical practices and sustainability while serving as the trusted partner to 67 client governments. Operating over 3,300 Application Centres in 149 countries, VFS Global has efficiently processed more than 278 million applications since 2001.Headquartered in Zurich and Dubai and backed by majority shareholder Blackstone, along with the Swiss-based Kuoni and Hugentobler Foundation and EQT, VFS Global is committed to creating value for all stakeholders and leading in responsible, innovative solutions making government services more effective and efficient.
