Visa Applications by Filipinos Rise by 20% in Jan to Aug 2026; Doorstep Visa Service Demand Sees 58% Growth
Visa application volume from the Philippines across all visa categories registered a 20% year-on-year increase in the January to August period of 2026, compared with the same period last year, according to an analysis by VFS Global, the global leader in trusted technology services, empowering secure mobility for governments and citizens. Visa application volume for non-Schengen destinations saw a 28% increase in the first eight months, while demand for Schengen destinations stayed stable.
Australia, Canada, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and UK (in alphabetical order) were the most popular non-Schengen destinations for travellers from the Philippines in the first eight months, while the most popular Schengen destinations were Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, and Switzerland (in alphabetical order).
Visa At Your Doorstop (VAYD) service
Strong demand for personalised services continued to be a defining trend in the first eight months of 2026, with the Visa At Your Doorstep (VAYD) service registering a 58% year-on-year growth. Visa At Your Doorstep service 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 have their passports couriered back to a location of their choice.
VFS Global offers doorstep visa services for 20 countries in the Philippines – Australia, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Japan, Malta, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Türkiye, UK, and The Netherlands.
VFS Global also offers its highly flexible Mobile Visa Application Centre (MVAC) facility for visa applicants for the above-listed countries, providing enhanced customer convenience, security features, and expanded network reach.
Atul Lall, Regional Head – North Asia, VFS Global, said, “The continued rise in visa applications from the Philippines highlights growing confidence among Filipino travellers and a strong desire to explore opportunities abroad. Whether for leisure, business, education, or reconnecting with loved ones, international travel remains a priority for many. The sustained growth we have witnessed during the first eight months of 2026 reflects this positive trend, and we anticipate healthy demand across key destinations for the rest of the year.”
“As travel volumes continue to increase, we encourage applicants to plan their journeys early and submit their visa applications well ahead of departure. We also urge travellers to stay cautious and rely only on official channels for visa-related information and services, as fraudulent actors often seek to take advantage of periods of high demand.”
VFS Global caters to these sovereign governments in the Philippines
VFS Global caters to 36 sovereign governments in the Philippines, namely Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Gambia, Germany, Greece (represents Portugal), Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Lithuania, Malta, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman Visa, Medical and Attestation Services, Qatar Visa and Medical Services, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands (represents Latvia), Türkiye, UAE (Dubai visa and Attestation Services), UK, and Ukraine – through a network of 64 visa application centres in 8 cities: Batangas City, Cebu, Davao, Makati, Parañaque, Pasay, Quezon City, and Taguig.
Read: UAE Offers Pre-Approved 14-Day Visit Entry Permit for Eligible Filipino Passengers on Emirates
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 enrolling biometrics, if applicable. VFS Global has no role in the decision-making process of granting or refusing a visa.
For more information, please visit www.vfsglobal.com.
*This is a press release issued by Ellerton & Co. for VFS Global.