Arya News - Visa applications from the Philippines went up by 20 percent year on year from January to August, according to data from visa and passport facilitation services provider VFS Global.
MANILA – Despite headwinds clouding the global travel outlook, more Filipinos applied for travel visas in the first eight months of the year, with growth particularly strong for destinations outside Europe’s Schengen area.
Visa applications from the Philippines went up by 20 percent year on year from January to August, according to data from visa and passport facilitation services provider VFS Global.
An even faster 28-percent growth was recorded in applications for non-Schengen destinations, led by Australia, Canada, Japan, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom.
On the other hand, demand for Schengen visas—which allow travelers to visit 29 European countries—largely held steady, VFS said. Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands and Switzerland were the leading Schengen destinations during the period.
“The continued rise in visa applications from the Philippines highlights growing confidence among Filipino travelers and a strong desire to explore opportunities abroad,” said Atul Lall, regional head for North Asia at VFS Global.
The growth came despite disruptions to international travel in the first half, when the escalation of the Middle East conflict and resulting airspace closures prompted Philippine carriers to temporarily suspend or scale back some services.
Airfares have also remained elevated amid high fuel surcharges, which in early October hit a five-month high at Level 17. At that rate, domestic passengers may pay an additional P559 to P1,635, while international travelers may be charged between P1,846.10 and P13,726.58 on top of their base fares.
Still, VFS said the sustained growth for visa applications showed that “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,” Lall added.
Applications through VFS’ “Visa At Your Doorstep” service surged 58 percent year on year from January to August. The premium service allows applicants to submit documents, enroll their biometrics and have their passports returned by courier without visiting a visa application center.
Overall, the company provides visa-related services for 36 foreign governments through 64 application centers across eight Philippine cities: Batangas City, Cebu, Davao, Makati, Parañaque, Pasay, Quezon City, and Taguig.