Filipinos applying for a UK visa now have more options outside the traditional application process in Manila, with VFS Global opening new Premium Application Centres in Taguig, Davao City and Cagayan de Oro, as well as a Mobile Visa Application Centre in Balanga City, Bataan.
The new locations give applicants, particularly those in Mindanao and Central Luzon, additional options for submitting their UK visa applications without having to travel to a standard visa application centre.
The facilities do not replace existing UK visa centres in the Philippines. Instead, the Premium Application Centres provide an optional paid service for applicants seeking a more private and assisted application experience.
What the Premium Application Centres offer
Using a Premium Application Centre does not affect an applicant’s chances of securing a visa. Visa decisions remain solely with UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).
The premium service focuses instead on the application experience, offering a private setting, one-on-one assistance with the submission process, seating and refreshments.
Applicants may also avail themselves of a UKVI Account Creation Service for an additional fee, providing assistance in setting up the online account required for the application process.
The Mobile Visa Application Centre in Bataan operates differently. It provides applicants with a scheduled local option for completing the submission process without traveling to a full-service visa centre.
Locations and schedules
The new application locations operate on the following schedules:
- Taguig: Shangri-La The Fort, 5th Avenue corner 30th Street, BGC — Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Davao City: Dusit Thani Residence Davao, Stella Hizon Reyes Drive — alternate Tuesdays, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Cagayan de Oro: Limketkai Luxe Hotel, Limketkai Drive — Thursdays, 12 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Balanga City, Bataan: The Bunker, Capitol Building — Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Applicants must book their appointments through VFS Global’s UK visa portal as part of the online application process and select their preferred centre when scheduling an appointment.
The expansion comes amid growing travel and people-to-people links between the Philippines and the United Kingdom.
British Ambassador to the Philippines Sarah Hulton cited increasing travel by Filipinos to the UK for tourism, education and business. Around 200,000 Filipinos currently live and work in the UK, while visitor arrivals from the UK to the Philippines had surpassed 126,000 as of October.
For applicants in Davao, Cagayan de Oro and Bataan, the additional locations could reduce the time and expense involved in traveling to Metro Manila solely to complete parts of the UK visa application process.