Visa application in Manila

Embassy or VFS, appointments, fees, scams and what to do after a refusal.

Citizens of the Philippines need a national visa (D visa) for stays over 90 days and for work. The German Embassy in Manila handles applicants who live in the Philippines (and some Pacific territories). Start on its page Visa und Einreise.

Who takes the application

• VFS Global (Manila or Cebu): nursing visas and inland-waterway worker visas.
• The Embassy directly: all other visas, including the accelerated skilled-worker procedure, family reunification, Ausbildung, study and work. The page does not name the Blue Card or the Opportunity Card; ask the Embassy which channel applies.
• Applications only with an appointment. The Embassy states waiting times of up to one month for appointments (checked October 2026; may change). Phone: (0063 2) 8702 3000, Monday to Thursday 14:00 to 15:00; no case status by phone. Write through the contact form of the legal and consular section.

Fees

• National visa €75; minors €37.50 (half fee, § 46, § 50 AufenthV); no fee for unmarried minor children of Germans and parents of minor Germans (§ 52 (1) AufenthV). Where VFS is involved there is a separate VFS service fee, also for legalisation. VFS fee amount not confirmed.
• Processing times are not published by the Embassy. Do not book flights or resign from work before you have the visa.

If the visa is refused

• The remonstration was abolished on 1 July 2025 (also stated by the Embassy).
• The remedy is a lawsuit in German at the Administrative Court of Berlin within 1 month of service (§ 74 VwGO), or 1 year if the instructions on legal remedies are missing (§ 58 (2) VwGO). Court costs apply. Or apply again with a better file.

Employers can use the fast track, see Skilled worker. After the visa: After arrival.