French embassy opens new visa center in Makati

The French embassy in the Philippines on Wednesday opened a new visa center in Makati to accommodate “the significant increase in volume” of Filipinos applying for Schengen visas.

French Ambassador Thierry Mathou, in his speech at the December 7 launch of the French Visa Application Centre in Makati, said France “has experienced a rapid rise in the number of Schengen visa applications from the Philippines.

In 2015, Mathou said the Embassy of France in Manila received almost 20,000 applications, an unprecedented number reflecting a 100% increase from 2010.

“Such a significant increase in volume, which is only projected to rise even further in the coming years, demands that the embassy come up with ways to continue to remain efficient. As visa applications are forecast to increase by 20% per year in the coming years, putting up an outsourcing center is not only strategic but necessary,” Mathou said.

The French visa center’s new building is at the Eco Plaza Building in Chino Roces Avenue, Makati City.

Applicants may set an appointment with the VFS Global Centre by calling 790-4903 from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or visit the VFS Global Centre website at www.vsfglobal.com/france/philippines. Nestor Corrales