Makati is where a lot of the country's visa paperwork gets done. Office workers from Ayala Avenue, Salcedo and Legazpi villages, and the many foreign professionals who live nearby can reach several visa centres on their lunch break, or at least within a short Grab ride to Bonifacio Global City. That convenience comes with a catch: each country has its own idea of what a "flight booking" should be. This page lists the centres that serve Makati residents, quotes their flight wording, covers the departure check at NAIA, and explains how to get a reservation from us. We work online only and have no counter in Makati.
Makati at a glance
| Point | Makati and nearby (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Airport | Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) |
| Netherlands | VFS Global in Makati (or Cebu).[1] |
| Japan | JVAC offices include Makati, Parañaque and Quezon City, open since 7 April 2025.[3] |
| Italy | VFS Global, One Campus Place, McKinley Town Center, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig.[5] |
| UK (premium) | Shangri-La The Fort, BGC, Taguig; Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9 am to 3 pm.[7] |
| Canada | Visa application centre in Manila.[9] |
| United States | Interviews at the US Embassy in Manila.[10] |
| What we charge | $9 for each traveller, payable by card on Razorpay |
Which visa centres can a Makati resident reach quickly?
Two are in Makati itself. The Netherlands accepts Schengen applications at VFS in Makati,[1] and the Japanese embassy names Makati among the cities with a Japan Visa Application Centre.[3]
Two more sit just across the boundary in Taguig. Italy's Manila-area centre is at One Campus Place in McKinley Town Center,[5] and the UK premium application centre operates at Shangri-La The Fort in BGC three days a week.[7] Standard UK centres also exist; you choose the location while applying online.[7]
Canada lists a Manila visa application centre,[9] and the US embassy conducts visa interviews in Manila for applicants resident in the Philippines.[10]
How do these centres word the flight requirement?
| Country | Centre for Makati residents | Official flight wording | Our view |
|---|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | VFS Makati[1] | Unpaid booking in the applicant's name is enough[2] | Held reservation is what they describe |
| Italy | VFS Taguig[5] | "Copy of the travel itinerary"[6] | Held reservation |
| Japan | JVAC Makati[3] | Flight information "if possible"; "Booking is not necessary"[4] | Optional |
| UK | VFS, including BGC premium[7] | Flight bookings, unless transiting, listed as not useful[8] | Leave it out |
| USA | Embassy, Manila[10] | Wait for the visa before buying tickets[11] | Not needed |
| Canada | VAC Manila[9] | No ticket required for a visitor visa | Optional |
A rule of thumb for every centre: wording such as "confirmed" or "paid" on your printed list raises the bar beyond a seat on hold. Meet it with a fare you can cancel and get money back on.
VFS slot in Makati or BGC coming up?
Order a $9 reservation during your coffee break and print it before you go.
Schengen from Makati: the Dutch and Italian centres
Netherlands. The Dutch rules are the most reservation-friendly we know. Their tourism list is content with a booking that names you and shows how you arrive and leave, or any other document setting out your plans; then closes the point bluntly: "You do not need a paid travel ticket."[2] Filing in Makati is open to people who live in the Philippines, and also to residents of the Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau.[1]
Italy. The Italian embassy sends ordinary applicants to VFS and allows walk-ins at its centres for an extra fee.[5] On travel, the checklist wants only a copy of your itinerary; it puts more weight on bank certifications, ITRs, a certificate of leave and proof of ties such as SSS contributions or property titles.[6] Apply too early and the file is turned away: travel must begin within six months of submission.[6]
Which one should you use? The country of your main stay, measured in nights, decides. Read our Schengen guide if you are unsure.
Japan from Makati: dates matter more than bookings
Makati is outside the areas covered by Japan's consulates in Cebu and Davao, which take the Visayas and Mindanao respectively, so Makati residents are dealt with from Manila.[3] Since April 2025, ordinary applications are lodged at a JVAC instead of an accredited travel agency, and Makati has one of those centres.[3]
The checklist's itinerary item asks for your entry and exit dates "including flight information, if possible", then states that booking is not necessary, and treats hotels the same way.[4] For a Japan file, a reservation from us is a nice-to-have. We would buy one only if you want precise flight numbers in your schedule of stay. Our Japan visa guide has more.
A practical note for people who work in Makati but live elsewhere in Metro Manila: the embassy also lists JVAC offices in Parañaque and Quezon City.[3] Pick whichever is easiest to reach on your appointment day; the checklist does not change between them, and neither does the advice on flights.
The UK, the US and Canada from Makati
UK. The BGC premium centre at Shangri-La The Fort opens Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 am to 3 pm and costs extra; VFS stresses that it does not influence the decision.[7] On flights, GOV.UK tells visitors that bookings are not useful evidence unless you are transiting.[8] Leave them out. Our UK visa guide explains what does help.
United States. The embassy asks nonimmigrant applicants to interview where they reside,[10] which for Makati is a short drive. The State Department advises against buying tickets until the visa is issued,[11] so the DS-160's travel dates are all you need. See our USA visa page.
Canada. IRCC's finder lists Manila and Cebu for the Philippines.[9] Visitor applicants can include flight plans, but nothing obliges them to. The Canada page explains when it helps.
Expats living in Makati: what changes for you
Makati's condominiums house many Indian, Korean, Japanese, Chinese and European professionals. If you are one of them, two points matter. First, your nationality decides whether you need a visa at all for the trip. Second, your residence decides where you file.
Italy asks non-Filipino applicants for a valid ACR I-Card, with at least three months' validity beyond the date of departure from the Schengen territory.[6] The Dutch page limits Philippine filing to residents.[1] Bring your ACR I-Card, a copy, and your employment certificate from your Makati employer to the appointment.
An Indian national living in Rockwell, for instance, could reasonably show a Manila to Amsterdam reservation on a Dutch file. If they plan to travel via Mumbai to see family first, the reservation should show that instead.
Leaving through NAIA: what immigration asks for
This is the step Filipino travellers most often worry about. The Department of Justice's 2015 guidelines tell officers to ask tourists at primary inspection for a valid passport, a visa where needed, and a "Round-trip or return ticket".[12] Officers can send a traveller to secondary inspection based on factors including financial capacity, travel history and destination.[12] A stricter 2023 revision was deferred, and the BI said the existing rules remain in force until further notice.[13]
Our reservation is for your visa file, not for the counter at NAIA. Once the visa is approved, buy your actual return ticket and show that. Carrying your certificate of employment and approved leave is sensible even if no one asks.
Routes from MNL that look natural on a reservation
Manila has far more choice than other Philippine airports, so pick a routing you would genuinely fly.
- Singapore: Singapore Airlines says it operates five nonstop flights a day between Manila and Singapore, of about 3 hours 30 to 3 hours 50 minutes.[14] A sensible connection point for Europe.
- Hong Kong: Cathay Pacific sells Manila–Hong Kong on its official site,[15] with onward links to Japan and Europe.
- Tokyo: for Japan files, any MNL–Tokyo routing you would use is fine; you do not have to book it at all.
Example: a Salcedo Village team leader visiting Amsterdam
Say a BPO team leader living in Salcedo Village plans eight nights in Amsterdam and two in Brussels in May. The Netherlands is the main destination, so she applies at VFS in Makati.[1] Her appointment is on a Thursday.
On the Monday or Tuesday before, she orders a reservation: Manila to Amsterdam via Singapore, and Brussels back to Manila. It satisfies the Dutch list, which wants the inbound and homebound legs shown but no money paid.[2] Her hotel bookings, insurance and leave approval all show the same dates. After the visa is granted, she buys a real ticket, and that ticket is what she presents at NAIA.
Families and colleagues travelling together
Makati applications often come in groups: a family of four for a Tokyo holiday, or three colleagues heading to a conference in Amsterdam. Put everyone who travels together on one reservation. That way the PNR shows the same flights for every name, which is exactly what a visa officer expects to see when the applications are linked.
Children count as passengers too, including infants. Their names must match their passports, and the parents' consent documents should be in the file where the checklist asks for them. Italy, for example, wants written consent from a non-travelling parent and PSA birth certificates for minors.[6]
If one colleague files a week later than the others, order a separate reservation for that person nearer their own appointment, rather than stretching one booking across both dates. The price is the same per person either way.
What to have with you at the centre
- A clear printout of the reservation, single-sided.
- The airline name and PNR noted down, in case you are asked about it.
- The same travel dates on your hotel bookings, insurance and leave approval.
How to order from Makati
- Check your visa centre's list and confirm a reservation is useful.
- Type the trip into our order form, spelling each name the way the passport's photo page does.
- Settle $9 a person by card; multi-city fares are set out on our pricing page.
- Expect the PDF by email, generally ten minutes or so after paying.
- Pull the booking up yourself on the carrier's site with the code and surname; our step-by-step guide helps.
To see where your order stands, use order tracking.
When should a Makati applicant order?
Within about three days of the appointment. Reservations hold for up to 2 weeks, but the exact period is the airline's decision and can be shorter. Makati applicants often book VFS slots weeks ahead; that is sensible, but leave the reservation until the final week. If your file stays with the embassy longer than expected and they ask for updated flight details, order a new one then.
What we would avoid
- Showing the reservation to immigration at NAIA. Officers ask tourists for a return ticket, and that means the one you paid for.
- Adding flight bookings to a UK file unless you are transiting.
- Filing for the wrong Schengen state because its centre is closer to your office.
- Edited or free-generator PDFs. If the airline's site cannot show the booking, it does not belong in your file.
- Dates that shift between your reservation, hotels and leave approval.
Makati FAQ
Do you have an office in Makati where I can pay cash?
No. We have no physical office in Makati or elsewhere and cannot take cash. Orders are placed on the site, card payment of $9 a person goes through Razorpay, and the PDF reaches your email in about ten minutes. Most people print it at the office or at a print shop near their visa centre.
Which visa centres are actually in Makati?
Of the official pages we checked in October 2026, the Netherlands lists VFS in Makati and the Japanese embassy lists a JVAC in Makati. Italy's centre and the UK premium centre are nearby in Taguig. Other countries may also have Makati addresses, so check the embassy page for your destination.
Does the Dutch visa centre in Makati want a paid ticket?
No. The Dutch list wants travel plans in your name covering arrival and departure, and it spells out that payment is not expected. A held seat whose code works on the carrier's own website suits that request. Your paid fare can wait until the Schengen sticker is issued.
Do I need a reservation for a Japan visa from Makati?
It is optional. The checklist asks for entry and departure dates with flight details where possible, and says that booking is not necessary. Some applicants add a reservation so the schedule of stay shows real flight numbers. If you would rather not spend anything, list your planned dates and leave it there.
Can I show this reservation to immigration at NAIA?
You should not. Immigration asks departing tourists for a round-trip or return ticket, which means the paid ticket you buy once the visa is issued. Our reservation is a held booking for visa applications only, and the airline will not let you check in on it.
I am a foreign national living in Makati. Can I apply here?
Generally yes, if you legally reside in the Philippines. Italy, for example, asks non-Filipino applicants for an ACR I-Card valid three months beyond their departure from the Schengen area. Check the residence rules on the page of the country you are applying to before booking a slot.
Until when does the hold last?
A maximum of two weeks; inside that, the airline picks the cut-off. Ordering in the appointment week keeps it current while staff look at your file. You can check the status yourself at any time on the airline's own site using the PNR and your surname.
Order a reservation for your Makati appointment
$9 per traveller, online only, retrievable on the airline's site.
Worth repeating: a reservation is supporting paperwork, nothing more. Name it honestly, align its dates with everything else in the folder, and leave the verdict to consular staff.
Our home page sums up the service. Further pages: reservations explained, a destination-by-destination list, onward tickets for one-way trips and hotel holds. More from the Philippines: Manila, Cebu City, Davao City and our guide for Filipino travellers.
Sources
All sources last checked: October 2026.
- NetherlandsWorldwide, Applying for a Schengen visa in the Philippines.
- NetherlandsWorldwide, Checklist: Schengen visa for tourism.
- Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, Regarding the Opening of the Japan Visa Application Centre; consulate areas in Cebu and Davao.
- Japan Visa Application Centre (VFS Global), Tourism visa checklist (multiple entry).
- Embassy of Italy in Manila, Where to apply for a visa.
- Embassy of Italy in Manila, Tourist visa checklist (Schengen type C).
- VFS Global, UK Premium and Mobile Visa Application Centres in the Philippines, 25 August 2026.
- GOV.UK, Guide to supporting documents: visiting the UK.
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Find a visa application centre.
- U.S. Embassy in the Philippines, Visas.
- U.S. Department of State, Visitor visa.
- Department of Justice, IACAT Revised Guidelines on Departure Formalities for International-Bound Passengers (2015).
- Bureau of Immigration, Deferment of the 2023 revised departure guidelines.
- Singapore Airlines, Flights from Manila to Singapore.
- Cathay Pacific, Flights from Manila to Hong Kong SAR.
