People visit shops to purchase food and supplies to celebrate the new year in Tokyo's Ueno shopping district on December 30, 2021. Kazuhiro Nogi, AFP/FileMANILA (UPDATE) — The Japanese Embassy in the Philippines announced the opening of a new visa center amid the surge in visa applications after the COVID-19 pandemic.

To fend off tourists, a town in Japan is building a big screen blocking the view of Mount Fuji

The embassy said the new processing center will be operated by VFS Service Philippines Private, Inc. and is set to open on April 7.

Japan cult widow speaks 30 years after subway attack

"This is to further enhance the efficiency and maintain the quality of the visa examination process, as well as to continue strengthening our robust people-to-people exchanges," the embassy noted.

Marcos Jr. tells Japanese defense chief: PH, Japan can ‘find much common ground to build further’

The Japanese Embassy said the previous accredited agencies may continue to submit directly to the Embassy the visa application documents they have received prior to the opening of the visa center, or until April 6.

Japan is the top leisure destination for Filipino travelers, according to a survey

According to VFS Global, starting April 7, individuals and representatives including travel agents/tour operators can submit short and long stay visa applications for Japan at the VFS Visa Application Centers located in 5 cities across the Philippines:

• Parañaque

• Makati

• Quezon City

• Cebu

• Davao

The Embassy said that reservations for visa applications can be made through the VFS site beginning March 19, but VFS will accept application documents only by April 7.

VFS said Japan visa processing questions may be sent to info.japanphp@vfshelpline.com, while their call center will be available effective March 24.

RELATED VIDEO