A growing number of Filipinos have come forward to allege that appointment slots for Polish visas are being sold at exorbitant rates in Manila—a claim aired on UNTV, one of the Philippines’ most popular intervention programs. Entrepreneurs and job seekers say they have been waiting as long as eight months for an official visa appointment, only to learn that appointment slots may be blocked and sold online for hefty fees.
Complaints of Sky-High “Appointment Fees”
During a recent broadcast on UNTV, a group of Filipinos recounted their struggles to secure a visa appointment for work opportunities in Poland. According to the program, the official fee for an appointment at the Polish Embassy is around 500 Philippine pesos, yet some third parties are allegedly charging up to 30,000 pesos. A visibly outraged local police officer who appeared on the show insisted that such practices amount to fraud, calling for a thorough investigation by authorities.
“How much do you have to pay? 30,000 pesos? That’s a scandal. The normal fee is only 500 pesos? This is fraud—let the prosecutors handle it,”
the officer declared.
Entrepreneurs Warned the Polish Foreign Ministry
Polish entrepreneurs doing business in the Philippines say they raised these concerns back in August with Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MSZ). One entrepreneur, speaking with the Polish news portal Wirtualna Polska (WP), claimed that buying an “appointment slot” is the only way for Filipino workers to obtain Polish visas in a timely manner.
“I warned our consulate that appointment times are being sold online. It’s impossible to get a visa for Filipino employees unless you pay a bribe,”
one business owner explained.
Another entrepreneur underscored the frustrations of recruiting from the Philippines:
“The Philippines is a fantastic market for skilled, hardworking employees. But from a visa services standpoint, it’s the worst place I’ve ever dealt with.”
Polish Foreign Ministry Responds
When asked about the unfolding allegations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged that visa demand in the Philippines currently exceeds supply. They attribute the difficulties to “over-standard interest” in obtaining Polish visas:
“Due to the high demand and low supply of slots, all available appointments are taken within minutes of being released,”
MFA representatives told WP.
The ministry also addressed complaints about potential scams:
“The embassy occasionally receives emails—mostly from people who fell victim to fraud—about offers to sell appointment slots online. These are scams, as neither individuals nor companies can preregister appointments in the official BLS International system.”
Polish officials maintain that the embassy in Manila has not identified any wrongdoing by its staff or the outsourcing company. In their statement, they stressed that BLS International, which handles the appointments, continuously monitors the system. The ministry also pointed out that both the consular office in Manila and BLS’s visa application point underwent a March 2024 evaluation by the Schengen evaluation mission (Scheval), which found no lapses in the visa process.
Despite the Ministry’s assurances that no irregularities have been recorded, the controversy is far from settled. Filipinos who say they have been waiting for months—and have had to consider or even resort to paying inflated fees—continue to demand accountability and transparency in the appointment system. Meanwhile, Polish entrepreneurs in the Philippines underscore the urgent need to tackle these alleged corrupt practices to ensure both businesses and workers can benefit from legitimate employment opportunities in Poland.
