Digital remittances in the APAC region significantly increase, with online applications spearheading the trend, according to a recent study

Visa, a leading digital payments firm, has released findings from its annual Money Travels: 2025 Digital Remittances Adoption Report. The report sheds light on the growing preference for digital remittance services in the Asia-Pacific region.

According to the report, which is based on responses from 44,000 senders and receivers across 20 countries and territories, digital applications are now the most popular method for sending and receiving remittances in the region. This shift towards digital platforms is significant for banks, remitters, and FinTech companies, as highlighted by Chavi Jafa, Senior Vice President of Visa.

In the Asia-Pacific region, important FinTech companies active in digital remittance transfers, besides Visa, include Euronet Worldwide and Convera. Euronet Worldwide, a global payment solutions provider, is expanding through mergers such as the one with CoreCard planned for late 2025. Convera, on the other hand, provides global payment platforms supporting over 140 currencies across 200 countries, facilitating international remittance management. These firms play significant roles in cross-border payments and remittances alongside Visa.

India, the Philippines, and Australia lead in sending money for unexpected expenses. Mobile apps are the top choice for sending and receiving remittances, with usage highest in India, the Philippines, and Singapore. The report also reveals that regular support payments are most common in the Philippines, Mainland China, and India.

Remittances have a significant impact on the economies of the Asia Pacific region. Humanitarian needs are a significant driver for remittances in Mainland China, India, Singapore, and Australia. Many remittance transfers in these countries are made to contribute to bank accounts or investments.

Japan is seeing an increase in app usage for remittances, up 10% from last year. Ease of use is highly valued in Singapore, the Philippines, Japan, and Australia when it comes to digital remittances. Most users across the region report no problems with digital transfers, with satisfaction especially high in Australia, Japan, Singapore, and Mainland China.

However, high fees remain the top complaint for both digital and physical remittances, with users in the Philippines, India, and Singapore being the most dissatisfied. Security perceptions for physical remittances remain very low across the region, while digital apps are widely perceived as the most secure way to send or receive money, with strong confidence levels in India, Australia, and Singapore.

Rhidoi Krishnakumar, Vice President of Visa Direct, Asia Pacific, emphasised that remittances are crucial for uplifting communities and supporting local businesses. He stated, "Remittances are not just about money movement, they are about empowering individuals and communities to improve their lives."

Physical remittances face additional challenges such as inconvenience and long travel distances, particularly in India and Mainland China. As a result, the shift to app-based remittances is important for enhancing operational efficiency in money movement and broadening financial access for customers.

Visa continues to innovate and build solutions to enhance operational efficiency in money movement and broaden financial access for customers. The company is committed to making remittances more affordable, convenient, and secure for everyone.