Visa has released findings from its Money Travels: 2025 Digital Remittances Adoption Report, based on responses from over 44,000 senders and recipients in the APAC region.

Key findings of the study

In the APAC region, digital apps are the preferred method for sending and receiving money. The study found that usage rates among respondents were high, reaching 74%/76% in India, 74%/66% in the Philippines, and 70%/75% in Singapore. Japan also saw a rise of 10% in digital app usage compared to the previous year.

A significant majority of respondents reported no issues with digital remittance transfers across various markets in Asia, particularly in Australia (48%/53%), Japan (37%/41%), Singapore (36%/37%), and Mainland China (38%/31%).

Primary reasons for sending and receiving remittances include contributing to accounts and investments, especially in Mainland China, Singapore, and Japan. For India, Singapore, and Australia, the highest percentage of respondents cited sending remittances for unexpected needs. In the Philippines, Mainland China, and India, a significant portion of respondents mentioned receiving regular funds.

In terms of security concerns, digital apps are perceived as the most secure method in India, Australia, and Singapore. Ease of use was noted by high percentages of respondents in Singapore (51%/51%), the Philippines (48%/54%), Japan (47%/42%), and Australia (42%/40%). The security perception for physical remittances was low, ranging from 3% to 6%, except for Mainland China, which showed slightly higher confidence at 10%-12%.

High fees were highlighted as the main pain point in sending physical cash. In India and Mainland China, 36% and 27% of respondents respectively cited long travel distances as a challenge. In Australia and Singapore, 29% of respondents each found the process inconvenient and time-consuming due to high fees.