In Asia-Pacific, a key region in the US$905 billion global remittance landscape, digital applications are the most popular method for sending and receiving remittances, and the top four user experience benefits driving this preference are ease of use, safety, privacy and security, according to a recent report.

Digital app usage rates to send/receive remittances are highest in India ( 74%/76% ), the Philippines ( 74%/66% ) and Singapore ( 70%/75% ), finds digital payment firm Visa’s Money Travels: 2025 Digital Remittances Adoption Report, which is based on responses from 44,000 senders and receivers across 20 countries and territories.

Japan is also seeing steady growth, the report notes, with digital app usage rising by 10% ( 58%/56% ) in 2025 compared with the previous year. And over half of the respondents in the Philippines ( 73%/73% ), Australia ( 58%/55% ), Singapore ( 67%/66% ) and India ( 55%/53% ) perceive digital payments as the fastest way to access funds ( 73% ).

Most Asia-Pacific remittance users surveyed report experiencing no issues with sending/receiving digital remittance transfers across all Asian markets, most positively in Australia ( 48%/53% ), Japan ( 37%/41% ), Singapore ( 36%/37% ) and mainland China ( 38%/31%, rising significantly since 2024 at +13%/+8% ).

Asia-Pacific remittance rationale varies

Contributing to accounts/investments is a primary reason to send/receive remittances across several markets, the report points out, including mainland China ( 45%/36% ), Singapore ( 38%/33% ) and Japan ( 27%/23% ). 

Sending for general/specific humanitarian need is a key reason for remittances, cited by respondents in mainland China ( 45%/33% ), India ( 40% ), Singapore ( 27% ) and Australia ( 25% ), while sending remittances for an unexpected need was highest in India ( 44% ), the Philippines ( 41% ) and Australia ( 31% ). 

Receiving regular remittances was cited by approximately a third of respondents in the Philippines ( 39% ), mainland China ( 34% ) and India ( 30% ).

Security, convenience outweigh pain points

Digital apps are viewed as the most secure way to send/receive remittances in Asia-Pacific, the report shares, with top responses from India ( 50%/53% ), Australia ( 49%/45% ) and Singapore ( 44%/42% ).

Ease of use to send/receive digital remittances is noted most by respondents in Singapore ( 51%/51% ) the Philippines ( 48%/54% ), Japan ( 47%/42% ) and Australia ( 42%/40% ).

Digital app fees for sending/receiving remittances are highlighted as a top pain point across Asia-Pacific, led by the Philippines ( 43%/30% ), India ( 36%/33% ) and Singapore ( 32%/32% ).

Similarly, high fees are noted as the top pain point for sending physical remittances across all markets, with top responses from the Philippines ( 45%/29% ), India ( 41%/37% ), Singapore ( 38%/30% ) and Australia ( 29%/30% ). 

And inconvenience and long travel distances remain key challenges for sending physical remittances, with respondents in India ( 36% ) and mainland China ( 27% ) citing travel as a barrier. In Australia and Singapore, 29% of respondents each noted the physical remittance process as inconvenient and time-consuming, alongside concerns about high fees.

Across most Asia-Pacific countries surveyed, the report states, the perceived security of physical remittances is low ( 3% to 6% ), with mainland China reporting slightly higher levels of confidence ( 10% to 12% ).

“Remittances have long driven growth across Asia-Pacific, uplifting many economies in the region,” says Chavi Jafa, Visa’s senior vice-president, head of commercial and money movement solutions for Asia-Pacific. “The clear shift to app-based remittances reflects the region’s demographics, the growing prominence of digital payment modes, as well as user preferences for easy, safe and quick ways to send and receive money.

“This shift is an important one for banks, remitters and fintechs to note as it will shape how they engage and serve evolving consumer expectations.”