Despite losing his wallet and bank cards during his short visit in Barcelona, Mr. Julius Jerald Borja successfully pays for his travel documents using GCash, now accepted by the Philippine Consulate General in Barcelona as an alternative payment method. (Photo courtesy of Barcelona PCG)

BARCELONA, 20 November 2024  – The Philippine Consulate General in Barcelona announced the inclusion of GCash, the Philippines’ largest and most popular mobile wallet service,  as among its cashless payment options for its consular services. 

Further expanding its digital payment offerings, this initiative builds on the Consulate’s existing payment options such as credit and debit cards, e-wallets (ApplePay and SamsungPay), and Bizum, Spain’s leading mobile payment service, which were all introduced earlier in 2024.  

“The rollout of GCash responds to the needs of our Filipino clients, particularly those newly arrived in Spain and yet to obtain local credit or debit cards. Also, as we have seen in many cases of our kababayan in Barcelona, GCash provides a lifeline for Filipinos who unfortunately have lost wallets or cards in the city, enabling them to continue transactions with the consulate, such as travel document processing or passport renewals, directly through their GCash card or mobile app,” said Philippine Consulate General in Barcelona Maria Theresa S.M. Lazaro.  

GCash, operated by Globe Fintech Innovations, Inc., received approval from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas in February 2024 to operate in Spain and ten other countries. Its global footprint has since expanded to 16 countries.  

The Consulate emphasized that this innovation reflects its commitment to promoting financial inclusion and modernizing its services to better cater to the Filipino community abroad.  “The integration of GCash is a significant milestone in the Consulate’s ongoing efforts to enhance client experience. By adopting innovative, client-focused solutions, the Consulate strengthens its alignment with the “Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018”, among other relevant policies, ensuring efficient, transparent, and accessible public services for our kababayan and local clients,” said Consul General Lazaro.  

For more information about GCash payments and other consular services, visit the Philippine Consulate General's website or contact the Consulate directly.