diff --git a/src/features/filters/components/filters-aside/filters-aside.client.test.tsx b/src/features/filters/components/filters-aside/filters-aside.client.test.tsx
index fa943b7d..5af63cf4 100644
--- a/src/features/filters/components/filters-aside/filters-aside.client.test.tsx
+++ b/src/features/filters/components/filters-aside/filters-aside.client.test.tsx
@@ -62,6 +62,27 @@ afterEach(() => {
 });
 
 describe('main filter panel', () => {
+  it('opens continent search without applying Africa or navigating before a choice', async () => {
+    Element.prototype.scrollIntoView = vi.fn();
+    const user = userEvent.setup();
+    const continents: FilterConfigSchema = {
+      ...configs[0],
+      kind: 'SEARCH',
+      label: 'Continent',
+      paramKey: 'continents',
+      options: [
+        { label: 'Africa', value: 'africa' },
+        { label: 'Europe', value: 'europe' },
+      ],
+    };
+    render(<FiltersAsideClient configs={[continents]} />);
+    await user.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Continent' }));
+    const search = screen.getByPlaceholderText('Search continent...');
+    await user.type(search, 'Europe');
+    expect(search).toHaveValue('Europe');
+    expect(setParam).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
   it('offers previously hidden filters directly and applies the chosen option without selecting a default first', async () => {
     const user = userEvent.setup();
     render(<FiltersAsideClient configs={configs} />);
diff --git a/src/features/filters/server/dtos/dto-to-filter-config.test.ts b/src/features/filters/server/dtos/dto-to-filter-config.test.ts
index d29fb1b6..25f6bd9e 100644
--- a/src/features/filters/server/dtos/dto-to-filter-config.test.ts
+++ b/src/features/filters/server/dtos/dto-to-filter-config.test.ts
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ const locationConfig = (position: number, label: string, paramKey: string) => ({
 });
 
 describe('dtoToFilterConfig location facets', () => {
-  it('keeps each geographic dimension distinct and suggested', () => {
+  it('keeps each geographic dimension searchable even with only two options', () => {
     const result = dtoToFilterConfig({
       countries: locationConfig(1, 'Country', 'countries'),
       regions: locationConfig(2, 'Region', 'regions'),
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ describe('dtoToFilterConfig location facets', () => {
       ]),
     );
     for (const config of result) {
+      expect(config.kind).toBe('SEARCH');
       if (!('options' in config)) continue;
       for (const option of config.options) {
         expect(option.value).toMatch(/^[a-z0-9]+(?:-[a-z0-9]+)*$/);
diff --git a/src/features/filters/server/dtos/dto-to-filter-config.ts b/src/features/filters/server/dtos/dto-to-filter-config.ts
index 209e5bb3..fc435250 100644
--- a/src/features/filters/server/dtos/dto-to-filter-config.ts
+++ b/src/features/filters/server/dtos/dto-to-filter-config.ts
@@ -101,6 +101,15 @@ const SUGGESTED_RANGE_PARAM_KEYS = new Set([
   'maxActiveLeads',
 ]);
 
+// Geography controls stay searchable even when only a few places are available.
+const SEARCHABLE_LOCATION_PARAM_KEYS = new Set<string>([
+  PARAM_KEYS.CITIES,
+  PARAM_KEYS.REGIONS,
+  PARAM_KEYS.COUNTRIES,
+  PARAM_KEYS.CONTINENTS,
+  PARAM_KEYS.TIMEZONES,
+]);
+
 const RADIO_FILTER_OPTION_THRESHOLD = 6;
 const CHECKBOX_FILTER_OPTION_THRESHOLD = 6;
 const SELECT_OPTION_THRESHOLD = 2;
@@ -317,7 +326,11 @@ const handleMultiSelect = (
   const normalizedDto = withRequiredRemoteWorkModes(dto);
 
   // Get rid of issues where options look borked
+  const searchableLocation = SEARCHABLE_LOCATION_PARAM_KEYS.has(
+    normalizedDto.paramKey,
+  );
   const minimumOptions =
+    searchableLocation ||
     normalizedDto.paramKey === PARAM_KEYS.COLLABORATION_HOURS
       ? 1
       : SELECT_OPTION_THRESHOLD;
@@ -325,6 +338,7 @@ const handleMultiSelect = (
   if (hasNoOptions) return null;
 
   const isCheckbox =
+    !searchableLocation &&
     normalizedDto.options.length <= CHECKBOX_FILTER_OPTION_THRESHOLD;
   const baseFilter = isCheckbox
     ? dtoToCheckboxFilterConfig(normalizedDto)