IATA survey finds visa and immigration requirements discourage 43% of travellers

Immigration requirements are discouraging many from international travel, even as passengers become more comfortable using artificial intelligence (AI), biometrics and digital passports, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

The findings come from an IATA survey of more than 10,000 respondents across over 200 countries, published on 28 October.

Immigration requirements dampen international travel demand 

According to IATA’s 2026 Global Passenger Survey, 43% of respondents said immigration requirements had discouraged them from visiting a destination, compared with 33% in 2025.

Among those deterred by entry requirements, 53% said the complexity of the process was their main concern. Privacy and cost were each cited by 17% of those surveyed.

IATA said governments need to simplify visa and immigration procedures to remove barriers to travel.

“Passengers are embracing technology to make travel easier. AI is becoming a mainstream travel planning tool, while biometrics and digital identity are creating a faster and more seamless airport experience. Yet many travellers continue to face barriers from complex immigration and visa processes,” said Nick Careen, IATA’s Senior Vice President, Operations, Safety and Security.

Passengers want simpler digital immigration procedures

Despite concerns about entry requirements, passengers are increasingly willing to complete immigration formalities digitally before travelling.

The survey found that 86% would be willing to share immigration information electronically before departure to speed up the process, compared with 83% in 2025.

Meanwhile, 45% would prefer to complete immigration procedures before reaching the airport, up from 41% last year.

A clear majority of travellers prefer online visa applications, with around 60% favouring applying online, compared with 25% who would rather visit an embassy or consulate.

IATA said more than 100 countries already issue electronic visas. However, differences in how these digital documents are verified create difficulties for airlines checking passenger documentation.

The association is calling for common standards that would allow airlines and governments to verify digital travel credentials more efficiently.

Biometric identification gains ground at airports

Biometric technology has become a more familiar part of the airport experience.

Some 58% of passengers reported using biometric identification during an airport journey in the previous 12 months, up from 50% in 2025 and 34% in 2022.

Among passengers who had experienced biometric processing, 87% said they were satisfied with it.

The survey also found that 78% would be willing to share biometric information to avoid repeatedly presenting a passport or boarding pass at airport checkpoints.

Interest in digital passports is particularly strong, with 84% of respondents saying they would like to use one for online check-in instead of a physical document.

However, passengers remain concerned about how their personal information is protected.

Data breaches were the leading concern, cited by 59% of respondents, followed by information being shared with other organisations (49%) and uncertainty about how personal data is handled (41%).

Nearly half of passengers use AI to plan travel

AI is also becoming part of how passengers research and arrange their journeys. The IATA survey found that 49% of respondents had used AI for travel planning. 

• Searching for flights to a particular destination was the most common application, cited by 21% of respondents.
• 19% used AI to find cheaper flights
• 17% used AI to identify potential destinations.

IATA said airlines need to consider how their products appear in AI-powered searches and how passengers can move from researching a journey to making a booking.

Europe trails other regions in AI and biometric adoption

The survey revealed considerable differences in passengers’ attitudes towards digital travel technology.

Europe recorded the lowest use of AI for travel planning, at 35%, compared with the global average of 49%. Only 47% of European respondents had experienced biometric identification in the previous year, against 58% globally.

European passengers were also less willing to share biometric data, with 70% supporting its use for airport processes compared with 78% worldwide.

The Middle East recorded the highest AI adoption, at 72%, and the strongest interest in digital passports for online check-in, at 91%.

North America had the highest proportion of passengers who had experienced biometric processing, at 63%, although respondents there also expressed the greatest concern about data breaches.

Africa recorded the highest proportion of passengers discouraged by immigration requirements, at 52%, followed by Asia-Pacific at 49%. Europe’s figure was 38%, and North America had the lowest share, at 35%.

Overall, 87% of respondents said they were satisfied with air travel, although satisfaction in Europe was the lowest of any region, at 84%.

IATA’s 2026 Global Passenger Survey shows clear progress in many parts of the digital journey, but government policy still requires harmonisation before truly seamless travel becomes a reality.