The dream of an international holiday often clashes with the nightmare of paperwork. A new report from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) confirms this isn't just a personal frustration—it's a major and growing drag on global travel.
More Travellers Are Giving Up
According
to IATA's 2026 Global Passenger Survey, a staggering 43% of international travellers have been discouraged from visiting a destination specifically because of its immigration requirements. This figure has jumped significantly from 33% in 2025, showing that as the world moves on from pandemic-era restrictions, bureaucratic hurdles are becoming an even bigger barrier to travel. The survey, which gathered responses from over 10,000 travellers across more than 200 countries, sends a clear message: a complicated entry process can make a country lose a tourist before they even book a flight. The issue is most pronounced for travellers from Africa and the Asia-Pacific region, where 52% and 49% respectively reported being put off by visa rules.
It's the Complexity, Not Just the Cost
While visa fees can be a factor, the primary deterrent is the sheer complexity of the process itself. Of the travellers who abandoned a trip due to entry requirements, a majority—53%—blamed the complicated procedures. This far outweighs the 17% who cited cost and the 17% who pointed to data privacy concerns as their main reason for changing plans. This 'complexity' can mean many things: long, confusing application forms, the need to make in-person appointments at a consulate, unclear documentation requirements, and long, uncertain waiting times for a decision. In an age where flights and hotels can be booked in minutes, this analogue, anxiety-inducing process is a stark and unwelcome contrast.
A Clear Preference for Digital Solutions
The frustration with current systems is matched by a strong desire for modernisation. An overwhelming 86% of travellers said they are willing to share their immigration information digitally before departure to speed up the process. Furthermore, 60% of people now prefer applying for a visa online, compared to just 25% who would rather go in person to an embassy. This signals a massive opportunity for governments. Passengers are not just willing to use digital tools; they expect them. They see the convenience of biometric screening at airports—which 58% of travellers have now experienced—and wonder why the visa process can't be just as seamless.
The Challenge of Standardisation
While many countries have introduced electronic visas (eVisas), the dream of a simple, standardised digital system remains distant. Over 100 countries now issue some form of eVisa, but there is no common standard for how airlines can verify them. For checkin staff, this creates a major operational headache, as they have to deal with a mix of PDFs, emails, and QR codes, each with a different verification method. IATA is urging governments to adopt common standards, such as an Interactive Advance Passenger Information (iAPI) system, which would allow airlines to instantly verify a traveller's documents with the destination country. This would simplify things for both airlines and passengers, reducing the risk of being denied boarding due to documentation issues.
