That feeling of excitement when booking a trip is increasingly being replaced by anxiety over paperwork. A major new survey from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) confirms this isn't just a feeling, it's a growing trend.
A Growing Barrier to Travel
The headline finding
from IATA's 2026 Global Passenger Survey is stark: 43% of travellers say they have been discouraged from visiting a destination specifically because of its immigration requirements. This represents a significant jump from 33% reported in 2025, a 10-percentage-point increase that signals a serious and growing problem for the global travel and tourism industry. The survey, which gathered responses from over 10,000 passengers across more than 200 countries, highlights a contradiction in modern travel. While technology like biometrics and artificial intelligence is making parts of the journey smoother, the process of simply getting permission to enter a country is becoming a major deterrent.
Complexity is the Main Culprit
When travellers decide a destination isn't worth the hassle, it's not primarily about money or privacy. The survey reveals that the overwhelming reason for being put off is the sheer complexity of the process, cited by 53% of these discouraged passengers. Cost and privacy concerns were cited far less frequently, each accounting for 17% of responses. This suggests that potential tourists and business travellers are being deterred by confusing application forms, unclear rules, and the uncertainty surrounding document verification. This friction at the border is a key pain point that airlines and governments can no longer afford to ignore.
A Regional Divide in Frustration
The burden of complex entry rules is not felt equally around the globe. According to the IATA survey, travellers from Africa were the most likely to be discouraged by immigration requirements, at 52%. They were followed closely by passengers in the Asia-Pacific region, where 49% had been put off from travelling to a destination. For Indian travellers, who fall into this latter category, navigating the varying visa rules for popular destinations in Europe, Southeast Asia, and North America can be a significant undertaking. In contrast, North American travellers were the least affected by these concerns, with only 35% reporting being deterred by entry rules.
Passengers Want Digital Solutions
While frustrated with bureaucracy, passengers are clear about the solution: they want simpler, digital processes. A massive 86% of travellers said they would be likely to share their immigration information digitally before departure to speed things up. Furthermore, 60% prefer applying for visas online rather than in person at an embassy or consulate. This willingness to embrace technology is mirrored by the rapid adoption of biometrics at airports. The survey found 58% of passengers have experienced biometrics in the last year, with 87% satisfaction. Passengers are essentially telling governments they are ready and willing to use secure digital tools if it means a smoother journey.
IATA's Call for Standardization
In light of the findings, IATA is urging governments to simplify entry procedures and adopt common standards for digital travel credentials. Nick Careen, IATA's Senior Vice President, pointed out that while over 100 countries now issue eVisas, there is little consistency in how they are verified, creating bottlenecks for airlines and passengers. The industry body argues that the technology to create a more seamless system already exists. The challenge is getting governments to agree on a unified framework for issuing and accepting secure digital passports, which would remove repetitive document checks and streamline the entire process from booking to arrival.
