IATA survey: complex visa rules deter 43% of travellers as biometrics and AI gain ground
Travel sellers in Africa should note that complex immigration requirements are now a leading barrier to international travel, with 43% of air travellers discouraged from visiting a destination because of entry rules. This is a sharp increase from 33% in 2025, according to the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) 2026 Global Passenger Survey released on 28 October 2026. For African clients, this means that visa complexity and cost remain major obstacles, but there is also growing demand for digital solutions that could make travel easier and more attractive.
Of those deterred by immigration requirements, 53% cited complexity as their main concern, while 17% cited privacy concerns and 17% cited cost. The survey found that 86% of respondents were likely to share immigration information digitally before departure to speed up processing, up from 83% in 2025. 45% preferred to complete immigration procedures before reaching the airport, up from 41%. 60% preferred to apply for visas online, compared with 25% who favoured in-person consulate applications. More than 100 countries now issue electronic visas, but IATA warned that inconsistent verification remains a challenge for airlines and called for common standards to enable more efficient checks.
Biometric identification and digital passports are becoming mainstream. 58% of passengers experienced biometric identification during their airport journey in the past year, up from 50% in 2025 and 24 percentage points above the 2022 level. 87% of those who experienced biometrics reported satisfaction, up from 86% in 2025. 78% would be willing to share biometric information to avoid repeatedly presenting passports or boarding passes; of these, 75% preferred to register once in advance and be recognised automatically throughout their journey. 84% expressed interest in using a digital passport for online check-in instead of a physical passport. 82% were interested in sharing a digital passport with an airline at booking for personalised services, including visa information. The same proportion expressed interest in a smartphone that combines a digital wallet, digital passport and loyalty cards to manage bookings, payments and airport processes. However, data protection concerns remain significant: 59% cited data breaches as their leading concern, 49% were concerned about sharing personal information with other organisations, and 41% were uncertain about how their personal information is handled. IATA called on governments to agree on a framework for issuing and accepting Digital Travel Credentials.
Artificial intelligence is now a mainstream travel planning tool. 49% of respondents said they had used AI for travel planning. The most common uses were searching for flights to a specific destination (21%), finding the cheapest flights (19%), and discovering potential travel destinations (17%). IATA said airlines must ensure their offerings appear in AI tools and develop convenient links to convert AI conversations into real bookings.
African travellers were among the most likely to have been discouraged from visiting a destination because of entry procedures, with complexity as their main concern, followed by cost. Biometric adoption among African travellers remained among the lowest across regions surveyed, but interest in digital travel solutions was among the strongest. The findings point to an opportunity for African governments and aviation stakeholders to improve travel facilitation through more accessible digital services, provided the necessary systems, standards and safeguards are in place.
Regional differences were also highlighted. Asia-Pacific travellers reported the highest overall satisfaction. European travellers recorded the lowest satisfaction and showed greater caution toward digital travel technologies. North American travellers reported the highest use of biometrics (63%) but also the strongest concerns about data breaches. Middle East travellers were most likely to use AI for travel planning (72%) and expressed the strongest interest in digital passports (91%). Latin America and the Caribbean recorded the second-highest overall passenger satisfaction and the largest improvement compared with 2025.
Nick Careen, IATA’s Senior Vice President, Operations, Safety and Security, said: “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 travelers continue to face barriers from complex immigration and visa processes.” He added: “People are using AI to plan their travel. It's important for airlines not only to ensure their offerings show up in AI, but also to develop convenient links to convert an AI conversation into a real booking.”
Sources: IATA, press release, 28 October 2026.
