43% of Air Travellers Abandon Travel Plans Over Immigration Hurdles – IATA

Complicated visa and immigration procedures have discouraged 43 per cent of air travellers globally from visiting certain destinations, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The finding is contained in IATA’s 2026 Global Passenger Survey, which revealed a significant increase from the 33 per cent recorded in 2025, highlighting growing concerns over complex entry requirements, documentation costs and inconsistent visa processes.

According to the survey, 53 per cent of passengers discouraged from visiting particular destinations identified complicated immigration procedures as their primary concern. Privacy concerns and the cost of obtaining entry documents accounted for 17 per cent each.

Careen also questioned the inconsistencies in how countries verify electronic visas, despite more than 100 countries now issuing eVisas. He said governments should adopt common standards to improve the verification process and reduce difficulties for travellers and airlines.

The survey further revealed growing passenger interest in digital immigration services. About 86 per cent of respondents said they were willing to submit their immigration information electronically before departure to accelerate processing, compared with 83 per cent in 2025. Similarly, 60 per cent preferred applying for visas online, while 25 per cent favoured visiting embassies or consulates in person. Another 45 per cent said they would prefer completing immigration procedures before arriving at the airport.

By Oshuniran Sheriff Ola