I talk to people a lot about the market for entry requirements, and most people are surprised about the trends. The number of electronic entry requirements issued on a yearly basis have 100x’d since we started Sherpa. This shift is driven by growing similarities in visa and entry permit processes for travellers, regardless of whether they hold passports from countries traditionally considered "strong" or "weak".

The Emergence of Electronic Travel Authorizations (ETAs)

In 1996 Australia launched their Electronic Travel Authority, kicking off the trend toward electronic travel documentation. This solved the problem of people travelling for a whole day to Australia just to be turned away at customs. Now, the Australian government could funnel travellers with advanced vetting requirements toward a consulate or embassy ahead of their trip.

ETAs are primarily implemented by countries for travellers who were previously visa-exempt, including those with strong passports⁴. Countries like Korea, Canada, New Zealand and recently, the United Kingdom have started requiring ETAs for visitors from many visa-exempt countries. ETAs these nations to maintain relatively open borders while still collecting pre-travel information and conducting security checks⁵.

While ETAs are generally less restrictive than visas, they still represent an additional step for travellers who previously enjoyed the ability to show up with only a passport. This trend contributes significantly to the global flattening of entry requirements.

The Rise of Electronic Visas (eVisas)

The other side of the coin is governments moving old paper-based travel visas online (eVisas). eVisas have become increasingly common for both strong and weak passport holders, for different reasons¹.

For travellers with traditionally weak passports, eVisas represent a form of border opening. Countries like Turkey, India, and Sri Lanka have introduced eVisa systems that are available to citizens of numerous countries, including those with traditionally weaker passports². This shift makes the visa application process more accessible and less time-consuming.

Interestingly, even travellers with strong passports are increasingly required to obtain eVisas for countries they previously could enter visa-free, as the incremental cost of administering these restrictions has plummeted. This trend represents a move towards more controlled and digitalised border management, even for travellers who previously enjoyed relatively unrestricted access³.

The Convergence Effect

The simultaneous rise of eVisas and ETAs has led to a convergence or flattening of entry requirements globally. While the reasons for requiring pre-travel authorization may differ between strong and weak passport holders (security concerns vs. immigration control), the practical effect is increasingly similar: most international travellers now need to complete some form of online process before their journey⁶.

Implications for Global Mobility

This flattening of entry requirements has several implications:

1. Increased data collection and digital surveillance of international travel.
2. Potential for more efficient border control processes.
3. A shift towards a more level playing field in international travel, albeit with continued disparities.
4. New challenges for spontaneous travel, as most journeys now require some form of pre-planning.

What Comes Next?

The global flattening of entry requirements, marked by the rise of eVisas and ETAs, represents a significant change in in the landscape of international travel. While disparities between strong and weak passports persist, the increasing prevalence of these electronic systems for all travellers is creating a more uniform, if more controlled, global travel environment. As this trend continues, it will be crucial to monitor its impacts on global mobility, tourism, and international relations.

There is no signs of this trend stopping. The largest ETA program ever, the European Union’s Electronic Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), is likely to be rolled out in 2026. That year more than half of all international air travellers will need an ETA or eVisa, likely to increase toward a maximum over the next couple of decades.

At Sherpa, we believe that the most interesting implication of this shift is the experience that it empowers. We are working with many of the world’s leading travel companies to create truly integrated experiences, where travel visas can be included in digital products at a very deep level, even out-of-sight.

In a world of AI governments adopting Web technologies seems quaint, but it will reshape travel, and presents fantastic opportunities.

Footnotes

¹ Mau, S., Gülzau, F., Laube, L., & Zaun, N. (2015). The Global Mobility Divide: How Visa Policies Have Evolved over Time. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 41(8), 1192-1213.

² Recchi, E., Deutschmann, E., & Vespe, M. (2019). Estimating Transnational Human Mobility on a Global Scale. Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies Research Paper No. RSCAS 2019/30.

³ Torpey, J. (2018). The Invention of the Passport: Surveillance, Citizenship and the State. Cambridge University Press.

⁴ Jørgensen, M. B., & Ydesen, C. (2021). Biometrics and the Securitization of Migration: A European History. International Migration Review, 55(1), 56-80.

⁵ Neumayer, E. (2006). Unequal access to foreign spaces: how states use visa restrictions to regulate mobility in a globalized world. Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, 31(1), 72-84.

⁶ Czaika, M., & Neumayer, E. (2017). Visa Restrictions and Economic Globalisation. Applied Geography, 84, 75-82.

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