From paper to platform: The digital transformation of cross-border travel
However, a silent revolution has been taking place during the last ten years. Airports have become smarter. Some countries have rolled out eVisa solutions.
The very idea of 'crossing borders' is no longer defined by queues and stamps, but by clicks, scans, and seamless flows. Technology is fundamentally altering how we move around the world. The switch from paper to platform represents a new way of thinking, not merely an improvement in procedure. It illustrates the growing recognition by both governments and travelers that mobility is an integrated, digital-first experience
What's truly changing the travel experience is how these technologies are coming together to remove friction.
Biometric authentication, fingerprints, facial recognition, iris scans, are now common at visa centres and immigration points globally. Travelers can now completely avoid human checks at major airports like Frankfurt, Singapore, and Dubai and more recently, at major airports, including Delhi and Mumbai, where biometric e-gates under the Fast Track Immigration – Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP) are redefining international departure and arrival experiences.
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Indian citizens and OCI holders can now walk through immigration using biometric gates without officer interaction—marking a significant leap toward contactless travel. Globally, over 75% of passengers are now willing to share biometric data for a smoother airport experience, according to IATA's 2023 Passenger Insights Report. [sm1] The International Air Transport Association (IATA) claims that biometric boarding and processing can reduce airport wait times by about 40%.
Moreover, for many travellers, reassurance often matters more than speed. As international journeys become increasingly digitised, predictability and peace of mind are emerging as non-negotiables. Tools like digital status updates, real-time application tracking, and appointment scheduling with visible time slots have completely changed how travellers engage with visa systems. Today's applicants, especially those from non-metro cities or first-time international travellers—are not only better informed but also feel far more in control of their journey.
That sense of control doesn't stop at the application stage—it now extends all the way to the border. Behind the scenes, artificial intelligence is quietly transforming how borders are managed. Advanced systems now monitor anomalies, assess traveller profiles, and flag potential risks in real time—allowing authorities to respond with greater speed and accuracy. As international travel bounces back in the post-pandemic world, this kind of layered, intelligent border control is fast becoming the new standard—one that prioritises both security and efficiency without compromising the traveller experience.
But as these technologies evolve, so does the responsibility to ensure transparency and fairness. Responsible AI governance—ensuring ethical use, human oversight, and privacy protections—is critical to maintaining traveller trust.
A more transparent and safe travel industry is also starting to emerge thanks to technology like blockchain. Blockchain technology is still in its infancy, but it is already exhibiting promising results, particularly in terms of protecting sensitive information like visa histories or immunization records.
By making them tamper-proof and easily verifiable, it introduces a new layer of trust—one that's built into the system from the start, not added as an afterthought.
Emerging digital travel credentials (DTCs), such as IATA's One ID initiative, are also gaining traction—enabling travellers to store identity and travel documents on secure mobile wallets for seamless cross-border journeys.
Technology-based External Service Providers like VFS Global have been key to bringing these global shifts to the Indian traveller's doorstep.
With operations in over 158 countries, the organisation has subtly but steadily transformed the visa application process for millions of people. By concentrating on the needs of travelers, they have made foreign travel seem less daunting and more accessible, whether through biometric enrollment, user-friendly digital platforms, or multilingual assistance.
A dedication to openness, trust, and ongoing development is at the core of it all.
In India, initiatives like DigiYatra for domestic travel and FTI-TTP for international immigration reflect the country's ambition to redefine travel through technology—from check-in to border clearance. Tech-enabled services, such as regional language assistance and digital helpdesks, are empowering even first-time flyers from tier-2 cities. In 2023, approximately 28.2 million Indian nationals travelled abroad, underscoring the growing aspirations and global mobility of Indian travellers.
Nevertheless, it's evident that technology is more frequently a bridge than a barrier in the modern world. What was before a dispersed collection of checkpoints is becoming a one, connected experience thanks to digital documents , AI-backed security, quicker check-ins, and user-friendly mobile apps. And while machines are doing much of the heavy lifting, the traveller's experience is becoming more fluid, personal, and human than ever before.
For Indian travellers especially, the implications are meaningful. Global travel is no longer just a privilege, it's becoming more possible, more predictable, and more empowering. And in this new world, it's not the paper trail we leave behind those matters,—it's the trusted, digital footprint we carry forward, ready for whatever's next.
(Parveen Jiterwal, Chief AI and Innovation Officer, VFS Global)
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