E-passport and E-visa Market By Component (E-passport, E-visa); By Technology (Biometric Verification, Public Key Infrastructure, RFID/NFC, Digital Signature Technology); By Application (Personal Travel, Business Travel, Government, Immigration); By Region, Segment Revenue Estimation, Forecast, 2024–2030.

1. Introduction and Strategic Context

The Global E-Passport And E-Visa Market will witness a robust CAGR Of 11.8%, valued at $32.4 billion in 2024 , and is expected to appreciate and reach $63.1 billion by 2030 , confirms Strategic Market Research.

 

This market is strategically positioned at the intersection of national security, digital transformation, and global mobility. E-passports—also known as biometric passports—contain embedded microprocessor chips that store biometric identifiers such as fingerprints, facial images, and iris scans. E-visas, meanwhile, allow travelers to apply, process, and receive authorization digitally, offering a frictionless alternative to traditional embassy-based procedures. Together, these technologies are reshaping the landscape of global travel, immigration control, and border security from 2024 to 2030.

 

The demand for e-passports and e-visas is rapidly accelerating due to several macroeconomic and geopolitical factors. Rising concerns over cross-border terrorism, illegal migration, identity theft, and pandemic-related travel risks have pushed governments worldwide to adopt highly secure and contactless identity verification systems. At the same time, the surge in international tourism and business travel post-COVID has reignited infrastructure investments in digital border security platforms.

 

Adding momentum to this growth is the increasing number of public-private partnerships to modernize national identity programs. The European Union’s ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System), the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Global Entry Program, and ASEAN’s Smart Travel initiatives are prime examples of coordinated regional frameworks that encourage mass e-passport and e-visa adoption.

 

Furthermore, rapid advancements in NFC (Near Field Communication), RFID, optical character recognition (OCR), and AI-enabled border kiosks are fueling transformation across air, land, and sea entry points. These innovations not only boost throughput and efficiency at immigration checkpoints but also enhance fraud detection and traveler profiling capabilities.

 

Key stakeholders in this ecosystem include:

• National governments and border control agencies – responsible for implementation and policy.

• OEMs and system integrators – such as passport manufacturers, biometric chip designers, and ID management software vendors.

• Airport authorities and visa processing agencies – focusing on seamless traveler processing.

• Cybersecurity firms and identity authentication providers – ensuring data integrity and real-time verification.

• International organizations – including ICAO, IATA, and Interpol – setting standards and enforcing interoperability.

Experts note that with over 150 countries now issuing biometric passports and more than 80 offering some form of digital visa processing, the race toward a contactless, paperless global travel environment is no longer optional—but imperative. As cyber threats and pandemic preparedness remain persistent concerns, the e-passport and e-visa market will continue to benefit from sustained budget allocations and innovation cycles over the next decade.

 

2. Market Segmentation and Forecast Scope

The e-passport and e-visa market is structured around several key segmentation pillars that reflect the unique technology, application, and end-user landscapes driving this high-growth domain. For the 2024–2030 forecast period, Strategic Market Research categorizes the market as follows:

By Component

• E-passports

• E-visas

This primary segmentation captures the two central use cases of the market. E-passports dominate the revenue share, accounting for an estimated 62.4% of the market in 2024 , due to widespread government mandates for biometric ID upgrades. However, e-visas are expected to outpace in growth rate, as digitization becomes a strategic priority for immigration systems globally.

By Technology

• Biometric Verification (Facial, Fingerprint, Iris)

• Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)

• RFID/NFC-enabled Chips

• Digital Signature Technology

Among these, biometric verification remains the backbone of secure identity systems, while PKI is critical for maintaining encryption standards and interoperability between issuing and verifying authorities. Facial recognition systems are increasingly favored over fingerprint-based systems due to their contactless convenience and improved accuracy under AI-enhanced frameworks.

By Application

• Personal Travel & Leisure

• Business Travel

• Government & Diplomatic Use

• Immigration & Border Control

Personal travel continues to lead demand volumes, particularly with the surge in outbound tourism from Asia and Europe. Meanwhile, government and diplomatic use is a high-value segment due to its emphasis on multi-layered security, tamper-proof protocols, and custom chip configurations.

By End User

• Government Agencies

• Immigration Departments

• Airport & Border Security Operators

• Embassies & Visa Application Centers

• Travel Management Companies

Governments and immigration agencies are the primary procurers and implementers of e-passport and e-visa systems, but the role of airports and embassies has expanded significantly due to the need for integrated verification checkpoints and seamless traveler experiences.

By Region

• North America

• Europe

• Asia Pacific

• LAMEA (Latin America, Middle East, and Africa)

Europe currently holds the largest market share, thanks to EU regulations on biometric passport compliance and the upcoming ETIAS deployment. However, Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR through 2030, fueled by high outbound travel rates from China and India, smart city integrations, and major digital identity rollouts across Southeast Asia.

As countries race to modernize travel security while enhancing the traveler experience, market segmentation reveals deep opportunities across both mature and emerging economies. Solutions that emphasize cross-border interoperability, speed, and fraud-resilience will lead the way forward.

 

3. Market Trends and Innovation Landscape

The e-passport and e-visa market is undergoing a transformative phase, shaped by a blend of regulatory urgency, digital acceleration, and cross-sector innovation. From AI-driven biometric validation to next-gen encryption and decentralized identity models, technology is driving the evolution of modern travel documentation and access control systems.

Key Innovation Trends Driving the Market

1. Contactless Biometric Systems

The market is rapidly transitioning from traditional fingerprint-based systems to contactless facial and iris recognition platforms , driven by the dual demands of hygiene (post-COVID) and traveler throughput. AI-powered facial recognition technologies are now capable of matching live images to encrypted e-passport data with over 99.8% accuracy in real-time.

According to digital ID experts, these systems are particularly valuable at high-volume entry points such as international airports, reducing manual checks and increasing throughput by up to 40%.

2. Blockchain for Identity Verification

Countries such as Estonia, Singapore, and the UAE are piloting blockchain-based digital identity vaults to secure travel documents, visa approvals, and biometric data on distributed ledgers. These efforts aim to increase document immutability, reduce fraud, and give users sovereign control over their identities.

3. Mobile Passport and Visa Wallets

Next-generation e-passports are expected to go fully digital through mobile-based wallets embedded in smartphones. Several airlines and governments are testing mobile travel credentials (MTCs) in collaboration with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). These wallets enable QR-based validation, facial authentication, and digital stamping—all from a traveler’s device.

4. AI-Powered Risk Profiling

Advanced analytics and machine learning algorithms are being deployed at e-visa processing centers and immigration hubs to evaluate travel history, application data, biometrics, and intent prediction models . These tools enhance threat detection while improving the speed of legitimate approvals.

5. NFC-Embedded Smart Chips

E-passports now contain NFC chips compliant with ICAO Doc 9303 standards , allowing secure transmission of biometric and personal data over short-range wireless protocols. These chips offer cryptographic capabilities for digital signatures , which ensure authenticity and resistance to tampering.

Innovation-Driven Collaborations and Partnerships

• Thales Group , a leader in biometric security, has expanded its multi-modal border control solutions , integrating facial recognition, automated document readers, and e-gates with e-passport systems.

• IDEMIA and Vision-Box have established partnerships with airports across Europe and the Middle East to deploy end-to-end digital identity and biometric corridors , offering seamless boarding and immigration clearance.

• The EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) aims to roll out a continent-wide biometric traveler registry, interlinking member states' databases with standardized APIs and blockchain-secured e-visa approvals.

Experts predict that within the next five years, the convergence of biometric AI, mobile-first travel credentials, and cross-border data interoperability will turn e-passports and e-visas into core elements of national cybersecurity infrastructure—not just travel tools.

 

4. Competitive Intelligence and Benchmarking

The e-passport and e-visa market is shaped by a blend of aerospace, cybersecurity, identity technology, and government services players, each leveraging domain-specific strengths to win multi-year national and regional contracts. Competitive dynamics are intensifying, particularly in areas such as biometric accuracy, fraud resistance, system interoperability, and user experience optimization.

Below are some of the leading players defining the competitive landscape:

1. Thales Group

Thales is a dominant player in biometric identity and border control systems, offering end-to-end e-passport issuance, e-visa platforms, and automated border control solutions . The company’s strength lies in its secure microcontroller chips, ICAO-compliant design architecture, and high-speed passport printers used in over 40 countries. Thales has also invested heavily in facial recognition and mobile travel credential pilots , particularly in Europe and Asia.

Its partnership with the French government for biometric passport upgrades and the EU Entry/Exit System implementation has further cemented its leadership in the region.

2. IDEMIA

IDEMIA specializes in augmented identity, offering smart ID issuance platforms, biometric scanners, and AI-based traveler profiling systems. With over 3 billion e-passports issued through its technology globally, IDEMIA is known for its biometric accuracy , tamper-proof ID chipsets , and mobile passport apps . The company has active contracts with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, India’s MEA, and African nations for secure travel document issuance.

3. Vision-Box

Focused on seamless traveler journeys, Vision-Box delivers integrated identity management solutions that link e-passports, e-visas, self-service kiosks, and biometric corridors . Its technology is widely deployed across Europe and the Middle East, especially in airports like Schiphol, Dubai International, and London Heathrow . The company emphasizes passenger convenience and border security through real-time facial matching and GDPR-compliant data handling.

4. Entrust Corporation

Entrust is a major provider of PKI-based e-passport solutions , digital signature platforms, and document verification systems. With decades of experience in cryptographic infrastructure, Entrust supports governments in securely issuing and verifying machine-readable documents. The company has played a key role in digital travel credentials (DTC) pilots and in establishing global encryption standards in collaboration with ICAO.

5. De La Rue

A traditional passport and security printing powerhouse, De La Rue has diversified into biometric e-passports and chip integration , particularly for small and medium-sized nations. While its core strength lies in design and printing, it partners with OEMs and tech providers for RFID/NFC implementation. De La Rue is notable for its contracts with Caribbean and African governments, offering cost-effective digital ID transition strategies.

6. Gemalto (a Thales Company)

Although now fully integrated into Thales , Gemalto retains its brand recognition in providing secure embedded software, operating systems for e-passport chips , and personalization services. Its e-visa platforms have been implemented in over 20 countries, particularly across Southeast Asia and Latin America.

7. Veridos GmbH

A joint venture between Giesecke+Devrient and Bundesdruckerei , Veridos focuses on government-to-government contracts for e-ID systems, e-passport programs, and border control infrastructure . With high credibility in Europe and Latin America, Veridos is known for robust project delivery, particularly in digital transformation mandates for public security.

The competitive edge in this market is no longer limited to secure document printing—it now hinges on digital-first architecture, AI integration, and mobile-ready systems. Companies offering fast deployment, low error rates, and compliance with global interoperability standards are securing long-term government partnerships.

 

5. Regional Landscape and Adoption Outlook

The global e-passport and e-visa market presents diverse regional dynamics, shaped by varying levels of digital infrastructure, regulatory mandates, and geopolitical needs. While Europe and North America currently lead in deployment maturity, Asia Pacific and parts of LAMEA are emerging as high-growth territories fueled by digitization drives and population mobility.

North America

United States and Canada maintain advanced adoption levels, driven by security imperatives and international travel volume. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have integrated Global Entry , Mobile Passport Control , and biometric exit programs at major airports. Canada’s eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) system, coupled with biometric visitor screening, reinforces the region's dominance.

Airports in New York, Dallas, and Toronto are rapidly expanding their biometric corridors, with 80% of entry points expected to be facial recognition-enabled by 2026.

Europe

Europe is the most mature market , propelled by EU-wide compliance requirements. All EU member states now issue biometric e-passports , and the bloc is preparing to implement ETIAS and the Entry/Exit System (EES) by 2025. These regulations will require non-Schengen travelers to register electronically , using biometric and travel history data.

The Schengen Zone's unified border control policies and GDPR-compliant digital identity systems have enabled cross-country interoperability, setting a benchmark for other regions.

Asia Pacific

This is the fastest-growing regional market , led by countries like China, India, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore . Massive outbound travel volumes, smart city investments, and government e-governance missions are driving rapid expansion. India’s eVisa program now covers over 160 nationalities, while China has expanded its Exit-Entry Administration with facial recognition and QR-based visa approvals.

Singapore and South Korea are testing smartphone-based travel credentials and contactless immigration, aiming to lead in traveler experience and border automation.

LAMEA (Latin America, Middle East & Africa)

Middle East:

Countries like UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar are at the forefront of digital identity adoption. UAE’s Smart Gate system enables biometric passport clearance in under 15 seconds. Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 includes biometric visa issuance and e-passport modernization.

Africa:

Progress is mixed. South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya have initiated biometric passport rollouts, but much of Sub-Saharan Africa remains underpenetrated due to infrastructure gaps. However, donor-funded programs and PPP models are emerging to support adoption.

Latin America:

Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico are leading regional efforts, with biometric passports mandated and e-visas gaining traction. However, bureaucratic and IT infrastructure hurdles persist across smaller economies.

Regional Opportunity Hotspots

• High-growth countries : India, Indonesia, UAE, Nigeria, Mexico

• White space : Central Africa, Central Asia, and smaller Caribbean island nations remain largely untapped

• Regulatory catalysts : ETIAS (EU), EES (Europe), Smart Gate (UAE), Global Entry (US), PRC’s Smart Border Vision (China)

Experts believe that while developed economies focus on upgrading legacy systems to AI and mobile-first platforms, emerging markets are leapfrogging into biometrics without passing through traditional ID phases—making them agile adopters of cloud-based, secure-by-design passport and visa ecosystems.

 

6. End-User Dynamics and Use Case

The e-passport and e-visa market serves a diverse ecosystem of end users, each with distinct operational priorities and adoption patterns. From high-security government agencies to tech-enabled border authorities and traveler -focused embassies, the end-user landscape reflects the multi-dimensional utility of digital identity and verification technologies.

Key End Users and Adoption Behavior

Government Agencies and Immigration Departments

These entities are the primary procurers and implementers of e-passport and e-visa programs. Their responsibilities include issuing biometric passports, setting national identity standards, and integrating backend databases with real-time border verification systems.

• Focus areas: Security, compliance with ICAO standards, and fraud detection

• Example: Ministries of Interior or Home Affairs across countries manage centralized issuance and verification protocols.

Airport and Border Security Operators

These users focus on automated immigration processing, passenger flow optimization, and real-time threat analysis . Border authorities deploy biometric corridors, e-gates, and facial recognition terminals, often in collaboration with private airport operators and tech vendors.

• Focus areas: Throughput speed, biometric match accuracy, operational uptime

• Example: Heathrow, JFK, Dubai International, and Singapore Changi airports have deployed facial recognition and e-passport kiosks at scale.

Embassies and Visa Application Centers

Embassies are increasingly transitioning from in-person, paper-based visa services to e-visa portals and digital identity pre-screening tools . Visa processing centers , both public and outsourced (e.g., VFS Global), manage identity verification, biometric data collection, and secure document issuance.

• Focus areas: Document integrity, remote identity capture, streamlined user experience

• Growing trend: Integration of e-visa systems with mobile status tracking and AI-driven eligibility scoring.

Travel Management Companies (TMCs) and Airlines

TMCs and carriers are pushing for seamless travel experiences through mobile ID integration, pre-verified boarding, and contactless check-ins . While not regulators, they are strategic stakeholders influencing ecosystem architecture.

• Focus areas: Interoperability, mobile-first integration, compliance facilitation

High-Fidelity Use Case: South Korea’s SmartGate System

A tertiary airport in South Korea implemented an AI-enabled biometric corridor using Vision-Box’s facial recognition terminals, NFC-enabled passport readers, and contactless boarding passes.

Scenario : Travelers arriving at Incheon International Airport (ICN) with e-passports automatically pass through pre-immigration gates where their facial scan is matched to the embedded chip on their passport. The system also pre-verifies entry authorization through South Korea’s eVisa portal API, enabling sub-10 second clearance times.

Outcomes :

• 40% reduction in average immigration wait times

1. 6% biometric match rate

• 65% decrease in manual document checks

• Improved traveler satisfaction scores and reduced congestion

According to airport authorities, the digital corridor will serve as the blueprint for nationwide rollouts and could save over $25 million annually in operational costs.

End-user priorities are now converging on three key values: speed, security, and scalability. Future-forward identity infrastructure must be customizable across use cases—from embassy lobbies to automated e-gates—while ensuring privacy, compliance, and cost-efficiency.

7. Recent Developments + Opportunities & Restraints

Recent Developments (Last 2 Years)

• U.S. Customs and Border Protection expanded facial recognition and e-passport verification at 200+ entry points , including airports and land borders, under its “Simplified Arrival” initiative (2023).

• European Union announced official timeline for ETIAS and Entry/Exit System (EES) , mandating biometric pre-screening and e-visa requirements for non-EU travelers starting mid-2025

• India's Ministry of External Affairs expanded its e-visa program to over 160 countries , adding facial biometric validation and mobile status tracking features (2023–2024).

• UAE introduced fully digital passports under the SmartPass initiative , enabling NFC-based scanning and encrypted biometric ID in a mobile app format (2024).

• Thales and IDEMIA launched next-generation biometric border control platforms , integrating iris, facial, and fingerprint verification into a unified AI-powered interface (2024).

 

Opportunities

1. Emerging Market Expansion Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, Central Asia, and Latin America are poised for digital identity transformation. Strategic government partnerships and donor-funded infrastructure projects create large untapped potential.

2. Mobile Travel Credentials (MTCs) The shift from physical e-passports to smartphone-based digital credentials is a massive opportunity for solution providers offering secure mobile platforms and cloud-native ID vaults.

3. AI & Automation in Border Processing Facial recognition, behavioral biometrics, and predictive risk modeling offer government agencies unprecedented control over immigration processing and fraud mitigation.

 

Restraints

1. Regulatory and Standardization Gaps Despite ICAO guidelines, many nations lack aligned legal frameworks or technological infrastructure for full e-visa and biometric passport implementation—leading to adoption delays.

2. High Capital Investment Developing e-passport ecosystems requires substantial investment in secure printing, biometric capture hardware, PKI infrastructure, and cross-border interoperability systems.

As digital identity becomes a core pillar of both national security and citizen mobility, market players that can offer scalable, standards-compliant, and user-friendly solutions will gain a decisive edge in the next 5–7 years.

 

Report Coverage Table

Report Attribute	Details
Forecast Period	2024 – 2030
Market Size Value in 2024	USD 32.4 Billion
Revenue Forecast in 2030	USD 63.1 Billion
Overall Growth Rate	CAGR of 11.8% (2024 – 2030)
Base Year for Estimation	2023
Historical Data	2017 – 2021
Unit	USD Million, CAGR (2024 – 2030)
Segmentation	By Component, By Technology, By Application, By Region
By Component	E-passport, E-visa
By Technology	Biometric Verification, Public Key Infrastructure, RFID/NFC, Digital Signature
By Application	Personal Travel, Business Travel, Government & Diplomatic, Immigration & Border Control
By Region	North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East & Africa
Country Scope	U.S., UK, Germany, China, India, Japan, Brazil, UAE, etc.
Market Drivers	Surge in international travel, cybersecurity threats, demand for digital ID
Customization Option	Available upon request