Global E-passport and E-visa Market Outlook, 2030

The global e-passports and e-visas market operates as a highly integrated identity verification ecosystem that brings together biometric advancements, secure microchip architecture, and cryptographic systems to generate travel credentials with robust security features. Functioning at the intersection of border management, identity authentication protocols, and international travel regulations, this sector produces meticulously engineered travel documents. These documents are designed not only to minimize the potential for forgery but also to increase authentication dependability and streamline passenger verification at international checkpoints. The system’s technical framework incorporates an array of components ranging from advanced integrated circuit chips and contactless data transmission technology to specialized anti-counterfeit printing systems and biometric recognition capabilities that collectively enable governments to implement secure yet efficient identity verification mechanisms. These e-passport and e-visa platforms are built with multilayered encryption techniques, embedded microprocessor chips, and synchronized database integrations, all aimed at enhancing the document’s ability to counter fraud, preserve privacy, and ensure compatibility with international border systems. Innovations in biometrics, cryptography, and optical security layers have paved the way for more intricate methods of identity verification, allowing authorities to utilize increasingly advanced tools while still ensuring that existing systems remain compatible. The industry continues to be influenced by rapid technological progression, prompting suppliers to explore newer forms of data encryption, physical tamper-evident mechanisms, and document personalization features. As security challenges evolve and fraud attempts become more sophisticated, developers and authorities alike are reinforcing travel documentation with tools that offer comprehensive resistance to unauthorized access, data breaches, and physical alterations ultimately building a stronger infrastructure for global travel security.

According to the research report, “Global E-passport and E-visa Market Outlook, 2031” published by Bonafide Research, the Global E-passport and E-visa market is anticipated to grow at more than 6.6% CAGR from 2025 to 2031 . The e-passport and e-visa domain embodies significant technological evolution, transitioning from basic machine-readable formats to modern, multifunctional documents embedded with numerous layers of identity verification tools. These contemporary systems are now equipped with high-security microprocessor chips, multi-modal biometric recognition tools, and optical elements engineered to thwart duplication or unauthorized use. The adoption of cryptographic authentication protocols further enhances the resistance of these documents to forgery and improves the reliability of traveler identity confirmation. Implementation of these technologies varies across geographic regions, as nations tailor their security systems based on distinct priorities, regulatory environments, threat levels, and diplomatic relationships. Such diversity in adoption reflects the ongoing balancing act between enforcing national security measures and facilitating seamless global mobility. The trend toward digitization plays a pivotal role in reshaping how e-passports and e-visas function automation in border control processes, integration with mobile-based identity apps, and seamless synchronization with electronic verification platforms are increasingly central to the ecosystem. These changes are largely propelled by evolving global security needs, cross-border partnerships, and compliance with updated international standards. Additionally, new use cases are extending the application of these documents beyond their original scope. Technologies like blockchain for decentralized identity verification, AI for detecting irregularities, and smartphone-based identity systems are being considered or piloted in several countries. The market’s evolution is further catalyzed by increased international travel activity and the strategic intent of governments to ensure faster yet secure entry and exit processes. Altogether, the sector is redefining traditional identity documentation by embedding high-level authentication technologies that not only safeguard against fraudulent entries but also increase efficiency in border operations, while respecting privacy mandates and operational standards set forth by global authorities.

Market Dynamics
Market Drivers

Security Enhancement Imperatives Growing concerns regarding identity fraud, document counterfeiting, and unauthorized border crossings drive substantial government investment in advanced electronic travel documents that incorporate multiple authentication layers and sophisticated verification technologies.
Border Processing Efficiency Increasing international traveler volumes combined with limited physical infrastructure create compelling incentives for automated verification technologies that accelerate legitimate traveler processing while maintaining comprehensive security protocols.

Market Challenges



Implementation Complexity Substantial technical requirements, infrastructure investment needs, and specialized expertise demands create significant adoption barriers, particularly for developing nations with limited technological resources and financial constraints.
Privacy and Data Protection Concerns Growing public sensitivity regarding biometric data collection, information sharing protocols, and database security creates implementation challenges requiring comprehensive policy frameworks and enhanced technical safeguards.

Market Trends

Multi-Modal Biometric Integration Expanding incorporation of multiple biometric identifiers including facial recognition, fingerprint verification, and iris scanning that collectively enhance authentication reliability while reducing false rejection rates during verification processes.
Mobile Identity Ecosystem Development Emerging complementary mobile applications, digital travel credentials, and smartphone-based verification technologies that extend traditional document functionality while supporting contactless processing scenarios and enhanced traveler convenience.

Segmentation Analysis

RFID technology serves as a key technical backbone within the e-passport and e-visa infrastructure, offering a reliable means for contactless identity verification that securely transfers data while protecting personal information against potential security breaches.

Operating through high-frequency radio waves, specifically within the 13.56 MHz range, RFID modules allow seamless interaction between the travel document's embedded chip and authorized scanning systems at border checkpoints. Unlike traditional contact-based data reading, this method supports non-intrusive validation without requiring direct alignment or manual handling of the document, thus facilitating faster and cleaner identity checks. To meet the stringent demands of border security operations, these RFID implementations are customized with high-level protections, including encrypted communication channels, anti-skimming shielding, and access control safeguards that collectively defend the integrity of biometric and personal data over the document's lifespan. Leading industry players such as NXP Semiconductors, STMicroelectronics, Infineon Technologies, and Thales have introduced custom chipsets for e-passport use. These feature built-in security elements like tamper-proof hardware design, dedicated cryptographic modules, and robust storage components engineered for resilience and consistent performance. In high-traffic border environments, the efficiency of RFID becomes especially evident, with data verification procedures completed in under half a second often involving biometric data matching, cryptographic checks, and authenticity validation all in one read operation. Ongoing refinements have led to notable improvements in these systems, including better power optimization for uninterrupted performance, expanded storage capabilities to accommodate multiple biometric data formats, and stronger communication security to prevent eavesdropping or cloning attempts. These technological enhancements reinforce the use of RFID in modern travel documentation, ensuring both rapid processing and dependable verification under varying operational conditions.

Biometric verification systems function as the central mechanism in modern e-passport and e-visa frameworks, facilitating precise identity validation through physical characteristics unique to each traveler.

By using biological traits such as facial structure, fingerprints, or iris patterns, these systems create a more secure and accurate identity confirmation process compared to traditional inspection methods that rely on manual checks or visual markers. These systems generally operate through a multi-step process which include capturing a live biometric sample at the point of entry, converting this input into a standardized template based on international benchmarks, and finally comparing it in real time to the biometric data securely stored on the embedded chip in the traveler’s document. This streamlined sequence allows immigration and border officials to confirm identity swiftly while ensuring that sensitive information remains confidential. Several major biometric system providers including IDEMIA, Veridos, Vision-Box, and Gemalto have engineered border control-specific solutions. Their products include high-precision capture devices, enhanced comparison algorithms, and end-to-end verification workflows that can operate smoothly even in high-pressure environments with significant traveler volumes. These systems support a range of biometric types in which facial recognition remains widely adopted due to its compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards, while fingerprint and iris recognition are integrated for cases requiring more stringent authentication. The flexibility of these modalities ensures the system’s compatibility across diverse use cases. Current biometric architectures have also seen the integration of sophisticated features like liveness detection used to differentiate between real individuals and fraudulent presentations as well as processing systems designed to sustain accuracy despite challenges such as low lighting or high throughput demands. These advancements underscore the evolving capability of biometric systems in addressing modern security needs without compromising on speed or user convenience.

Electronic machine-readable travel documents (eMRTDs) form the core structural element of the e-passport and e-visa landscape, offering a unified framework that incorporates embedded electronic components, complex physical security layers, and internationally standardized data formats

These documents are designed under guidelines laid out by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), ensuring they are interoperable across global jurisdictions and functional with various automated border control systems. eMRTDs typically integrate contactless microprocessor chips that hold digitally signed biometric and personal information, supported by multiple physical deterrents against tampering such as watermarked paper, microprinting, holograms, ultraviolet ink features, and other secure printing techniques. This multi-layered design makes the document extremely resistant to both physical counterfeiting and electronic compromise. Organizations specializing in secure documentation such as Giesecke+Devrient, HID Global, Canadian Bank Note Company, and Mühlbauer Group provide end-to-end solutions for producing these documents. Their offerings include secure material sourcing, personalization software, tamper-proof design integration, and stringent quality assurance measures to ensure long-term document integrity under varied use conditions, often extending up to a decade. ICAO’s Doc 9303 offers extensive technical guidance on aspects such as layout dimensions, biometric data structuring, chip communications, and anti-forgery components, allowing governments to maintain national aesthetics while upholding global interoperability. The current generation of eMRTDs includes advanced access control mechanisms that prevent unauthorized reading, alongside cutting-edge encryption systems that safeguard the authenticity of the data during border inspections. Furthermore, modern design improvements continue to strengthen physical resistance, incorporating tamper-evident overlays and embedded metadata features that complicate illegal replication. These comprehensive enhancements collectively define eMRTDs as a high-assurance solution within the global mobility and security ecosystem.

Regional Analysis

North America has achieved a high degree of maturity in deploying e-passport and e-visa technologies, creating an identity verification environment defined by advanced infrastructure, multilayered security systems, and operational efficiency.

The region emphasizes an integrated approach that merges robust authentication practices with streamlined traveler processing. At various international entry points, authorities have deployed automated verification technologies such as biometric-enabled border kiosks, e-passport reading machines, and real-time database integration systems that collectively manage high traveler volumes while ensuring stringent security checks. These systems operate under a framework that enables layered verification, combining biometric data checks, fraud detection algorithms, and watch list cross-referencing to assess and manage potential risks during entry and exit. North America’s regulatory model involves collaboration across national agencies; entities such as the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Canada Border Services Agency maintain harmonized protocols, including initiatives like the Beyond the Border Action Plan, which supports secure yet seamless cross-border travel. These agencies have also implemented shared intelligence and procedural alignment to address cross-national threats while optimizing processing times. Technology upgrades occur regularly, with earlier implementations of e-passport systems now enhanced through the addition of features like Extended Access Control (EAC), inclusion of secondary biometric modalities, and newer physical document protections. Additionally, the region participates in collaborative efforts like the Five Country Conference a platform involving the U.S., Canada, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand focused on joint technology evaluations, data sharing procedures, and strategic alignment in identity management practices. These alliances help maintain a consistent and resilient approach to border security, ensuring that adopted technologies remain effective and scalable. Through this structured and cooperative framework, North America continues adapting its border control environment to accommodate rising traveler volumes while addressing evolving security challenges.

Key Developments

• In August 2023, Thales Group introduced an advanced e-passport platform featuring enhanced chip security and improved biometric matching algorithms for government identity programs.
• In December 2023, IDEMIA launched its next-generation e-visa system incorporating blockchain verification capabilities and improved fraud detection features.
• In February 2024, HID Global expanded its identity solutions portfolio with new automated document authentication technology for border control applications.
• In April 2024, Veridos released an innovative mobile credential solution complementing physical e-passports with secure digital verification options.

Considered in this report
* Historic year: 2019
* Base year: 2024
* Estimated year: 2025
* Forecast year: 2031

Aspects covered in this report
* E-passport and E-visa Market with its value and forecast along with its segments
* Country-wise E-passport and E-visa Market analysis
* Various drivers and challenges
* On-going trends and developments
* Top profiled companies
* Strategic recommendation

By Technology Type
• RFID Technology
• Biometric Technology
• Chip Technology
• Barcode Technology
• Digital Signature Technology

By Application
• Border Control
• Immigration Processing
• Visa Issuance
• Consular Services
• Citizen Identity Management

By Component
• Electronic Machine Readable Travel Documents (eMRTD)
• Biometric Verification Systems
• Document Readers and Scanners
• Authentication Infrastructure
• Identity Management Systems

The approach of the report:
This report consists of a combined approach of primary as well as secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and listing out the companies that are present in the market. The secondary research consists of third-party sources such as press releases, annual report of companies, analyzing the government generated reports and databases. After gathering the data from secondary sources primary research was conducted by making telephonic interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducted trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this we have started doing primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting consumers in regional aspects, tier aspects, age group, and gender. Once we have primary data with us we have started verifying the details obtained from secondary sources.

Intended audience
This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations & organizations related to IT services industry, government bodies and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing & presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.