Artificial intelligence is gradually entering the language of travel. For many travelers, however, it remains largely invisible. It does not always appear as a chatbot or as a tool clearly labeled “AI.” It may be built into an e-Visa portal, an electronic travel authorization system, a biometric checkpoint, a document verification tool or an automated data analysis system.
In a publication dated June 22, 2026, the World Economic Forum (WEF) notes that AI is not new to migration management. Technologies associated with artificial intelligence have been used for years to analyze large volumes of identity data, support the review of electronic visa applications or facilitate biometric border controls.
The WEF also points out that these uses already cover much of the migration chain: visa information and processing, identity verification, border management, asylum procedures, refugee assistance, returns, flow forecasting and labor migration. For travelers, these technologies often remain discreet, but they increasingly shape the administrative journey before, during and after crossing a border.
Travel formalities are becoming increasingly digital
In recent years, travelers have had to complete more and more procedures before departure. Electronic visas, ETA-type travel authorizations, digital arrival cards and online health or customs declarations are now part of the international travel experience.
This shift to digital systems does not automatically mean that artificial intelligence is making decisions instead of a consular or border officer. A digital arrival card, an e-Visa portal or an electronic travel authorization is not necessarily AI. However, these tools generate and centralize data that can later be cross-checked, analyzed or used by automated systems.
For travelers, this evolution makes consistency increasingly important. A mistake in a passport number, an approximate date or a discrepancy between a ticket, a form and a visa application may become more visible in interconnected systems.
This transformation is not limited to the most technologically advanced countries. Many destinations are seeking to modernize their entry procedures, sometimes to reduce waiting lines, sometimes to better understand traveler flows, and sometimes to strengthen checks before arrival.
Visas, ETAs and biometrics: early use cases are already here
The most concrete uses first concern identity and checks. Automated gates, biometric controls, facial recognition and fingerprint matching are already part of border modernization.
In the European Union, the Entry/Exit System (EES) illustrates this shift. The system electronically records the entries and exits of third-country nationals traveling for short stays, using data from travel documents, as well as a facial image and, in some cases, fingerprints. ETIAS will later add a prior electronic travel authorization for visa-exempt travelers visiting the European countries covered by the system.
Outside Europe, other countries have already introduced or strengthened similar systems: pre-travel electronic authorizations, digital arrival cards, e-Visa portals, automated airport checks, traveler databases and online document verification.
AI can play a role at several points in this chain. It can help analyze documents, detect anomalies, improve the information provided to travelers, route certain applications or anticipate travel flows. It can also be used in more sensitive areas, such as asylum management, returns, population movement forecasting and labor migration.
Faster procedures, but not without concerns
One of the main arguments in favor of these technologies is efficiency. A well-designed system can reduce processing times, avoid duplication, speed up checks and improve access to information. For frequent travelers, that can mean less paperwork, shorter waits and clearer procedures.
But that promise depends heavily on the quality of the system. A poorly explained digital formality, an inaccessible portal, a technical error or an automated decision that is difficult to understand can instead make the traveler’s journey more complicated.
The World Economic Forum also highlights a more subtle risk: digital exclusion. Not all travelers have the same access to a smartphone, a stable internet connection, documents that can be easily digitized or the digital skills needed to complete online procedures. Literacy, disability, legal status, geographic location and financial resources can also affect a person’s ability to use these tools properly.
For some people, digital formalities make travel easier. For others, they can become an additional barrier. A process designed only for a connected, well-equipped traveler who is comfortable with online forms risks leaving behind those who need clearer guidance the most.
There are also legal and ethical questions. The data used in travel formalities is sensitive: identity, nationality, passport details, photos, fingerprints, itinerary, purpose of travel, professional or family information. Its processing raises questions about security, transparency, retention and accountability.
Europe’s artificial intelligence framework also recognizes the particular sensitivity of uses related to migration, asylum and border management. Some systems may be considered high-risk when they are used, for example, to assist in the review of visa applications, residence permits or international protection claims.
Who is responsible when something goes wrong?
Accountability becomes more complex as systems become more digital. Travel formalities are not always designed, hosted or operated solely by public administrations.
Technology providers, private platforms, subcontractors, biometric operators, airlines or partners responsible for data collection may all be involved in the traveler’s journey. The World Economic Forum notes that policymakers need to know not only what a system does, but also who designed it, who owns the data and who is responsible if something goes wrong.
For travelers, this is a very practical question. In the event of an error in a form, denied boarding, a technical block or an inconsistency detected in an application, it is not always clear whom to contact: the destination country’s administration, the airline, the portal provider, the visa center or technical support.
This fragmentation can create confusion, especially when authorization obtained before departure does not automatically guarantee entry into the country. A valid ETA, e-Visa or arrival card often allows a traveler to travel to the checkpoint, but the final decision generally remains with border authorities.
A border increasingly prepared before departure
The border is no longer limited to an airport counter or a port checkpoint. It often begins before the trip, when a passenger fills out a form, applies for an electronic authorization, shares data with an airline or receives a digital validation.
This evolution changes the relationship between travelers and the administration. A travel formality is no longer just a document to present. It becomes a set of data to submit, verify, compare and sometimes reuse throughout the journey.
The WEF also refers to the use of AI in forecasting migration flows. These tools can help governments and their partners better anticipate population movements, plan services and organize certain operational responses. Here again, technology does not eliminate uncertainty, but it can make that uncertainty more usable for earlier decision-making.
For travelers, this evolution makes it even more important to prepare their paperwork carefully. It is no longer only about knowing whether a visa is required. Travelers must also identify the correct platform, meet deadlines, provide consistent information, keep digital confirmations and understand the exact role of each authorization.
This evolution also affects travel professionals, airlines, specialized agencies and companies that support international mobility. The more digital these systems become, the more essential official, up-to-date and properly interpreted information becomes.
AI will also reshape labor migration
The World Economic Forum also highlights AI’s impact on labor migration. Systems that match professional profiles, skills and labor market needs could play an increasingly important role in migration policies.
Some countries may make greater use of digital tools to identify sectors facing shortages, direct skilled workers or speed up certain procedures. Conversely, automation could reduce labor demand in sectors where migrant workers are highly represented, such as hospitality, transportation, retail, health care, education and certain services.
This dimension goes beyond tourism. It shows that AI will not only transform how people enter a country, but also how governments organize mobility, select profiles, anticipate needs and structure migration policies.
The WEF also mentions AI’s impact on narratives around migration. These tools can amplify false information or hostile narratives, but they can also help detect disinformation and promote more reliable information. For travelers as well as candidates for international mobility, access to clear and verified information is therefore becoming even more important.
