Hampshire, UK – 13th July 2026: A new study by global tech strategists Juniper Research revealed that the number of passengers to adopt digital travel credentials (DTC) globally is set to surpass 1.2 billion by 2035; up from 105.4 million in 2027, growth of over 1,000%.
The report identified rising passenger demand for seamless border experiences will drive long-term adoption, as frustration with current border practices, such as the European Entry/Exit System (EES), increases. Also, nations are collaborating on international standards, alongside national digital identity schemes, with digital travel credentials anticipated to expand beyond early deployments.
“The technical components of biometric travel are ready, and governments are increasingly recognising the value of interoperable digital identity frameworks. While reciprocal trust between sovereign nations remains complex, growing collaboration around international standards and bilateral agreements will enable digital travel credentials to scale globally.” noted report author Shane O’Sullivan.
An extract from the new report, Digital Travel Credential Market 2026-2035, is now available as a free download.
From Theory to Practice: Bilateral DTC Trials
To deliver the frictionless experience, initiatives such as the EU’s APTITUDE consortium and Singapore’s passport-free biometric clearance demonstrate how nations are building legal foundations to securely share data and eliminate physical queues. Progress remains incremental, as full roll out of a digital, fully passport-free credential is not expected until 2040; leaving physical passports as a necessary fallback.
The technical blueprint for seamless travel is largely complete, with proven biometric matching pilots. The remaining challenge is whether sovereign states can synchronise their borders fast enough for passenger expectations. The future of global mobility depends not on software, but how quickly nations can co-author trust frameworks.
The new market research suite offers the most comprehensive assessment of the digital travel credential market to date; providing market analysis and forecasts of 72,500 datapoints over a 10-year period. It includes a ‘Competitor Leaderboard’ and examination of current and future market opportunities.
About Juniper Research
Juniper Research is a global tech strategist firm providing research, data, and forecasting across the fintech, telecoms, and IoT sectors. For over 20 years, Juniper Research has delivered actionable insights that help industry leaders navigate disruption, seize opportunities, and make confident strategic decisions. www.juniperresearch.com
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