AirAsia, a leading low-cost carrier in Asia, has launched an innovative Auto Visa Check (AVC) feature to streamline the check-in process for international flights. Unveiled on April 16, 2025, this service is available through the AirAsia MOVE app and airasia.com, allowing travelers to verify their visas or Electronic Travel Authorizations (ETAs) online, eliminating the need for manual checks at airport counters. Designed to enhance convenience and reduce airport queues, this feature marks a significant step in AirAsia’s commitment to digital transformation and traveler-centric innovation. This article explores the details of the AVC feature, its benefits, limitations, and its impact on international travel in 2025.
The Need for Streamlined Visa Verification
International travel often involves navigating complex visa requirements, which can lead to delays and stress at airports. Traditionally, passengers on international routes requiring visas or ETAs had to present their documents at check-in counters for manual verification, causing long queues and potential boarding delays. This process was particularly cumbersome for travelers to countries with stringent entry protocols, such as Australia, Sri Lanka, or the United Arab Emirates.
The Auto Visa Check feature addresses these challenges by integrating visa verification into the online check-in process. By automating a critical step, AirAsia reduces the workload on airport staff, minimizes congestion at check-in counters, and offers passengers a faster, more efficient travel experience. This innovation aligns with the growing demand for contactless and digital solutions in air travel, especially in the post-pandemic era where efficiency and safety remain priorities.
How the Auto Visa Check Feature Works
The AVC feature is user-friendly and accessible, designed to fit seamlessly into AirAsia’s existing digital platforms. Here’s a step-by-step guide to using it:
- Access the Platform: Open the AirAsia MOVE app or visit airasia.com to begin the check-in process. Both platforms offer intuitive interfaces for a smooth experience.
- Select Your Flight: Choose the international flight you wish to check in for, available from 14 days to one hour before departure.
- Verify Your Visa: When prompted, scan the visa sticker in your passport or upload an electronic visa (e-visa) or ETA. The system verifies the document in real-time.
- Receive Your Boarding Pass: If the visa is valid, an electronic boarding pass is issued instantly, allowing you to proceed to boarding without further checks. If verification fails, passengers must visit the airport counter for manual processing.
Currently, the AVC feature is limited to travelers with multiple-entry visas, as single or double-entry visas require manual verification at the airport. This restriction ensures compliance with international regulations while the system is refined for broader applicability.
Key Benefits of Auto Visa Check
The AVC feature offers several advantages for travelers, airport operations, and AirAsia’s service model. Below are its primary benefits:
Faster Check-In Process
By enabling visa verification during online check-in, AVC eliminates the need for passengers to queue at airport counters for document checks. This can save significant time, especially during peak travel periods like holidays or festivals.
Reduced Airport Congestion
With fewer passengers requiring manual verification, check-in counters and immigration areas experience less crowding. This improves operational efficiency and enhances the overall airport experience.
Enhanced Traveler Convenience
Passengers can complete visa checks from anywhere—home, work, or on the go—up to 14 days in advance. This flexibility reduces last-minute stress and allows travelers to focus on their journey.
Digital Innovation
The AVC feature underscores AirAsia’s leadership in travel technology. Named the “World’s Best Low-Cost Airline for 2025” by AirlineRatings.com with a 7-star safety rating, AirAsia continues to prioritize tech-driven solutions to meet modern traveler expectations.
Cost Efficiency for Airports
By shifting visa verification online, airports can allocate staff to other critical tasks, reducing operational costs and improving resource management. This is particularly beneficial for smaller airports with limited infrastructure.
Limitations and Considerations
While the AVC feature is a significant advancement, it has some limitations that travelers should be aware of:
- Multiple-Entry Visa Restriction: As of May 2025, AVC is only available for multiple-entry visas. Travelers with single or double-entry visas must still undergo manual checks at the airport, limiting the feature’s reach.
- Technical Dependence: The system relies on accurate scanning or uploading of visa documents. Technical issues, such as poor image quality or system glitches, could necessitate manual verification.
- Route-Specific Applicability: AVC is designed for international routes requiring visas or ETAs, such as flights to Australia, Thailand, or the UAE. It does not apply to domestic flights or visa-free destinations.
- Verification Failures: If a visa cannot be verified online due to discrepancies or system limitations, passengers must visit the airport counter, which could cause delays for unprepared travelers.
AirAsia has acknowledged these constraints and is working to expand the feature’s compatibility with single and double-entry visas in future updates. The airline also recommends travelers ensure their visa documents are clear and up-to-date to avoid verification issues.
Impact on International Travel in 2025
The launch of AVC comes at a time when global travel is rebounding, with Asia-Pacific leading the recovery. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), air passenger numbers in 2025 are expected to surpass 4.7 billion, with Asia-Pacific airlines projected to carry 1.8 billion passengers. Features like AVC are critical to managing this surge, as they reduce bottlenecks at airports and enhance passenger satisfaction.
AirAsia’s initiative also aligns with broader industry trends toward digitalization. Airlines like Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways have introduced contactless check-in and biometric boarding, while AirAsia’s AVC focuses specifically on visa verification, a pain point for international travelers. By addressing this niche, AirAsia sets a new standard for low-cost carriers, proving that affordability and innovation can coexist.
The feature is particularly impactful for AirAsia’s key markets, including India, Malaysia, Thailand, and Australia. For instance, Indian travelers to Thailand—a popular destination with ETA requirements—can use AVC to bypass manual checks, saving time at busy airports like Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi. Similarly, Australians traveling to Sri Lanka, which requires an ETA, benefit from the streamlined process.
AirAsia’s Broader Digital Transformation
The AVC feature is part of AirAsia’s ongoing digital transformation strategy. In 2024, the airline processed over 80 million passengers across its network, a 20% increase from 2023, driven by expanded routes and technological upgrades. The AirAsia MOVE app, which integrates flight bookings, check-in, and ancillary services, has been downloaded by over 10 million users, reflecting strong adoption of its digital platforms.
Recent AirAsia innovations include:
- Facial Recognition Boarding: Rolled out at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in 2024, allowing faster boarding without physical documents.
- AI-Powered Chatbots: Enhanced customer service through real-time query resolution on the MOVE app.
- Dynamic Pricing: Improved fare flexibility, making travel more affordable during off-peak periods.
The AVC feature builds on these advancements, reinforcing AirAsia’s position as a tech-forward airline. Its brand value, which rose 66% to $1.9 billion in 2025 according to Brand Finance, reflects growing consumer trust and market strength.
Challenges and Future Outlook
Despite its benefits, the AVC feature faces challenges that could affect its adoption:
- Scalability: Expanding AVC to cover single and double-entry visas requires integration with global immigration databases, which vary by country and may pose technical hurdles.
- User Education: Travelers unfamiliar with digital check-in may need guidance to use AVC effectively. AirAsia plans to launch tutorials and in-app prompts to address this.
- Geopolitical Factors: Recent airspace restrictions, such as India’s closure to Pakistani aircraft in April 2025, have disrupted regional travel. While AVC is unaffected, such events highlight the need for airlines to adapt to unpredictable conditions.
Looking ahead, AirAsia aims to enhance AVC by integrating it with biometric verification and expanding its applicability to all visa types. Partnerships with immigration authorities could further streamline the process, potentially allowing real-time visa approvals for select destinations. As global travel demand grows, features like AVC will be crucial to maintaining efficiency and competitiveness.
Tips for Using Auto Visa Check
To maximize the benefits of AVC, travelers should follow these tips:
- Check Visa Eligibility: Confirm that your visa is a multiple-entry type before attempting online verification.
- Ensure Document Clarity: Use high-quality scans or photos of your visa to avoid verification failures.
- Plan Ahead: Complete check-in early (up to 14 days in advance) to address any issues well before your flight.
- Monitor Flight Updates: Recent geopolitical events, like airspace closures, may affect flight routes. Check AirAsia’s website or app for real-time updates.
- Contact Support: If verification fails, reach out to AirAsia’s customer service via the MOVE app for assistance.
Conclusion
AirAsia’s Auto Visa Check feature is a game-changer for international travel, offering a faster, more convenient way to verify visas and check in online. By reducing airport queues and enhancing efficiency, it caters to the needs of modern travelers while showcasing AirAsia’s commitment to innovation. Although limited to multiple-entry visas for now, the feature has the potential to transform the check-in experience as it evolves. For passengers flying to visa-dependent destinations across Asia and beyond, AVC is a step toward stress-free travel. Download the AirAsia MOVE app or visit airasia.com to experience this cutting-edge feature on your next international flight.
