Perk becomes the first platform to integrate visas and travel authorisations directly into booking
Business travellers can now check entry requirements, apply for an e-visa or electronic travel authorisation and pay the cost within the Perk platform. The new Entry Ready feature connects travel booking, documentation and expense management in a single process.
Perk has introduced Entry Ready, an AI feature designed to simplify the management of visas and electronic travel authorisations, or ETAs. According to the company, this is the first such process fully integrated into a business travel and expense management platform.
The system compares the itinerary with the data from the passenger's saved passport profile during booking. It then displays the required entry documents and, when the service is available, allows for the purchase of an e-visa or ETA authorisation without leaving the Perk platform.
Over 60 e-visas and authorisations available
Entry Ready was developed in collaboration with Sherpa, technology company specialising in visa and border requirements. More than 60 e-visas and electronic travel authorisations are currently supported, including the US ESTA and the UK ETA.
The first phase of the system was introduced in January 2026. Since then, the function has checked the entry requirements for over 500,000 journeys. The new phase brings integrated payment, so the cost of the document can be settled along with the rest of the booking.
For finance teams, this means unified expense records. Visa fees are shown alongside other travel items, reducing the need for separate payments and subsequent expense claims.
Visa procedures continue to create operational problems
Perk's research among 8,000 business travellers in Europe and the USA showed that 41 per cent of respondents had applied for a visa or ETA approval in the past year. Almost half encountered problems, most commonly with delays in approval.
Forty-seven percent of passengers paid an additional fee for expedited processing, while 36 percent incurred extra travel costs due to visa issues. A third of respondents also cited project delays, and 16 percent had to postpone or cancel a trip.
A new step towards more comprehensive business booking
The integration of visa requirements shows the direction of development for corporate travel platforms. It is no longer enough to bundle flights, hotels, and expenses. Value is increasingly created by removing administrative hurdles that can bring an entire trip to a standstill.
For TMCs, travel managers and finance departments, this model can bring better control, fewer manual checks, and earlier risk recognition. However, travellers still need to check final conditions with the relevant government authorities as entry rules can change quickly.
