Bootstrapped, borderless, and booming: iVisa emerges as a travel tech leader

A conversation with iVisa co-founders David Perez and Sergio Merino on how we are changing how the world travels.

In the travel tech space, growth is often noisy. But for iVisa, earning a spot on the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 list at number 155 after already appearing on the Inc. 5000 list earlier this year, it's more than just hype.

An achievement like this signals that something deeper is at work: a relentless focus on making travel simpler. That’s precisely where iVisa’s mission started, with a frustrating government website and a moment of clarity.

“Back in 2013, Argentina had just introduced an eVisa requirement for American travelers,” recalls Sergio Merino, COO. “The process was confusing, buggy, and impossible to navigate. That pain became our opportunity: to build a service that was faster, clearer, and more human.”

From fixing one broken form to offering 140+ global visa products

And so, David and Sergio built iVisa, an American-based global travel document platform, to fix what government websites couldn’t by offering the opposite of bureaucracy.

Twelve years later, that commitment hasn’t changed. With a staggering 526% revenue jump from 2021 to 2024, the company now processes millions of applications annually for 200+ nationalities. The company has scaled to more than 400 employees across 15 countries; all without raising a single dollar of outside investment.

Offering application assistance for over 140 document types in 14 languages, and processing tens of thousands of applications each week, that initial spark of frustration has built into an unstoppable machine.

In 2025, when filmmaker Michael Angelo Zervos set out to beat the Guinness World Record by visiting every country on Earth in just 499 days, he turned to iVisa because he knew securing the required documents would be an almost impossible task.

Our team successfully delivered 70+ visas and travel documents Michael needed to accomplish his mission. Some of these were issued in under 24 hours, while others required in-person embassy visits around the world, including for countries where even the most seasoned travelers face major hurdles.

“It was the most extreme test of our system so far,” says David, CEO. “And we passed. Governments set the rules; our job is to make them work for the traveler, because most people don’t want to spend their Saturday decoding a government form. They just want to get where they’re going.”

How one mission drives award-winning growth

That’s why recognition from Deloitte and Inc. 5000 carries weight. These awards validate what we’ve been building all along: a more innovative, reliable, and faster way to move around the world.

The Deloitte Technology Fast 500 shines a spotlight on companies turning complex challenges into clean solutions using technology, by championing those with the fastest growth. For iVisa, that means transforming the chaos of international paperwork into something you can complete in minutes, on any device, in your own language.

The Inc. 5000 acknowledges raw growth, but not the unsustainable kind. The incredible performance between 2021 and 2024 is a testament to our ability to do what most government portals couldn’t, such as fixing broken UX, preventing rejections, and offering real-time support from humans who genuinely care.

“You don’t grow like that unless you’re solving real problems,” says Sergio. “For us, growth is just the side effect of getting it right for each traveler, and our 99% approval rate reflects that.”

Building the future of travel: A human-first approach to AI

A significant part of that success is our commitment to simplicity. Meet Vee, our intelligent travel assistant, who goes beyond support and actively completes the application with the traveler.

“Technology should make the world feel smaller and easier to access, not more complicated,” says Sergio. “Vee helps bridge cultural and geographical divides. It speaks your language, understands your paperwork, and anticipates your needs.”

During the application process, Vee asks follow-up questions, catches missing details, flags common mistakes, and even tweaks uploaded photos on the spot. Travelers say it feels like talking to someone who knows the process inside out, because it does.

This AI-driven approach also allows us to localize applications. Whether a traveler is applying from São Paulo, Nairobi, or Bangkok, our systems adapts instructions, document requirements, and communication style for each local context and in their language. Vee’s support might make the process faster and more simple, however, every application is still checked by a human before it is submitted.

“Vee is powered by AI, but all orders are always reviewed by our experts before submission,” says Sergio. “You get the best of both worlds: speed and accuracy.”

Simply put, we’ve rebuilt the travel document application process from the ground up. It digitizes the paperwork and removes friction before it starts, using:

• AI validation: Checks passport photos and documents instantly, helping travelers avoid preventable automatic rejections.
• Chatbot guidance: Guides users through applications in a simple, conversational format.
• Natural-language processing: Provides real-time support in 14 languages.
• Live monitoring: Notifies the customer of application status updates, tracks visa policy changes, and flags processing issues in real-time.
• Smart queuing: Submits each application at the ideal time for faster approvals.
• Human verification: Every AI-processed application is still checked by experts, blending automation with human review to ensure precision.

“The technology handles volume and complexity, while the people make sure every submission is right,” adds David. “ This balance is what allowed us to scale our operations as quickly as we have.”

For example, when Patrick from Switzerland applied for his UK ETA ahead of his 62nd wedding anniversary trip, the passport photo he uploaded was flagged for lighting and size issues. The AI instantly suggested the necessary corrections, adjusted the image to the correct format, and helped him complete his submission successfully.

From reactive to predictive mobility

As the company looks ahead, its focus is shifting from reactive application processing to predictive mobility management, using aggregated data and machine learning to anticipate regulatory changes, visa waiver trends, and shifts in travel patterns before they occur.

As governments launch new systems, such as ETIAS and digital authorizations, we’re often prepared before the rollout begins. We also launched Ask iVisa, a free, public Q&A service where travelers can ask country-specific visa questions and get expert answers from our support team. Every question and answer is visible for everyone, so anyone can benefit, even if you’re not a customer. It’s already helped over 5,000 people plan their trips.

And then there’s iVisa+, our subscription product, which bundles unlimited applications, faster service, and zero processing fees for frequent travelers. A new model for a new era of mobility.

“We want the visa application process to feel easier than booking a flight,” says David. “That’s the bar.”

Powering peace of mind in a changing world

In a world where travel often feels uncertain, iVisa’s approach is refreshingly clear: solve the hard stuff, show up for people, and never stop improving.

The Deloitte Fast 500 and Inc. awards matter because they not only prove that the model works, but they also recognize the people behind it. A global team, growing without external funding, building tech that makes life easier for millions of travelers around the world.

“We’re not just changing how people get visas,” says Sergio. “We’re changing how they experience travel. When people think of iVisa, we want them to think of peace of mind powered by technology.”

Because when the rules of travel keep shifting, the real power is in knowing someone has already figured it out for you.