The United States is considering new travel entry requirements that could reshape international tourism flows by asking foreign visitors to disclose extensive personal data, including up to five years of social media history, as part of visa-waiver processing. The proposal, unveiled by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Homeland Security, would affect tourists from about 40 visa-exempt countries who currently enter under the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), underscoring a shift in screening practices that intersects security and global travel patterns.
Under the plan, travellers from countries such as the UK, France, Japan and Australia would be required to submit details of social media accounts used over the past five years when applying for ESTA authorisation, a process that normally allows stays of up to 90 days without a visa. In addition to social media history, the proposal suggests collecting other personal information, such as telephone numbers used in the last five years and email addresses from the past decade, expanding the scope of data that border authorities could access before entry approvals are granted.
Officials have framed these measures as part of broader efforts to enhance national security vetting by identifying potential risks earlier in the travel authorisation process. Customs and Border Protection’s notice in the Federal Register opens a 60-day comment period before any rule is finalised, reflecting procedural requirements for federal regulation changes. Critics, including privacy and civil liberties advocates, argue that mandating social media disclosure could deter potential visitors, chill free expression and complicate travel planning for many would-be tourists, potentially impacting travel demand.
Travel industry stakeholders and analysts note that the timing of the proposal coincides with the build-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which the U.S., Canada and Mexico will host. That event is expected to attract significant international attendance, and any added entry hurdles could influence visitor decisions and airline bookings. Requiring deeper personal data for otherwise short-stay leisure travellers represents a notable divergence from traditional international travel facilitation, raising questions about how these regulatory shifts will affect long-term tourist flows and the U.S.’s competitiveness as a destination.
