US Expands ESTA Checks to Include Five Years of Social Media

(U N I T E D S T A T E S) U.S. border officials have proposed sweeping new social media checks for millions of short‑term visitors, moving to require every traveler using the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) to hand over five years of social media history as part of the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) process. The plan, published in the Federal Register on December 9–10, 2025, would affect tourists from the U.K., South Korea, France and about 40 other countries that now enter the United States 🇺🇸 without a regular visa.

Summary of the proposal

• Under the proposal from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), providing social media information would no longer be optional for VWP travelers.
• Applicants through the online ESTA portal would be required to list all social media “identifiers” used in the past five years (usernames, handles, etc.).
• CBP says the change is intended to tighten security screening and detect possible threats earlier in the travel process, before passengers board flights to the United States.

Expanded data collection: what would be required

CBP’s notice describes a much broader set of data to be collected from visa‑free visitors, including:

• Social media identifiers for the past five years (usernames/handles on major platforms).
• Email addresses used in the last ten years.
• Telephone numbers used over the past five years.
• Names, birthdates, addresses and phone numbers for close family members, including parents, spouses, siblings and children.

These additions would greatly widen the circle of people whose information ends up in U.S. government databases.

Biometrics expansion

The proposal points to an expanded role for biometrics beyond current practices:

• Existing fingerprints and photos taken at many ports of entry would remain part of the process.
• CBP says it may collect additional biometric data such as face images, iris scans and possibly DNA, though the notice does not give technical details.
• A fresh selfie photo would become a standard part of every ESTA application, tying a real‑time image to the broader digital and personal history supplied by each traveler.

Fees and current ESTA basics

• The core ESTA fee remains $40, and CBP has said that amount will not change under the new rule.
• However, separate visa applicants who do not use the VWP would face a new $250 “integrity fee” intended to fund border security, increasing the cost gap between visa‑free travelers and those applying for a full visa.
• Current ESTA applications generally collect passport details, basic contact information and emergency contacts; the proposal would add the items listed above.

Timeline and how to comment

• CBP published the proposal in the Federal Register and opened a 60‑day public comment period starting December 9–10, 2025.
• During that window, individuals, airlines, travel groups and civil liberties organizations can submit feedback before the agency issues a final rule.
• The official notice is linked from the CBP ESTA portal: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/

Analysis and external perspective

• According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the move marks one of the largest single expansions of data demanded from visa‑free visitors in the program’s history.

Reactions and potential impacts

• Travel industry leaders and privacy advocates warn the plan could chill international tourism at a sensitive moment.
• The New York Times has reported that opponents fear millions of potential visitors may refuse to hand over years of social media history and detailed family information to a foreign government.
• With the 2026 World Cup expected to bring huge crowds to North America, tourism officials worry intrusive screening could push fans to spend less time, or no time at all, in the United States.

Civil liberties concerns

• Civil liberties groups argue that demanding five years of social media history risks punishing people for lawful speech.
• Even if officials focus on security threats, travelers may worry that posts about politics, religion or social movements could be misunderstood.
• Critics say this may lead people to:
  • Delete old accounts
  • Trim friend lists
  • Avoid discussing sensitive topics online
• These pressures may feel especially sharp for activists, journalists and minority communities.

Government and security arguments

Supporters inside government highlight perceived benefits:
– More contact points and online identifiers could help officers confirm a traveler’s identity and spot stolen or fake passports.
– Family member details could enable a fuller picture of travel patterns and possible links to crime or terrorism.
– Expanded biometrics are presented as a tool to cut fraud at crowded airports and seaports.

Key takeaway: The proposal aims to expand pre‑entry screening capabilities, but it raises significant privacy and tourism‑impact concerns that are likely to spur public debate and legal scrutiny.

Historical context

• The push for broader social media checks did not begin with this administration.
• Under President Trump, the State Department started asking almost all visa applicants worldwide to list social media accounts, email addresses and phone numbers from recent years.
• That prior requirement mainly applied to full‑visa applicants, not to tourists using the VWP.
• The CBP proposal would extend similar scrutiny to short‑term visitors who previously faced a far lighter digital footprint review through ESTA.

What travelers should know now

• The proposal does not immediately change traveler requirements.
• People planning trips in late 2025 or 2026 may see a very different ESTA form when they apply.
• Each year, tens of millions of citizens from participating countries rely on the VWP instead of applying for a regular visa. Many are repeat visitors who assumed a valid passport and a few basic answers would be sufficient.

Next steps and likely outcomes

• Over the next two months (from publication), airlines, foreign governments and rights groups are expected to:
  • Study the Federal Register notice
  • Decide whether to file objections or suggest changes
• Possible requests from stakeholders could include:
  • Limiting how long social media data is retained
  • Narrowing which platforms must be reported
  • Urging lawmakers to intervene if costs to tourism, exchange and family visits outweigh claimed security gains

Final note

For millions of would‑be visitors, the outcome of this rulemaking will shape how private their lives remain at the border and whether routine travel to the United States will require a far larger digital and biometric footprint than it does today.