New US Policy Requires Social Media History from Visa-Exempt Tourists: What You Need to Know

The Trump administration has introduced stricter regulations for entry into the United States.

United States:

President Donald Trump's administration is proposing that foreign tourists who are exempt from visa requirements must disclose their social media history from the previous five years before entering the country, according to an official announcement.

The proposal, outlined in a notice published on Tuesday in the Federal Register, would affect visitors from 42 countries, including Britain, France, Australia, and Japan, who currently enjoy visa-free travel to the United States.

At present, these travelers only need to apply for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) waiver, which requires certain personal information.

Under the newly proposed regulations, providing social media history would become a "mandatory" component of ESTA applications.

Applicants would be required to disclose their social media activities from the past five years, as stated in the notice.

Additionally, they would need to submit other "high-value data fields" including telephone numbers from the last five years, email addresses from the previous decade, personal information about family members, and biometric data.

The public has a 60-day period to comment on this proposal.

The Trump administration has implemented tighter restrictions on entering the United States as part of a comprehensive crackdown on migration.

The United States, along with Mexico and Canada, is scheduled to host the 2026 World Cup, which will undoubtedly attract large numbers of soccer enthusiasts from around the globe.