Photo: cottonbroThe United States is preparing to tighten its entry rules for millions of visitors, with authorities planning to make social media checks a mandatory part of entering the country.
According to Bloomberg, U.S. Customs and Border Protection intends to require all visa-waiver travelers to submit the social media accounts they have used over the past five years.
The change would apply to visitors from countries like the UK, Japan, Australia, and most of Europe, who currently enter the U.S. with a visa through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization.
US plans to make tourist social media checks mandatory
The U.S. has previously asked travelers for social media details, but only on an optional basis. ESTA forms have included a voluntary field for account names since 2016, while full visa applicants have been required to disclose five years of social media history since 2019.
However, the new proposal would be the first time this level of screening becomes compulsory for visa-free visitors.
Photo: nappyU.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) says the expanded checks are part of wider identity verification and security-screening updates. Under the plan, travelers would need to list the handles or account names they’ve used across platforms such as X, Instagram, and Facebook before their ESTA can be approved.
The proposal has not yet taken effect and must go through a formal rulemaking process before becoming mandatory.
If pushed ahead soon, it may create issues for travelers wanting to enter the country for the 2026 World Cup, which is being hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
For now, ESTA applications remain unchanged, but visitors heading to the U.S. may soon have to prepare for more detailed digital disclosures at the border.