Is simplified access to the U.S. territory living its very last hours for travelers from the European Union? The US administration has given the European Union a clear ultimatum: sign the new Border Security Partnership Program (BSPP) by December 31, 2026, or lose access to the Visa Waiver Program (ESTA).
The American ultimatum: What is the EBSP?
Currently, citizens of 24 European Union countries benefit from Visa Waiver Program of the United States. It allows travel to the United States for tourism or business with a simple electronic travel authorization, the’ESTA, obtained quickly online. Today, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is demanding that the European Union join the’Enhanced Border Security Partnership (EBSP).
In concrete terms, Washington is demanding direct, algorithmic access to member states’ national police databases. If approved, U.S. immigration officials will be able to cross-reference the profiles of ESTA applicants with :
- Sensitive biometric data (fingerprints, facial recognition images).
- Local criminal record.
- Information on mere suspects (non-convicted persons on file).
The deadline is December 31, 2026. Without a bilateral agreement in place by this date, the ESTA program could be suspended altogether for European countries that refuse to share the program.
Data protection: The conflict with European law
The U.S. request runs into a legal wall in Europe, cradle of the RGPD. The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS), Wojciech Wiewiórowski, as well as independent watchdog organizations like Statewatch, are sounding the alarm on several critical points:
Unprecedented biometric sharing : This would be the first European agreement to authorize such large-scale transmission of personal data to a third country for border control purposes.
Algorithmic risk: U.S. authorities plan to use automated decision systems to assess a traveler's “risk profile”, a process that offers little immediate human recourse.
The political spectrum: Insufficient safeguards could allow individuals to be blocked on the basis of their activism or political opinions - an absolute red zone for European legislators.
End of ESTA: What impact for European travellers?
If the European Commission's negotiations fail and ESTA disappears, travel logistics will suffer a drastic setback.
💡 Our expert's opinion: “Moving from a simple ESTA exemption to a B1/B2 Visa is not just an administrative detail. It's the end of immediacy for last-minute business stays or transatlantic tourism.”
Here's what will fundamentally change:
Cost multiplied : A ESTA now costs 21 $. A standard visitor visa (B1/B2) costs 185 $.
Considerable delays: To obtain a visa, you need to fill out the cumbersome DS-160 form and, above all, go to the American embassy for an interview.
Transits : Even for a simple stopover in the U.S. (to Canada, Mexico or Latin America), a visa may be required.
Our agency accompanies thousands of travelers with international profiles (from Africa, Asia, the Middle East or Latin America). If you are not currently eligible for ESTA, you may think that this crisis does not concern you. Make no mistake, the impact will be major. If tens of millions of Europeans lose access to ESTA, they will inevitably have to turn to local American consular services (Paris, Brussels, Geneva, Berlin...). As a direct consequence, embassies are immediately saturated. Delays in obtaining a consular appointment, which can already reach several weeks or even months, are likely to explode for all international visa applicants, whatever their nationality.
At the same time, this crisis reflects the worldwide tightening of biometric security. Europe is currently deploying its input/output system (EES) and launch ETIAS (its own “European ESTA”) at the end of 2026. The era of frictionless travel based on the physical passport alone is definitely coming to an end.
✅ Our agency's action plan: How to anticipate?
The December 2026 deadline leaves some room for maneuver. Here are our practical recommendations for safe travel:
Check your articles of association before the end of 2026: An issued ESTA is generally valid for two years. Authorizations approved before a possible suspension could remain viable (subject to DHS arbitration).
Applicants for international B1/B2 visas : Don't wait until next year. If you need to renew your US visa from a European capital, get started now.
Rethink your stopovers: If your future itineraries include transits through U.S. airports, start looking into alternative routes (via Canada or the Middle East) to avoid potential transit complications.
👉 Visit our blog to keep up with the latest news!
English 
Français 
Deutsch 
Italiano 
Español