Border control in the United States is undergoing a major change. The United States will now proceed with the verification of travelers' history on social media. This decision marks a turning point in the management of internal security.
A notice was published by the Federal Register, the official journal of the United States federal government. The Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection have revised the arrival/departure record (Form I-94) and the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). Since October 12, 2025, and over a period of 60 days, new measures may be implemented by the authorities.
This new requirement specifically targets travel authorization request procedure (ESTA). As a reminder, this travel requirement is essential for citizens of countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program. While the ESTA already served as a security filter, the U.S. authorities are adding an additional check by reviewing applicants’ online activity.
What changes are being considered?
The ESTA mobile app: the only online application platform. The official website esta.cbp.dhs.gov should be out of service in order to favor a single channel for obtaining ESTA.
The requirement to provide a photo ID of the traveler for the ESTA application. This measure is already in place for obtaining the ESTA via the website or mobile app. You must therefore add your ID photo or selfie to the form, in addition to the main page of your passport copy. When applying via the mobile app, you will be required to take a photo directly from your phone. This photo will then be compared with the one you provided at the beginning of the application process.
Following Presidential Decree 14161, signed in January 2025: Protecting the United States from foreign terrorists and other threats to national security and public safety, data concerning social media accounts on Form ESTA will now be mandatory. Travelers will be required to provide their social media profiles for the past five years.
In order to comply with the executive order, Form ESTA will be updated, and here are the new high value-added data fields :
- Phone numbers used in the last five years
- Email addresses used over the past ten years
- IP addresses and metadata of electronically submitted photos
- Names of family members (parents, spouse, siblings, children)
- Family phone numbers used in the last five years
- Dates, places of birth, and residential addresses of family members
- Business phone numbers used in the last five years
- Professional email addresses used over the past ten years
With regard to the departure form (I-94), travelers affected by this measure will be able to declare their departure from the country using the app. CBP Home Mobile Application. It will therefore be possible to add a photo taken live, and departure will be verified and recorded biometrically by the US authorities.
What's changing for travelers
In practical terms, obtaining authorization will no longer depend solely on traditional administrative or judicial databases. The U.S. authorities intend to analyze new data on social media travelers to validate their entry into their territory. The aim is to detect potential risk profiles through their posts, interactions, or digital affiliations even before they depart. Border security is becoming increasingly stringent, and it is necessary to comply with these new measures in order to obtain the ESTA electronic travel authorization.
Over the next three years, from new countries could join the visa waiver program and become eligible to obtain the ESTA.
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