Stricter U.S. entry rules are calling for social media and email history.
The Trump administration is considering a significant tightening of U.S. border rules that could impact millions of travellers from visa-exempt countries.
As part of an ongoing border crackdown, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has proposed new entry requirements that would force visitors from several Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries to disclose extensive personal data—including five years of social media history.
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The proposal, now published in the Federal Register, is open for public comment for 60 days.
It comes shortly after the U.S. temporarily halted immigration applications from 19 “high-risk countries of concern.”
Do they check your social media when entering the U.S.?
While most Canadians will not be directly affected—Canada is not part of the VWP and its citizens generally do not need an ESTA—travellers from more than three dozen VWP countries could face stricter screening.
These include countries such as France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Israel, and the United Kingdom.
Visitors from these countries currently use the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) to enter the United States for trips under 90 days.
The ESTA system requires basic biographical information, passport details, and eligibility questions, and approved applications are typically valid for two years.
What changes are being proposed?
U.S. officials want to retire the ESTA website and transition to a new app.
Under the updated requirements, travellers would have to provide:
- Five years of social media history
- Ten years of email addresses
- Five years of phone numbers
- Detailed information about family members, including addresses and contact numbers
U.S. authorities have not yet explained how travellers would be required to submit their social media data.
Are any Canadians impacted?
For most Canadians, the answer is no.
Canadian passport holders can still enter the United States without an ESTA.
Only a small number of Canadians applying for specialized visa categories—such as the E-1/E-2 investor visas or the K-1 fiancé visa—must undergo more rigorous processing at U.S. consulates.
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