US to Require Visa-Exempt Visitors to Submit Five-Year Social Media History

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is moving to mandate that visa-exempt foreign tourists disclose their social media history from the past five years before entering the country, according to a notice published in the Federal Register on Tuesday.

The proposal targets travellers from 42 nations—including the UK, France, Australia, and Japan—who currently enter the U.S. without a visa and instead apply through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). At present, ESTA applicants only provide basic personal information.

Under the new plan, providing social media account details would become a mandatory requirement for ESTA approval. Applicants would also be required to submit additional “high-value data fields,” including:

• Phone numbers used over the last five years
• Email addresses from the past ten years
• Personal information about family members
• Biometric data

The public has been given 60 days to comment on the proposed policy.

The move is part of the Trump administration’s broader tightening of U.S. entry regulations amid a stricter stance on immigration.

The proposal comes as the United States prepares to co-host the 2026 World Cup with Mexico and Canada, an event expected to draw a massive influx of international visitors.

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