The United States is preparing to introduce a new requirement for certain foreign tourists, including citizens of countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP): the submission of five years of social media history as part of their travel authorization process. The proposal, announced by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), marks a significant expansion of digital scrutiny for international visitors at a time when the Trump administration is tightening immigration and travel policies.

According to the public notice released on Wednesday, travelers from nations such as the United Kingdom, Australia, France, and Japan would be required to provide detailed information on their online presence when applying to the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). The new measure, currently open to a 60-day public comment period, is not yet final but is expected to become a mandatory component of the screening process.

If implemented, the social media disclosure would become a “mandatory data element” for ESTA applicants, who currently pay a $40 fee to enter the U.S. for stays of up to 90 days.

In addition to social media usernames, CBP plans to collect a range of personal identifiers deemed “high-value data fields.” These include email addresses used during the past ten years, phone numbers from the past five years, and the names and biographical details of immediate family members. According to CBP, these expanded data points will allow authorities to more effectively vet potential travelers and assess security risks.

The proposed rule also introduces a requirement for applicants to upload a recent photograph or “selfie.” Officials argue that this measure will strengthen identity verification processes and help ensure that the person submitting the application is the rightful holder of the travel documents used to request authorization.

This policy shift reflects a broader effort by President Donald Trump to restrict foreign travel amid heightened security concerns. The administration has introduced several measures in recent months, including the expansion of a travel ban that now targets more than 30 countries. The escalation follows an incident in which a man from Afghanistan was accused of shooting two National Guard members near the White House, prompting the president to vow stricter immigration rules and to blame the previous administration for what he described as weak border controls.

Under the expanded restrictions, travel from countries such as Afghanistan, Somalia, Iran, and Haiti is now heavily limits unless applicants can meet stricter vetting requirements. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended the policy, arguing that the U.S. cannot admit travelers from nations that cannot reliably verify the identities of their citizens.

As of now, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has not commented further on the timeline for implementing the new screening requirements. However, if enacted, the policy would represent one of the most extensive digital vetting systems applied to foreign tourists entering the United States.