The United States is weighing a new US travel personal data rule that could significantly expand the amount of personal information foreign travellers must submit before entering the country. The US visa waiver proposal, now open for public comments, would affect millions of visitors from 42 countries under the Visa Waiver Program and represents a significant shift in foreign traveller data collection policies.
ESTA New Requirements Under Review
If implemented, the rule would require travellers to provide a detailed digital and personal history as part of their Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) application. These ESTA new requirements include sensitive data that was never previously required for visa-free entry.
According to the proposal, applicants would need to submit:
-
Email addresses used in the past 10 years
-
Social media handles and accounts used over the past 5 years
-
Names, telephone numbers, and residential addresses of close family members
The countries affected include major US partners, such as the United Kingdom, Spain, France, Japan, Germany, and Italy, among others. These nations represent the bulk of annual US tourism and business travel.
DHS Travel Screening Changes: Security Justification
Officials argue that these DHS travel screening changes and expanded background information could strengthen national security screening by giving agencies more tools to verify identities and detect potential risks. Over the last decade, US border and immigration authorities have increasingly relied on digital footprints to assess travel applicants.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says the additional data will allow more accurate vetting while aligning ESTA requirements with the broader non-immigrant visa process, which already collects similar details.
Privacy Concerns and Global Reactions to Foreign Traveller Data Collection
Despite its security rationale, the US travel personal data rule has sparked pushback from privacy advocates and international observers. Critics say the rule could:
-
Create new privacy risks through data exposure or mishandling
-
Discourage legitimate travel due to intrusive foreign traveller data collection
-
Lead to selective enforcement or overreach
-
Put pressure on allied governments to adopt similar systems
Civil liberties groups argue that requesting 10 years of digital history raises questions about necessity and proportionality.
Several partner countries have already requested clarification from Washington, with some raising concerns about how the information will be stored, shared, or used in future investigations.
60-Day Comment Period: US Visa Waiver Proposal Not Yet Final
The US visa waiver proposal is not yet approved. The US government has opened a 60-day public comment period where individuals, organisations, and partner states can submit feedback before a final decision is made.
During this period, DHS and related agencies will review concerns, revise the proposal where necessary, and determine whether to adopt the DHS travel screening changes in full, modify them, or drop them entirely.
What the ESTA New Requirements Mean for Travellers
For now, travellers from Visa Waiver Program countries can continue applying through the current ESTA system without providing the newly proposed information.
If the US travel personal data rule is finalised, future travellers may face:
-
Longer application times
-
More extensive identity verification
-
Stricter screening of online activity
-
Additional delays during immigration assessments
Governments, travel agencies, and airlines are closely monitoring the situation to prepare for potential adjustments. The United States is considering a major expansion of personal data requirements for foreign travellers from 42 countries. The proposed US travel personal data rule would collect a decade of emails, years of social media use, and details about close family members. While the plan aims to improve national security, it raises serious privacy and diplomatic questions. The next 60 days of public commentary will determine whether this US visa waiver proposal becomes law and how these new ESTA requirements will affect global travel.
