The US can require a five-year media history from tourists before allowing entry
Visitors from Europe and other regions may be asked to provide a five-year media history before entering the United States, according to a new request from US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The new rule will affect visitors from countries that normally enjoy easy entry into the US through the electronic travel authorization system (ESTA).
The new proposal reflects an executive order issued by President Trump since January titled “Protecting the United States from international terrorism and other threats to national and public security.” In his first year in office, Trump has been hyper-focused on strengthening US borders and reducing what he calls illegal immigration.
The US State Department will conduct “Internet presence” reviews of applicants and their dependents and require privacy settings on social media profiles to be made “public.” Applicants must list all social media visitors used in the last five years and if any information is left out, it can lead to the denial of current and future visas. CBP didn’t say what information they were looking for or what would be inadmissible.
In addition to contact information, CBP may require phone numbers and email addresses used in the last five to 10 consecutive years, as well as information on family members.
The new conditions are responsible for increasing the waiting times of esta and significantly increase the cost of enforcement. The CPB document suggests that 5,598,115 additional hours would be required per year, or about 3,000 full-time workers and all the costs involved. Currently, the ESTA application costs $40, allows people to visit the US for 90 days at a time and is valid for two years.
Mandatory communication reporting and other requirements can discourage travelers. Some Australian tourists coming to the US for the upcoming World Cup have now said they have scaled back those plans, according to Caretaker, with one person calling the new rules “scary.”
However, when asked if the proposal could lead to a decline in US tourism, Trump said he was not affected. “No. We are doing very well,” he told a reporter. “We want to make sure we don’t let the wrong people into our country.”
The CPB emphasized that the new conditions are a timely proposition. “Nothing has changed on this front for those coming to the United States [currently]” said the spokesperson of the company The BBC. “This is not a final rule, it’s just a first step to start a conversation about new policy options to keep the American people safe.”
If implemented, the law will affect people from 40 countries, including the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Australia and Japan. The largest number of visitors to the US come from Canada and Mexico, accounting for almost half of the total – However, visitors with passports from these two countries do not need a visa or ESTA permit. Travel to the US was down three percent this year compared to 2024 through August 2025, according to the National Travel and Tourism Housis.
