Newsroom
Visitors from dozens of countries, including Greece, who travel to the United States under the visa-free program may soon face new entry requirements: authorities could ask them to provide their social media history for the past five years.
The proposal, filed by the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, would also require travelers to submit the phone numbers and email addresses they have used over the last five and 10 years, respectively, along with more detailed family information.
Currently, tourists from the 42 countries eligible for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, or ESTA, provide limited personal information and pay a $40 fee. The new rules would significantly expand that process, although officials have not yet specified exactly what social media details would be required.
The policy is part of the Trump administration’s broader push to strengthen U.S. border security. A similar requirement already exists for foreigners applying for student visas or H1B work visas, which carry higher fees.
Officials say the move comes ahead of major international events expected to bring large crowds to the U.S., including the 2026 men’s soccer World Cup across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, and the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Critics, however, have raised privacy concerns, warning that such sweeping social media checks could discourage tourism and raise questions about how personal data would be stored and used.
