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Australians, New Zealanders and citizens of more than 40 visa-exempt countries may soon have to provide five years of social media history to enter the United States, under a new Trump administration proposal. The plan would make social media disclosure compulsory for ESTA applications, bringing the process in line with tourist visa requirements introduced in 2019.
US to require social media history from visa-free visitors
Australians, New Zealanders and citizens of more than 40 visa-exempt countries may soon have to provide five years of social media history to enter the United States, under a new Trump administration proposal.
The plan would make social media disclosure compulsory for ESTA applications, bringing the process in line with tourist visa requirements introduced in 2019. Travellers would also need to supply phone numbers, email addresses, some family details and biometric data.
The proposal is open for public comment for 60 days.
The move is part of a wider tightening of US immigration rules, which already require student and soon H-1B visa applicants to make their social media profiles public. Experts warn the expanded vetting could deter online criticism of the US, and some fear it may affect travel to major events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
