by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 8:40 AM ET, Sat December 13, 2025
The proposal by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Department of Homeland Security that would require international visitors wanting to head to the United States to share the past five years of their social media history also might add a more invasive piece of information to entry requirements: travelers’ DNA.
According to the proposal, which is listed as OMB Control Number 1651-0111 in the Federal Register, and is currently in a public commenting period, the CBP would add several “high value data fields” to the ESTA application process, in addition to whatever data fields are already required, such as passport info.
The new fields that could be added are more invasive compared to the typical name, date of birth and passport information.
These include telephone numbers used in the past five years, including business phone numbers; email addresses used in the last ten years, including business emails; IP addresses and metadata from electronically submitted photos and the names, telephone number history, dates of birth, places of birth and residencies of family members, including parents, spouse, siblings and children.
Lastly: it also adds biometrics, including face, fingerprints, iris—and DNA.
The proposed changes would also remove Romania from the Visa Waiver Program and add Qatar to the list of countries whose visitors wouldn’t need to apply for an ESTA to visit.
It’s not hard to imagine how people wanting to visit the United States might react to the new requirement, should it be approved. Fear of a foreign government requiring such personal information might reduce the number of ESTA applicants and therefore, reduce the number of international visitors to the United States.
Leigh Barnes, Intrepid Travel’s President, The Americas, spoke out against the proposed plan.
“Tourism relies on things being well organized. Make visiting more of a hassle, and people simply won’t come,” Barnes cautioned. “If this proposal goes through, we could see real flow-on effects for airlines, hotels, tour operators, and the small businesses and communities that depend on international visitors.
“The U.S. is a big draw— but travelers today have plenty of other options, and they’ll pick destinations that feel welcoming and straightforward to get into. We saw it play out over the summer when travel from Canada dipped noticeably, and this latest move could create that same kind of barrier for other key markets too.”
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