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In December, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) published a notice in the Federal Register proposing major changes to the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). Under this proposal, travelers from countries that participate in the Visa Waiver Program will be required to provide their social media usernames, as well as email addresses and phone numbers they have used during the past 5 years.

This would impact 42 countries, including some of our top-tier markets. This proposal aims to align ESTA applications with other nonimmigrant visa applications that already require social media usernames, emails, and phone numbers.

Following this announcement, we have been in contact with policymakers as well as local, state, and national partners to learn more about this proposal and express our concerns.

What we have learned:

  • The requirement is for applicants to provide social media account names or handles, not posts, photos, or opinions. Travelers would not be asked to give the government access to their accounts or make them public. CBP would not conduct reviews of every applicant’s social media activity or content.
  • CBP has been explicit that social media accounts would not be reviewed for comments, posts or activity critical of President Trump or other political leaders. Under the proposal, CBP would collect usernames solely to check them against classified information the government already has.
  • Account names would be used the same way email addresses or phone numbers are used today: simply as identifiers to check against existing government databases. They do not expect this change to slow down ESTA approvals, which typically take 72 hours or less.

Greater Miami and the Beaches remains a premier global destination, but our success depends on the ease, and perception of ease, of international travel. We are concerned that these heightened requirements may create a “chilling effect,” discouraging leisure and business travelers due to privacy concerns or the perception that political views may be evaluated. Furthermore, any changes to traveler perceptions could impact the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where Miami will serve as a host city.

GMBHA is taking this proposal very seriously. There is a 60-day public comment period, through February 9, 2026. We are working with our partners at the US Travel Association, Visit Florida, and GMCVB to coordinate an aligned strategy that may include a formal response during the public comment period and advocacy at all levels.

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