German citizens planning travel to the United States may soon need to recall personal data from as far back as five or even ten years. This follows proposed new entry rules from the US government, currently open for public comment until Sunday.
What is Being Proposed?
The changes stem from an order issued by the US Department of Homeland Security in December. The draft requires tourists applying for entry via the electronic travel authorization system (ESTA) to provide significantly more information than previously required. According to a notice in the US government’s official gazette on December 10th, the order will grab effect if not challenged in court within 60 days – a deadline that falls on Sunday.
These new rules apply to tourist visits of up to 90 days and impact travelers from countries allied with the US, including France, Great Britain, Japan, Israel, and Germany.
What Information Will Tourists Need to Provide?
Foreign nationals seeking entry to the US could be required to submit social media information from the past five years, potentially including accounts on platforms like X, Facebook, and Instagram. Travelers may need to provide phone numbers from the last five years and email addresses from the last ten. Information about gender – currently limited to “male” or “female” – and detailed family member data, including dates of birth, addresses, and phone numbers, may similarly be required.
How Will German Tourists Submit This Information?
German citizens do not require a visa for stays of up to 90 days in the US, but they must complete an ESTA application beforehand. This is where the additional private information will be submitted. A valid electronic passport is also required for the duration of the stay. Once approved, an ESTA is valid for two years and allows multiple entries. US authorities recommend applying at least 72 hours before travel, but approval does not guarantee entry.
The cost of an ESTA application recently nearly doubled to 40 dollars (approximately 34 euros), impacting families particularly as even minors must pay the full price. A family of five now faces a total cost of 170 euros for entry into the US.
What is the US Government’s Justification?
The government of President Donald Trump states the increased requirements are intended to protect the US “from foreign terrorists and other threats to national security.” Similar measures have already been implemented for students and skilled workers, requiring them to disclose extensive personal information. Some individuals from certain countries are already denied visas altogether.
What Do Data Protection Advocates Say?
A spokesperson for Germany’s Federal Commissioner for Data Protection, Louisa Specht-Riemenschneider, expressed concern regarding the ESTA program adjustments. The spokesperson stated that citizens should “carefully consider whether they are willing to provide US authorities with data of this scope” for entry and warned that more information could lead to increased complexity and potential errors in the ESTA process.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ESTA?
ESTA is the electronic travel authorization system that German citizens must employ to apply for entry into the US for tourism or business for stays of 90 days or less.
When is the deadline for objections to the new rules?
Objections and comments regarding the proposed changes can be submitted until Sunday.
What happens if the rules travel into effect?
If the rules are enacted, tourists will be required to provide significantly more personal information, including social media data, phone numbers, and email addresses, when applying for ESTA approval.
Given the potential for changes to US entry requirements, how will these new data demands impact your future travel plans?
