The U.S. Embassy in France issued yesterday a statement clarifying the evolution of ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) application requirements, following several days of media confusion.
In recent days, numerous websites and media outlets had reported that proposed changes to the application process, particularly the mandatory collection of social media identifiers, had taken effect after the public consultation period ended on February 9, 2026.
According to the U.S. diplomatic mission, this interpretation is incorrect.
In its statement, the embassy clearly emphasized that “the proposed requirement to provide social media identifiers for ESTA applicants is not yet in effect,” and that no new requirements currently apply to travelers.
U.S. authorities therefore advise applicants to continue following the existing ESTA application procedures until further notice.
A reform still under review
The proposed modification is part of a regulatory process launched by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), in response to Presidential Executive Order 14161 issued in January 2025.
The 60-day public consultation period, which ended on February 9, 2026, represented only the first stage of the process. Authorities must now review the comments received before any final adoption.
According to the embassy, the proposed measure “is part of ongoing efforts to enhance the security of visa-free travel, but no new requirements are in place as of today.”
The U.S. diplomatic mission in France also noted that “any new requirements will be formally announced in the Federal Register and communicated broadly before implementation.”
New ESTA requirements: possible implementation starting mid-2026
The timeline presented by the embassy outlines the remaining phases before any potential implementation:
- Review of public comments: immediately following the consultation period, typically estimated to last one to two months.
- Publication of a new 30-day notice: expected between March and April 2026, allowing for an additional public comment period.
- Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB): transmission of the finalized proposal for validation.
- OMB review and approval: expected between April and May 2026, depending on processing times.
- Possible implementation: only after final approval.
According to this projected timeline, the introduction of new requirements, if approved, could take place no earlier than mid-2026, according to the U.S. Embassy.
“These dates are estimates based on standard federal processes and may shift depending on agency and OMB workload,” the diplomatic mission explained.
This clarification aims to ease concerns among travelers and tourism professionals, as some reports had suggested that the changes would take effect immediately.
Travel formalities for the U.S.: travelers urged to follow current rules
This clarification comes amid heightened media attention surrounding tighter border controls and highlights the importance of the U.S. federal regulatory process, which includes multiple stages of consultation and approval before any administrative procedures are modified.
For now, U.S. authorities recommend that travelers visiting the United States under the Visa Waiver Program continue to follow current application procedures.
As a reminder, citizens of the following 42 countries and territories may currently travel to the United States for short stays without a visa and may apply for an ESTA travel authorization prior to departure:
- Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom.
