U.S. will photograph all foreign travelers entering and leaving the country

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced a new regulation that will expand the collection of biometric data at all U.S. ports of entry and exit.

The rule — officially published on October 27, 2025 — will take effect on December 26, 2025, and will require all non-U.S. citizens to be photographed upon entering and leaving the country.

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What changes with this rule?

Mandatory exit photographs: until now, photos were mainly taken upon arrival. Under the new rule, images will also be taken when travelers leave the country.

Expanded age range: the exemption for children under 14 and adults over 79 is eliminated.

Integrated facial verification: live images will be matched against passport and travel document photos to confirm identity.

Integrated database: CBP will connect biometric entry and exit data to improve fraud detection and overstay monitoring.

Who does it affect?

The measure applies to:
Permanent residents (green card holders).
Nonimmigrant visa holders.
International travelers without U.S. citizenship.

U.S. citizens are exempt but may voluntarily opt into the facial recognition process at airports.

Why does this measure matter?

According to CBP, the goal is to strengthen national security, prevent fraudulent use of documents, and more accurately track departures from the country — a historically weak point in the U.S. immigration system.

“Implementing an integrated biometric entry and exit system helps address national security concerns and detect the fraudulent use of travel documents,” CBP states in the official text.

Next steps

The rule takes effect on December 26, 2025.
Implementation will occur in phases, starting at major airports and gradually expanding to seaports and land borders over an estimated 3- to 5-year period.
CBP will continue using the “Simplified Arrival” program as the technological foundation for this expansion.

In summary:
The U.S. will begin photographing all foreign travelers upon entry and exit as part of a border security strategy based on biometrics. This measure includes permanent residents and visa holders and will take effect on December 26, 2025.

From: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/10/27/2025-19655/collection-of-biometric-data-from-aliens-upon-entry-to-and-departure-from-the-united-states

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