Do you need to provide your social media accounts for an ESTA?

If you have an account on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, or any other social media platform, be aware of a change in US entry requirements. Since June 1, 2019, US authorities require information about your social media activity as part of visa applications.

ESTA Requirements

• If you’re a European citizen traveling to the United States for vacation or business, you must obtain an electronic travel authorization called an ESTA at least 72 hours before your flight. You’ll complete a form on the official ESTA website and pay $40.27. For step-by-step guidance on filling out the form, see this ESTA guide.
• On the first page of the form, you’ll see a section labeled “Social Media.” Here you can select the platforms you use (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) and enter your username for each. You can click “Add a line” to list all your social media accounts.
• Important: providing your social media accounts is optional for ESTA applications. We recommend leaving this section blank, since it’s not required. Many travelers, including our team, have never filled this in and encountered no issues. You can proceed through the rest of the form without any problem.

Social Media and Visa Applications

• If you’re not a European citizen or need to apply for a visa, the rules are different. Follow the process outlined in our guide on how to apply for a US visa.
• Since June 1, 2019, you must declare your social media accounts when applying for a US visa. You need to list all accounts created in the past five years, even if you’ve since closed some of them.
• Before submitting your visa application, review your posts if necessary. US authorities will check that your activity complies with US law, particularly regarding content that could be considered support for terrorism.