Major Travel Restrictions Reshape International Travel in December 2025
Travel restrictions updates for December 2025 bring sweeping changes that will affect millions of travelers worldwide. The United States is dramatically expanding its travel ban from 19 to potentially 32 countries, while introducing mandatory social media disclosure requirements for visitors from 42 visa-waiver nations.
Additionally, the European Union's Entry/Exit System (EES) has entered full biometric collection phase this month. These combined changes represent the most significant shift in international travel requirements in years.
Key Travel Restrictions Changes This Month
December 2025 marks a turning point for international travelers with several major policy changes taking effect simultaneously.
- US Travel Ban Expansion: DHS Secretary Kristi Noem recommends adding 10-12 more countries, bringing total to 30-32 affected nations
- Social Media Requirement: Travelers from 42 visa-waiver countries must now disclose 5 years of social media history
- Immigration Processing Freeze: USCIS has paused all green card, asylum, and naturalization applications from 19 banned countries
- EU Biometric Collection: Full fingerprint and facial scan collection now active at European borders
- New US Entry Biometrics: Starting December 26, all non-citizens including green card holders will be photographed at US entry and exit
- EAD Validity Reduction: Work permit validity cut from 5 years to 18 months as of December 5, 2025
These changes come following heightened security concerns, including a recent incident in Washington, DC that prompted the expanded travel ban recommendation.
Who Is Affected by These Travel Restrictions
The December 2025 travel restrictions impact several distinct groups of international travelers differently.
For Travelers from Banned Countries
Citizens from 12 countries face full entry restrictions: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Seven additional countries—Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela—face partial restrictions on student (F) and exchange visitor (J) visas.
For Visa Waiver Program Travelers
Visitors from 42 countries including the UK, Germany, France, Japan, Australia, and South Korea must now provide mandatory social media history. This affects travelers using ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) who previously could skip this question.
For Green Card Holders and Immigrants
USCIS has frozen all pending applications for green cards, citizenship, and asylum from nationals of 19 banned countries. Additionally, the agency is conducting retroactive reviews of immigration benefits granted since January 20, 2021. All non-citizens will face new biometric collection starting December 26.
For Travelers to Europe
Non-EU nationals entering the Schengen area must register biometrics including 10 fingerprints and facial photographs. Your EES digital record remains valid for 3 years, simplifying subsequent entries.
How to Prepare for New Travel Requirements - Step by Step
Follow these steps to ensure smooth international travel under the new restrictions.
- Check Your Country Status: Verify whether your nationality is on the current or proposed travel ban list before booking flights
- Gather Social Media Information: Compile usernames and handles from all platforms used in the past 5 years for your ESTA application
- Prepare Email History: Document all email addresses used in the past 10 years as required by new ESTA questions
- Update Your Passport Photo: Ensure your passport photo meets current requirements as biometric systems require high-quality images
- Allow Extra Processing Time: Build in additional weeks for visa applications due to enhanced screening procedures
- Check Visa Validity: Valid visas issued before June 9, 2025 remain unaffected by the travel ban
Important Dates and Timeline
Mark these critical dates on your calendar for travel planning.
- December 5, 2025: EAD validity reduced from 5 years to 18 months for new applicants
- December 15, 2025: Expected announcement of expanded US travel ban country list
- December 26, 2025: New biometric photo collection begins at all US ports of entry
- January 2026: Half of EU border points expected to be fully operating EES
- April 10, 2026: EU Entry/Exit System fully operational at all Schengen borders
- Late 2026: ETIAS visa waiver program expected to launch (delayed from 2025)
Frequently Asked Questions
What Countries Are Currently Banned from US Entry?
Twelve countries face full travel restrictions: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Seven additional countries have partial restrictions affecting specific visa categories.
Is the Social Media Requirement Mandatory for All Visitors?
The proposed mandatory requirement applies to travelers from 42 Visa Waiver Program countries using ESTA. This was previously optional but will become mandatory once finalized. The proposal is currently in a 60-day public comment period.
Will My Valid US Visa Still Work Under the Travel Ban?
Yes, according to the State Department, foreign nationals holding valid visas issued before June 9, 2025 are not subject to the travel ban. However, you may face enhanced screening at ports of entry.
Do I Need to Register for EU EES Before Traveling?
No advance registration is needed. Your biometrics will be collected at your first entry point to the Schengen area. The registration is free and your data remains valid for 3 years, making subsequent entries faster.
What Happens to Pending Immigration Applications?
USCIS has paused processing all pending green card, citizenship, and asylum applications from nationals of 19 banned countries. The agency is also reviewing benefits granted since January 2021.
What You Need to Know Before Your Next Trip
The December 2025 travel restrictions represent a major shift in international travel requirements. Check your eligibility before booking travel to the United States, and prepare the required documentation including social media history for ESTA applications.
Before applying for any visa or travel authorization, ensure your passport photo meets the latest visa photo requirements for your destination country. With biometric systems now active on both sides of the Atlantic, high-quality photos that match official specifications are essential for smooth border crossing. VisaPics can help you prepare compliant passport and visa photos for over 170 countries.
Sources: - [CNN Politics - DHS Travel Ban Expansion](https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/02/politics/dhs-travel-ban-countries) - [NPR - Trump Administration Halts Immigration](https://www.npr.org/2025/12/03/g-s1-100218/trump-administration-halts-immigration-19-nations) - [Washington Post - Social Media Disclosure](https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2025/12/10/esta-social-media-united-states/) - [CBS News - Tourist Social Media Requirement](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-tourists-social-media-history-5-years-trump/) - [EU Migration and Home Affairs - Entry/Exit System](https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen/smart-borders/entry-exit-system_en) - [US State Department Visa Bulletin](https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin/2026/visa-bulletin-for-december-2025.html)