Travelling across the U.S. border remains a routine yet important process for many Canadians. Travel Pulse Canada
Canadians travelling to and from the United States will soon experience a major change at border crossings, airports, and seaports. Starting December 26, 2025, U.S. border agents will begin photographing all non-American travellers, including Canadians, as they leave the country.
The new rule, introduced by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), aims to strengthen national security and improve tracking of foreign visitors. The system will match each traveller’s face with the identification provided upon entry.
A New Step for Departing Travellers
Currently, Canadians are familiar with having their photo taken when entering the United States. The system captures an image at pre-clearance sites, border crossings, or American airports and compares it to the traveller’s passport or ID photo.
However, this new policy extends the process to the departure stage as well. Travellers leaving the U.S. by plane, car, or ship will now be photographed before exiting. The rule applies to every “alien” visitor — a term used by U.S. authorities to describe all non-citizens, including Canadians.
How and Where It Will Roll Out
The DHS has already started testing the program in select airports and border points. Over the next few years, the system will expand to all exit points across the country — including major airports, seaports, and land borders.
Participation won’t be optional. Every non-U.S. traveller must go through the photo capture process before leaving.
The U.S. government says the technology will help confirm who has legally entered and exited the country. The goal is to stop travellers from using fake documents and prevent people who overstayed their visas or entered illegally from returning.
Data Storage and Security
According to the new regulation, photographs collected during departures will remain in DHS databases for up to 75 years. The department says this data will be used for identity verification, law enforcement, and immigration control.
A DHS statement explains that the photo system helps border agents confirm identities and identify possible criminals or individuals linked to terrorist activity.
Privacy advocates, however, have raised questions about how long the information will be stored and who will have access to it. While the DHS insists that photos will be securely managed, critics worry about the long-term collection of personal data from millions of travellers.
What This Means for Canadian Travellers
For most Canadians, the new system will mean an additional step before departure. At airports, cameras will capture a photo at the gate before boarding. At land crossings, a similar system will scan travellers as they leave the U.S.
Though it may add a few seconds to the process, border officials say it will make travel records more accurate and improve border safety overall.
Canadians planning future trips to the United States should be aware of the upcoming changes, especially those who travel frequently for work or leisure.
