The United States will soon implement a new policy requiring photographs of all Canadian travellers as they enter and exit through land borders and airports, officials confirmed this week.
According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the move is part of a broader effort to modernize border security and strengthen identity verification systems. The photographs will be used to confirm travellers’ identities, improve record accuracy, and detect instances of overstaying visas or crossing violations.
A DHS spokesperson said the system will apply to both U.S. and foreign nationals, though Canadian citizens will not face additional visa requirements. “This initiative aims to make border processing faster, safer, and more reliable,” the official noted.
Privacy concerns, however, have already sparked debate. Civil liberties advocates warn that expanding biometric surveillance could pose risks to personal data and increase the potential for misuse. Canadian privacy experts are calling for clear safeguards and transparency about how long the images will be stored and who will have access to them.
The system will be rolled out in phases, starting at select high-traffic crossings, before expanding to all U.S.-Canada land borders and major airports. Ottawa has yet to comment formally, but officials say they are reviewing the potential impact on travellers and data-sharing agreements.
If fully implemented, the plan would mark one of the most extensive biometric border tracking systems between two allied nations — reflecting a growing global trend toward tighter border management through technology.