New travel and immigration rules for Green Card holders came into force in the United States on December 26, 2025. Issued by the Department of Homeland Security.
US tightens Green Card travel norms with biometric screening, country-specific reviews
New travel and immigration rules brought in by the US Department of Homeland Security are now officially in force. The changes took effect on December 26, 2025, according to the Federal Register, and they affect non-US citizens, including people who already hold green cards.
The rules will allow stricter checks at US borders and boost the use of biometric identification such as photographs, fingerprints, and eye scans. They also bring tougher reviews for green-card holders from certain countries.
New US visa and travel rules kick in from December 26
The Donald Trump government has come down heavily against immigration after returning to the Oval office — introducing a series of restrictive measures. According to officials, the goal is to improve national security and modernise how borders are managed by using advanced technology.
According to Newsweek, under the new system, federal authorities can religiously track international travel by non-US citizens. Lawful permanent residents are included in this monitoring. Extra attention will be given to green-card applicants and holders from 19 countries that the US government has flagged for security concerns.
The biometric entry-exit system will not be rolled out everywhere overnight. The process is expected to take three to five years. It will begin at major airports before expanding to land crossings and seaports.
What has changed at US borders
One major change is the full rollout of a biometric entry-exit system. From now on, all non-US citizens will have their photograph taken every time they enter or leave the United States.
This rule applies at airports, land borders, and seaports. Children under the age of 14 and adults over 79 are no longer exempt, even though they were previously not required to go through biometric checks.
In addition, the US Customs and Border Protection officers may also collect fingerprints and iris scans. These details will be matched with existing travel documents through the ‘Traveller Verification Service.’
