Travelers from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, and Kuwait are among millions of foreign nationals preparing for a major change at United States borders as Washington moves to fully enforce new visa rules backed by mandatory biometric scans for nearly all non US citizens.

The policy, which centers on facial recognition and other biometric identifiers at every stage of entry and exit, is expected to reshape how visitors from the Middle East plan and experience trips to the US from late 2025 onward.

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What The New US Biometric Rule Actually Does

The US Department of Homeland Security has finalized a rule that empowers Customs and Border Protection to collect biometric data, primarily facial photographs, from virtually all non US citizens when they enter and depart the country.

The regulation, titled “Collection of Biometric Data from Aliens Upon Entry to and Departure from the United States,” takes effect on December 26, 2025, and removes earlier age-based and program-based exemptions that limited biometric collection to selected pilots or specific ports of entry.

Under the new framework, CBP officers may require non US travelers to be photographed at airports, land border crossings, seaports, and any other authorized points of departure.

The facial image is then digitally compared with existing government records tied to passports, visas, and previous entries.

While fingerprinting has long been part of US immigration checks, facial recognition is being elevated as the primary tool for identity verification at both entry and exit.

US citizens are not covered by the mandatory element of the rule, and authorities say Americans will continue to have the option to decline biometric face scans in favor of traditional document checks.

For foreign nationals, however, refusal to comply with biometric capture where required could be treated as a ground of inadmissibility or a violation of immigration conditions, adding serious consequences to any attempt to bypass the process.

Why Middle Eastern Travelers Are In Focus

The immediate effect of the US rule is global in scope, applying to almost every non US citizen regardless of nationality.

Yet it has triggered particular scrutiny in the Middle East, where outbound travel to the US from countries such as Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, and Kuwait has grown significantly in recent years for tourism, education, business, and medical visits.

These six countries are part of a broader group of Middle Eastern and Gulf states that already feature prominently in US visa issuance statistics and airline traffic data.

Saudi Arabia and Egypt send tens of thousands of students and long stay visitors to American universities and institutions annually, while Kuwait and Bahrain maintain tight economic, energy, and security ties with Washington that translate into steady business and diplomatic travel.

Turkey and Jordan, meanwhile, are both major air hubs and important partners in regional security and refugee policy.

For these nations, the new US biometric demands arrive at a time when regional governments are also updating their own border systems and visa regimes. Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey have rolled out or expanded e visa platforms, digital health and security clearances, and in some cases their own biometric checks to support tourism drives and strengthen border management.

The US move will, in effect, plug Middle Eastern travelers into a more deeply interconnected web of biometric screening on both ends of their journey.

How Biometric Scans Will Work For Travelers

For a traveler from Riyadh, Manama, Istanbul, Cairo, Amman, or Kuwait City heading to the US after December 26, the most visible new element will be at the airport. On arrival, instead of relying solely on passport scanning and manual checks, the individual will face a camera that captures a live facial image. CBP systems compare this image against a gallery of photos obtained from passports, US visa applications, and other official databases linked to that person’s identity.

If the system confirms a match, the officer’s workstation is automatically populated with the traveler’s biographic data, streamlining the inspection and, in theory, cutting down the time required to verify documents. US authorities say this “facial comparison” model can process travelers within seconds, though actual wait times will still depend on overall passenger volumes and staffing.

The same logic extends to departures. At many airports, cameras mounted near boarding gates will photograph every passenger as they prepare to board flights out of the US. The system cross checks the live image with exit records and manifests, allowing CBP to confirm that the person who entered on a particular visa has indeed left within the authorized period. Authorities intend to extend similar capabilities to land crossings into Canada and Mexico, as well as to cruise terminals and, over time, private aviation facilities.

Visa Applications, Delays, And What Travelers Should Expect

Importantly, the new biometric entry exit regime builds on, rather than replaces, the existing network of US consular checks that already collect fingerprints and photographs at the visa application stage. Applicants in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, and Kuwait will continue to complete digital forms, schedule consular interviews where required, and appear at US embassies or consulates for ten fingerprint scans and a photograph.

What changes is the intensity of downstream use of that data. Once travelers are in the US system, border authorities will be able to more precisely match each entry and exit to a particular individual. Officials say this will help detect visa overstays, reduce document fraud, and close loopholes that once allowed people to leave the country through poorly monitored ports without a confirmed biometric record.

Travel industry analysts warn that the transition period could lead to temporary delays and confusion, especially at airports that are still integrating camera hardware and software into their boarding and arrival halls. In the early months after December 26, bottlenecks could arise where equipment malfunctions or where staff and passengers are unfamiliar with new queuing and capture procedures.

Middle Eastern travel agents and airline partners are advising customers to build in additional time at departure and arrival airports for US bound journeys, particularly during peak holiday and summer seasons. Travelers are also being urged to carefully follow instructions from carriers and airport staff, keep travel documents ready, and avoid obstructing cameras during face capture by removing large hats, sunglasses, or veils when requested in controlled inspection areas consistent with local policies on religious coverings and identity checks.

Privacy, Data Retention, And Regional Reactions

The broad sweep of the US biometric rule has sparked debate among privacy advocates, lawmakers, and civil society groups in both the United States and abroad. Critics raise concerns about the long term storage of facial images, potential data sharing with other federal agencies and foreign partners, and the risk of algorithmic bias in facial recognition systems.

US officials counter that the biometric entry exit program is not intended as a general surveillance tool but as an identity verification system operating at points where travelers were already subject to passport checks and immigration inspections. Authorities emphasize that the cameras used for biometric capture are specific to this process and that clear privacy signage and notices will inform travelers that their photographs are being taken.

Governments in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, and Kuwait have so far responded cautiously, viewing the US changes largely as a sovereign policy shift they must adapt to, even as they quietly assess implications for their own citizens. Some officials point out that biometric data collection is increasingly standard worldwide and note that their own border control and smart airport programs already incorporate similar technologies.

Travel sector stakeholders in the region, including airlines and tourism boards, are more openly concerned about the risk of travelers perceiving the US as a less welcoming or more burdensome destination. They warn that if biometric checks are rolled out in a way that feels intrusive, confusing, or discriminatory, some visitors may opt for alternative long haul markets perceived as simpler to enter.

Implications For Airlines, Hubs, And Tourism Flows

Major Gulf and regional carriers serving the US market, including airlines based in Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Kuwait, are expected to play a key role in implementing the new biometric protocols at boarding gates and check in counters. Many already cooperate with US authorities on advance passenger information systems and security screening arrangements, and now face pressure to integrate facial recognition into their ground operations where airport authorities and local law allow.

For airports in cities such as Jeddah, Riyadh, Istanbul, Cairo, Amman, and Kuwait City, the US timeline adds urgency to ongoing efforts to modernize terminals with biometric enabled e gates, self service kiosks, and digital identity management platforms. Some hubs are exploring or deploying joint solutions that can serve both outbound US requirements and their own national border control processes, in a bid to avoid duplicative queues and equipment.

Tourism organizations across the Middle East are watching closely to see whether the new US rules will translate into measurable shifts in outbound travel behavior. While high demand segments such as medical tourism, graduate education, and corporate travel may prove relatively resilient, discretionary leisure visitors with multiple destination options may be more sensitive to perceived hassle at borders. Competing destinations in Europe and Asia that are simultaneously refining their own digital entry systems will be keen to capitalize on any short term frustration with US procedures.

What Travelers From Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, And Kuwait Should Do Now

With the biometric rule set to apply to trips taking place on or after December 26, 2025, prospective visitors from the six highlighted countries who are planning winter holidays, early 2026 study programs, or business missions to the US should already factor the changes into their plans. That means checking the latest guidance from US embassies and consulates, monitoring announcements from airlines, and allowing more time for security and immigration on both outbound and inbound legs.

Travelers are advised to ensure that the photograph in their passport and on any valid US visa is clear and up to date, as facial recognition systems depend heavily on the quality and recency of reference images. Where significant changes in appearance have occurred since the last passport or visa issuance, it may be prudent to renew travel documents or be prepared for additional questions and manual checks at the border.

Passengers should also be ready to comply with instructions on temporarily removing face coverings or accessories for the brief moment of biometric capture, within the bounds of local and international norms that seek to balance identity verification with cultural and religious sensitivities. Those with disabilities or conditions that make standard facial capture difficult are encouraged to notify carriers or CBP officers early in the process so that alternative arrangements can be made.

FAQ

Q1. When do the new US biometric rules start applying to travelers?
The final rule authorizing mandatory biometric collection for non US citizens at entry and exit takes effect on December 26, 2025, and will apply to travel occurring on or after that date.

Q2. Do these biometric requirements apply to citizens of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, and Kuwait?
Yes. The rule is nationality neutral and covers almost all non US citizens, including travelers from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, and Kuwait, regardless of visa category, unless a specific exemption is granted.

Q3. Will US citizens also have to undergo mandatory facial scans?
US authorities state that the mandatory requirement applies to non US citizens. US citizens may continue to opt out of facial recognition by asking for manual document checks where alternative procedures are available.

Q4. What biometrics will be collected at the border?
The primary biometric under the new system is a facial photograph taken at arrival and departure points. Fingerprints will continue to be collected in many cases during initial visa issuance and sometimes at the first encounter at the border, but day to day identity verification will increasingly rely on facial images.

Q5. Will the new rules change how I apply for a US visa?
The core visa application steps remain the same: online forms, payment, consular interview where required, and fingerprints and a photograph at the embassy or consulate. The change mainly affects how your identity is checked and confirmed when you actually travel to and from the US.

Q6. Could these biometric checks cause longer lines at airports?
During the initial implementation phase, some airports and ports may experience delays as equipment is installed and staff and travelers adjust to new procedures. Authorities say that once fully operational, facial recognition should speed up identity checks, but travelers are advised to arrive earlier than usual, especially during peak periods.

Q7. What happens if I refuse to have my photo taken at a US entry or exit point?
For non US citizens, refusal to comply with required biometric collection can be treated as non compliance with immigration procedures and may lead to denial of entry, delays, or findings that you have violated the terms of your stay, which can affect future travel.

Q8. How long will the US keep my biometric data?
US detention periods for biometric data vary by system and program, but facial images of non citizens used for border control can be retained for many years for immigration, security, and law enforcement purposes. Travelers from all countries, including those in the Middle East, have limited ability to request deletion, as data retention is governed by US law and policy.

Q9. Will children from these countries also be photographed?
Yes. The new rule removes previous age based exemptions, which means that children and older adults who are non US citizens can be required to provide facial photographs at entry and exit for identity verification.

Q10. How should travelers from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, and Kuwait prepare before flying to the US?
Travelers should confirm visa validity, ensure passport and visa photos are recent and clear, follow airline and airport instructions on biometric checks, arrive early at airports, and be ready for brief facial capture at boarding and arrival. Consulting trusted travel agents or official consular advisories before departure can help avoid surprises at the border.