Kendall Collins is a Staff Writer for Daily Hive based in Calgary. She grew up in Dawson Creek, B.C. and moved to Calgary to pursue a journalism diploma at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology.

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A new regulation is in effect that requires individuals leaving or entering the United States, including Canadians, to be photographed at land borders. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The regulation went into effect on Dec. 26, 2025 and applies to all non-U.S. travellers. It will also remove prior exemptions, including diplomats and most Canadian visitors entering the U.S. Previously, Canadians only needed to provide biographic information when returning home from the U.S. by vehicle.</span></p>
<p>The new measures are part of a broader effort by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to enhance security and streamline identity verification processes for foreign travellers at the Mexico and Canada borders.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/national-media-release/dhs-announces-final-rule-advance-biometric-entry/exit-program"><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection</span></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">(CBP)</span><a href="https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/national-media-release/dhs-announces-final-rule-advance-biometric-entry/exit-program"><span style="font-weight: 400;">,</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> &#8220;</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">This milestone regulation advances DHS&#8217;s efforts to implement a comprehensive biometric entry/exit program, enhancing national security and streamlining identity verification processes for foreign visitors travelling to and from the United States.&#8221;</span></p>
<div id="attachment_2229348" style="width: 2058px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2229348" class="wp-image-2229348 size-full" src="https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2025/12/Shutterstock_1772146697.jpg" alt="canadians borders photographed" width="2048" height="1365" srcset="https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2025/12/Shutterstock_1772146697.jpg 2048w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2025/12/Shutterstock_1772146697-500x333.jpg 500w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2025/12/Shutterstock_1772146697-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2025/12/Shutterstock_1772146697-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2025/12/Shutterstock_1772146697-1200x800.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" /><p id="caption-attachment-2229348" class="wp-caption-text">The Bold Bureau/Shutterstock</p></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The regulation will allow CBP to collect facial biometrics during entry and exit at all </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">airports, land ports, seaports, and other authorized points of departure.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For frequent travellers to the U.S., biometrics isn&#8217;t new.</span></p>
<p><a href="https://www.cbp.gov/frontline/cbp-biometric-testing#:~:text=As%20early%20as%202002%2C%20shortly,more%20legislation%20was%20passed%2C%20authorizing"><span style="font-weight: 400;">As early as 2002</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, CBP was mandated to use biometric technology to issue visas and screen foreign nationals entering the country. In 2004, the U.S. started collecting biometric data from non-U.S. citizens exiting the country at airports.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">These security measures are in place at airports with international arrivals and upon exit from 58 airports. CBP also uses facial biometrics for travellers entering the U.S. via cruises and pedestrian lanes.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The regulation does not apply to U.S. citizens; they can voluntarily participate, or opt out and undergo manual inspection of their passports.</span></p>
<p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">With files from Irish Mae Silvestre</span></i></p>
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A new regulation is in effect that requires people leaving or entering the United States, including Canadians, to be photographed at borders.