Face scanning is replacing passports at US airports: who can opt out and for whom it is mandatory

At US airports, facial scanning is gradually replacing passport screening upon entry after international flights. The system is already operational at 238 airport terminals: a camera instantly compares a passenger's face with the photo on their passport, visa, or other document. Effective December 26, 2025, biometric verification will be mandatory for all non-US citizens (including children under 17 and people over 79), while US citizens can still opt out and undergo manual verification, explains Yahoo!

"Passport, please." This phrase has been heard by everyone who has flown to the United States on an international flight. It may soon disappear. Instead, upon exiting the plane, you'll need to be prepared for a camera search.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Assistant Commissioner for Field Operations Diane Sabatino described the future of international travel without having to take a plastic document out of your pocket. According to her, such a system is already in place in some cities.

On the subject: Orlando Airport was the first in the United States to introduce mandatory scanning of the faces of all passengers

"In a few years, Global Entry participants will be subject to this screening at all our airports unless an officer wishes to speak with the passenger," Sabatino said.

Facial recognition technology for arriving international passengers is already in use at 238 US airports. A faster version for US citizens, called Enhanced Passenger Processing, is available at 33 airports. Another program, Seamless Border Entry, allows pre-approved Global Entry participants to clear security in under three seconds at seven airports, without stopping at all.

The ability to opt out of the test depends on citizenship.

Orlando, Florida's busiest airport, has become the first in the country to mandate facial scanning for all international flights, including U.S. citizens, both on arrival and departure.

Can US citizens opt out of the procedure?

Yes. US citizens can request a regular security check from a security officer. Anyone using the Enhanced Passenger Processing booth and not wishing to have their photo taken can inform the officer and proceed to the regular line.

Sabatino has repeatedly emphasized that the process remains voluntary for US citizens.

Can foreign citizens refuse?

No longer. A federal rule that went into effect on December 26 requires biometric identification for all non-U.S. citizens entering and leaving the country—by air, land, or sea.

This change contrasts with previous rules, which exempted children under 17 and people over 79. Both categories are now required to have their faces scanned or fingerprinted upon entry and exit.

What happens to the images?

The photograph is instantly compared against a government database containing images from passports, visas, and other documents. According to the service, the matching accuracy exceeds 98%.

According to Sabatino, approximately 848 million people have processed this system since June 2017. The scanning process has identified more than 529 visa overstayers.

When will all airports go completely contactless?

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement expects the implementation of biometric screening at all airports, seaports, and land border crossings to take three to five years. Some new solutions, including special "lanes" that allow travelers to pass through cameras without stopping, are already being tested at Orlando International Airport. Airlines and airports are paying for the equipment for exit biometric screening, so implementation is uneven.

A baggage screening system that allows agents to remotely inspect checked baggage while it's in flight is expected to launch at JFK Airport's new Terminal One in 2027.

You may be interested in: top New York news, stories of our immigrants and helpful tips about life in the Big Apple - read it all on ForumDaily New York

Face scanning at the border is nothing new.

Congress mandated the creation of a biometric entry and exit control system back in 1996, and the process was accelerated after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Its creation took more than two decades. Last year's federal budget included additional funding to expedite the system's implementation.

Read also on ForumDaily:

ICE is detaining more than 800 migrants with no criminal history daily, a record high.

Why is it dangerous for foreigners with open immigration cases to fly? ICE agents are hunting them at airports.

DHS bought $464 million worth of deportation planes but can't use them.

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.