Starlink Rolls Out New Travel Registration Policy – Passport and Selfie Verification Required

Only a few short years ago, traveling internationally and staying connected typically meant tracking down a local SIM card and data plan, or dealing with cellular roaming - and all the roaming rules, restrictions, and usage limitations that applied once you left your home country.

Starlink has dramatically changed how many nomads stay connected while traveling internationally.

Unlike cellular plans that often come with roaming restrictions, throttling, or regional limitations - Starlink generally works the same across borders as it does in your home country - as long as you are traveling within a country where Starlink has authorization to operate.

In other words, traveling with Starlink across international borders was simple and low stress.

But now things are changing - and SpaceX has notified Starlink users that they need to authenticate with a passport before they can keep connected outside of their home country.

Let's dive into what new requirements you must meet to stay connected while using Starlink internationally.

Starlink Passport Video Overview

 

Starlink Travel Registration 

While Starlink is not changing how service works internationally, you now have to provide travel registration to Starlink to continue to stay connected outside your home country.

One of the most notable requirements of this new Travel Registration policy includes needing to upload your passport and take a live selfie photo to confirm that your face and passport photo match.

Other information you are required to provide includes your full legal name, nationality, date of birth, and passport number.

Currently this travel registration is rolling out in phases, so not all users are going to see this right away. But if you are currently traveling internationally, you may be prompted to provide this information to avoid potential interruption of service.

You Can Pre-register

If you know you will be traveling out of the country in the near future and just want to have your account already setup to avoid possible disruption of service, you can add your travel registration ahead of time under your account settings.

To Complete Your Registration:

1. Go to My Account
2. Go to Settings
3. Scroll down to Registration Requirements
4. Click "Add Travel Plans" and select Global
5. Fill out the form and submit your information

Using Starlink in Your Home Country

This new Travel Registration Policy should not affect users who continue to only use Starlink in their home country. Residential users should not even be prompted to provide this information, and if you are a Roam user that never leaves the U.S., you should also not be affected.

Even users who might just cross the border for a couple days may not even be prompted, but if you expect to spend an extended time out of your home country, then likely you will eventually be prompted to provide this additional information under your account.

Member Exclusive Analysis

Concluding Thoughts

While this new registration requirement does add another layer of friction for international travelers, it is likely the result increasing regulatory pressure around the world mandating identity verification.

Rather than put in patchwork policies around the globe, SpaceX has seemingly decided to enforce travel registration everywhere.

For most users, this will likely become a one-time setup process that only matters when traveling outside their home country.

However, users who rely on Starlink for international RV travel, boating, or extended overseas use should be aware of the change and consider pre-registering before crossing borders.

And for some users - the privacy implications of being forced to share their passport information may be enough incentive to seek out alternatives to Starlink.

Since this is still rolling out in phases, there could be additional details and clarification from Starlink over time. Stay tuned!

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