The U.S. released a new policy Tuesday regarding the citizens who enter the country without a visa.

According to the Washington Post, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said yesterday that, starting from January, residents from the 27 nations who were allowed to travel to U.S. without a visa would have to register online with, at least, 3 days before leaving their country.

Travelers have to access The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) and leave there information like their name, birth date, flight number, destination address and passport information.

This new rule comes from a series of regulations meant to reinforce the U.S’ security after Sept. 11, 2001. Residents from states like Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Brunei and from 22 European countries must comply with this new measure.

Chertoff also said that this was a measure meant to gather some “basic information” about who is traveling to the U.S.

On the other hand, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, a member of the European Parliament, said this tightened security rule showed an “atmosphere of general distrust” and suggested that cooperation between countries was “the only way forward,” reported the Washington Post.

The European Union asked for more information about this regulation and was considering the possibility of imposing a similar measure to Americans who travel to Europe.

The visa waiver allows applicants to stay in the U.S. 90 days or less, whether they are on a business trip or on vacation. The new regulation will become effective from Jan. 12, but Homeland Security officials will start accepting applications beginning with August 1.

The registrations will be valid for 2 years.