Passengers travelling to the United States from countries whose citizens do not need visas must register online with the US government at least 72 hours before departure, in the latest measure to strengthen American security.

The new rule is expected to be announced on Tuesday by Michael Chertoff, the Homeland Security secretary, and take effect in January.

European companies last year expressed concern after the Homeland Security department floated the idea of requiring passengers to register 48 hours in advance, believing it could complicate last-minute business travel. Although the new rule requires 72 hours advance registration, it will be valid for multiple entries over a two-year period.

The rule will only apply to citizens of the 27 visa waiver programme countries, which includes most of western Europe, in addition to Andorra, Australia, Brunei, Japan, New Zealand and Singapore. The US has also signed agreements with eight other countries - including the Czech Republic, Hungary and South Korea - that puts them on track to join the visa waiver programme.

A Homeland Security official said the new measure would require the same information that passengers now have to include on the I-94 immigration form they must fill out before entering the US. He said Australia has been using a similar system for several years.

Passengers will be able to register in advance from August this year, but the rule will become mandatory in January. Registration will be possible through travel agents, airline websites or through a special US government website.

The US official said the system was created to make it more difficult for terrorists who are nationals of visa waiver countries to enter the US, mentioning Richard Reid, the UK "shoe bomber" convicted for trying to blow up an airliner. Zacarias Moussaoui, the French national who was convicted of involvement in the 9/11 attacks, also enteredthe US without a visa.

"History has shown that it is naive to assume a traveller from a [visa waiver] country automatically constitutes a lesser threat than a visa applicant who has undergone greater scrutiny prior to travel," said the official. "There is also a concern about radicalisation in Europe and that Europe could be a platform for striking at the US."

Earlier this year, General Michael Hayden, director of the Central Intelligence Agency, warned that al-Qaeda was trying to recruit westerners as potential attackers because they would be able to blend into the US.

Mr Chertoff yesterday spoke to Jacques Barrot, the European Union justice commissioner, ahead of today's announcement. An EU official said Mr Barrot requested further writteninformation and documents, while the US official said he appeared satisfied with the arrangement.

Franco Frattini, Mr Barrot's predecessor, in February outlined plans for an EU pre-travel electronic authorisation scheme for foreigners who do not need a visa for a short-term stay in the union.

Additional reporting by Sarah Laitner in Brussels