US Imposes Partial Visa Ban on Nigeria and 18 Countries from January 1, 2026

The United States will begin enforcing a partial visa suspension for Nigeria and 18 other countries starting January 1, 2026. This was confirmed in a statement released on the website of the US Embassy and Consulates in Nigeria on Monday.

The suspension affects nonimmigrant B-1/B-2 visitor visas, F, M, and J student and exchange visitor visas, as well as all immigrant visas, though some exceptions apply.

According to the US statement, nationals of the affected countries who are outside the United States on the effective date and do not hold a valid visa will be subject to the restrictions. The countries included are Nigeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Cote D’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, and Zambia.

The partial suspension is part of Presidential Proclamation 10998, titled “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States.” It targets specific visa types while leaving room for certain exceptions. 

These include immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran, dual nationals using passports not subject to the suspension, Special Immigrant Visas for US government employees, participants in major sporting events, and lawful permanent residents.

The US Embassy clarified that affected individuals can still submit visa applications and schedule interviews. However, visa issuance or entry into the United States may be denied depending on the case.

Why Nigeria is affected

Nigeria was added to the US travel restriction list in December 2025 due to security concerns and challenges with immigration compliance. 

The US cited activities of extremist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State, which complicate screening and vetting processes.

According to the Fiscal Year 2024 Entry/Exit Overstay Report, Nigerian nationals had overstay rates of 5.56% for B-1/B-2 visas and 11.9% for F, M, and J visas. Concerns about document integrity, identity verification, and regional instability also influenced the US decision.

What partial restrictions mean

Nigeria is not facing a total travel ban. The partial suspension affects both immigrant and non-immigrant visas for categories including visitor, student, and exchange visas. Current visa holders, lawful permanent residents, diplomats, athletes, and travelers whose journeys serve US national interests are exempt.

Case-by-case waivers will still be considered, but certain family-based immigrant visa categories cited by the US as having higher fraud risks will face stricter scrutiny. For Nigerians applying for new visas, this may result in more detailed screening, longer processing times, and potentially higher rejection rates.

The US government stressed that the restrictions are not targeted at Nigerians as individuals, but are part of broader security measures affecting multiple countries.