The US will partially suspend the issuance of certain visas to Nigerian nationals from January 1, 2026, following a new presidential proclamation on border and national security.
The US Mission in Nigeria disclosed on Monday that the restriction will take effect at 12:01 am Eastern Standard Time in line with Presidential Proclamation 10998, titled “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States.”
According to the statement, Nigeria is among 19 countries affected by the directive.
Others include Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Cote D’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The decree calls for a partial suspension of visa issuance for nonimmigrant B-1/B-2 guest visas, as well as F, M, and J student and exchange visas. It also applies to immigration visas, with some restrictions.
The US Mission underlined that the suspension is not applicable to everyone.
Exemptions include immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities persecuted in Iran, dual nationals applying with a passport from a country not covered by the suspension, and Special Immigrant Visas for qualified US government employees.
Other exempt categories include lawful permanent residents of the United States and participants in significant international sporting events.
The US government made it clear that the proclamation only applies to foreign persons who are outside the United States on the effective date and do not have a valid US visa as of January 1, 2026.
“Foreign nationals, even those outside the United States, who hold valid visas as of the effective date are not subject to Presidential Proclamation 10998. No visas issued before January 1, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. EST, have been or will be revoked pursuant to the Proclamation,” the statement read.
Visa applicants from affected countries may continue to apply and attend interviews.
However, the US Mission stated that such applicants “may be ineligible for visa issuance or admission to the United States” under the new regulations.
In recent weeks, the United States has implemented a number of restrictive measures, raising fears among Nigerians intending to travel, study, or relocate to the country.
In October, Washington re-added Nigeria to its list of countries accused of breaching religious freedom, citing continued instability and attacks on Christian communities.
Following this, Nigeria was added to an updated US travel ban list, resulting in partial entrance restrictions for Nigerian people.
The United States has likewise tightened immigration and visa regulations for Nigerians.
Earlier this year, the US government decreased the validity of the majority of non-immigrant visas issued to Nigerians to single-entry visas valid for three months.
More recently, reports suggested that applications for certain immigrant visas, including green cards, could be suspended under a new presidential proclamation, but US authorities have clarified that lawful permanent residents and holders of valid visas issued before January 1, 2026, are exempt and will not have their status revoked.
