Nigeria among 19 countries affected as US tightens entry rules
The United States has announced a partial suspension of visa issuance to Nigerian nationals, effective January 1, 2026, following a new presidential proclamation aimed at strengthening border control and national security.
The US Mission in Nigeria disclosed on Monday that the restriction will take effect at 12:01 a.m. 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.”
Nigeria is one of 19 countries affected by the measure. Others include Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The proclamation provides for a partial suspension of visa issuance, covering nonimmigrant B-1/B-2 visitor visas, F, M and J student and exchange visitor visas, as well as immigrant visas, subject to limited exceptions.
A statement from the mission read in part:
“Effective January 1, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. EST, in line with Presidential Proclamation 10998 on ‘Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States,’ the Department of State is partially suspending visa issuance to nationals of 19 countries, including Nigeria.
US officials clarified that the policy does not apply to all travellers.
Exemptions include lawful permanent residents of the United States, dual nationals using passports from unaffected countries, Special Immigrant Visas for eligible US government employees, as well as participants in certain major international sporting events.
