The United States will partially suspend the issuance of certain visas to Nigerian nationals starting January 1, 2026, following a new presidential proclamation on border and national security.
The US Mission in Nigeria announced on Monday that the restrictions 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 among 19 countries affected by the measure, including 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 imposes a partial suspension on the issuance of nonimmigrant B-1/B-2 visitor visas, as well as F, M, and J student and exchange visitor visas, and certain immigrant visas, with limited exceptions.
The US Mission clarified that the suspension does not apply to all applicants. Exemptions include immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran, dual nationals applying with a passport from an unaffected country, Special Immigrant Visas for eligible US government employees, lawful permanent residents of the United States, and participants in major international sporting events.
The proclamation only applies to foreign nationals outside the United States on the effective date who do not hold a valid US visa as of January 1, 2026. According to the statement, “Foreign nationals 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.”
Visa applicants from affected countries may continue to submit applications and attend interviews, but they may be ineligible for visa issuance or entry under the new rules.
The move follows a series of recent US measures affecting Nigerians. In October, Nigeria was added back to the US list of countries allegedly violating religious freedom, citing persistent insecurity and attacks on Christian communities. This was followed by Nigeria’s inclusion on a revised US travel ban list, which imposed partial entry restrictions on Nigerian nationals.
Earlier in 2025, the US reduced the validity of most nonimmigrant visas issued to Nigerians to single-entry visas valid for three months. Reports also suggested that some immigrant visa applications, including green cards, could face suspension. However, US authorities have emphasized that lawful permanent residents and holders of valid visas issued before January 1, 2026, are exempt and will not have their status revoked.
