The United States has announced that it will begin a partial suspension of visa issuance to Nigerians from January 1, 2026, following a new presidential proclamation aimed at strengthening border 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 among 19 countries affected by the measure, alongside Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Under the proclamation, the suspension covers nonimmigrant B-1/B-2 visitor visas, as well as F, M and J student and exchange visitor visas. It also extended to immigrant visas, although limited exceptions apply.
The statement 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 – Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Cote D’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe – for nonimmigrant B-1/B-2 visitor visas and F, M, J student and exchange visitor visas, and all immigrant visas with limited exceptions.”
US authorities clarified that the policy does not apply to all categories of travellers.
Exemptions include immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran, dual nationals applying with passports from countries not affected by the suspension, and Special Immigrant Visas for eligible US government employees.
Lawful permanent residents of the United States and participants in certain major international sporting events are also excluded from the restrictions.
The US government further stressed that the proclamation applies only to foreign nationals who are outside the United States on the effective date and who do not possess 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 added.
Visa applicants from affected countries may continue to submit applications and attend interviews, but the US Mission cautioned that such applicants “may be ineligible for visa issuance or admission to the US” under the new policy.
The development comes amid growing concerns among Nigerians over recent US immigration decisions affecting travel, education and migration, including Nigeria’s re-listing for religious freedom violations and tighter visa rules introduced earlier this year.