The United States government will partially halt 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 stated on Monday that the restrictions, under Presidential Proclamation 10998 titled “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States,” will take effect at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time.
Nigeria is among 19 countries affected by the new measures, 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.
The proclamation enforces a partial suspension on visa issuance, covering nonimmigrant B-1/B-2 visitor visas, F, M, and J student and exchange visas, as well as immigrant visas, with limited exceptions.
Exemptions include immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran, dual nationals applying with a passport from unaffected countries, Special Immigrant Visas for eligible US government employees, lawful permanent residents, and participants in certain major international sporting events.
The US Mission emphasized that the suspension applies only to foreign nationals outside the United States on January 1, 2026, who do not hold a valid US visa as of that date.
“Foreign nationals who already hold valid visas as of the effective date are not impacted by Presidential Proclamation 10998. No visas issued before 12:01 a.m. EST on January 1, 2026, will be revoked under this proclamation,” the statement clarified.
Visa applicants from the affected countries may continue to submit applications and attend interviews, but the US Mission cautioned that they may be ineligible for visa issuance or entry into the United States under the new rules.
The move comes after US President Donald Trump previously designated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” citing alleged attacks on Christians. Trump had warned of possible US military action if the Nigerian government did not act against Islamist militants.
Since that announcement, the US government has already implemented some travel restrictions affecting Nigerian nationals.
