The United States will partially suspend the issuance of certain categories of visas to Nigerian nationals from January 1, 2026, following a new presidential proclamation aimed at strengthening border management and national security.
The US Mission in Nigeria announced 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.
Other countries listed in the proclamation 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.
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According to the US Mission, the proclamation provides for a partial suspension of visa issuance, covering nonimmigrant B-1/B-2 visitor visas as well as F, M and J visas issued to students and exchange visitors.
The restriction also extends to immigrant visas, although several categories have been exempted.
The Mission clarified that the suspension does not apply to all Nigerian travelers or migrants.
“Exemptions include immigrant visas issued to 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 employees of the US government.
“Other exempted groups include lawful permanent residents of the United States and participants in certain major international sporting events”, it stated.
Importantly, US authorities stressed that the proclamation applies only to foreign nationals who are outside the United States on the effective date and who do not hold a valid US visa as of January 1, 2026.
“Foreign nationals who are inside the United States, or 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 said.
Despite the new restrictions, the US Mission said visa applicants from affected countries, including Nigeria, may continue to submit applications and attend scheduled interviews.
However, it cautioned that such applicants “may be ineligible for visa issuance or admission to the United States” under the new rules.
The announcement comes amid a series of recent US policy actions that have heightened anxiety among Nigerians seeking to travel, study or migrate to the United States.
In October, Washington added Nigeria back to its list of countries accused of violating religious freedom, a designation US officials linked to 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.
The United States has also tightened immigration and visa policies affecting Nigerians more broadly.
Earlier this year, the validity of most nonimmigrant visas issued to Nigerians was reduced to single-entry visas with a three-month duration.
More recently, reports suggested that applications for certain immigrant visas, including green cards, could face suspension under a new presidential proclamation.
US authorities have since clarified that lawful permanent residents and holders of valid visas issued before January 1, 2026, remain exempt and will not have their immigration status revoked.
