Starting January 1, 2026, the United States will partially suspend the issuance of several visa categories to Nigerian citizens.
This decision follows Presidential Proclamation 10998, which focuses on enhancing border and national security.
The U.S. Mission in Nigeria confirmed that the new restrictions go into effect at 12:01 a.m. EST on New Year’s Day.
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Titled “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States,” the order places Nigeria among 19 countries facing similar measures. Other affected nations include Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, and Venezuela.
Affected Visa Categories
The suspension primarily impacts the following types of travel documents:
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B-1/B-2: Standard visitor visas for business and tourism.
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F, M, and J: Student and exchange visitor visas.
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Immigrant Visas: Most categories of permanent residency visas, with limited exceptions.
Key Exemptions
Not all travelers are affected by the suspension. The proclamation includes specific exemptions for:
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Existing Visa Holders: Anyone with a valid U.S. visa issued before January 1, 2026, can still use it. No existing visas will be revoked.
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Dual Nationals: Individuals applying with a passport from a country not listed in the proclamation.
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Official Business: Holders of diplomatic (A or G) visas and Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for U.S. government employees.
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Athletes: Participants in major international sporting events.
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Legal Residents: Lawful Permanent Residents (Green Card holders) are not subject to the ban.
The U.S. Mission clarified that Nigerians may still submit applications and attend interviews. However, under the new security guidelines, they “may be ineligible for visa issuance or admission to the United States.”
The official statement emphasized the status of current holders:“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… have been or will be revoked pursuant to the Proclamation.”
This move follows a series of diplomatic tensions. In October 2025, the U.S. placed Nigeria on a list of countries accused of violating religious freedom due to persistent insecurity.
More recently, on December 3, 2025, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced targeted visa bans on specific individuals allegedly responsible for violence against religious minorities in Nigeria.
The broader proclamation is part of a 2025 policy shift aimed at countries the U.S. describes as having “deficient screening and vetting information.”
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