New US Visa Restrictions for Nigeria Kick In on 1 January

The United States will impose a partial suspension on the issuance of key visas to Nigerian nationals beginning January 1, 2026, aligning with a new presidential directive aimed at tightening border and national security protocols. The policy was confirmed on Monday by the U.S. Mission in Nigeria.

In accordance with Presidential Proclamation 10998, titled “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States,” the restrictions will take effect at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. Nigeria is listed among 19 nations subject to the new limitations, a group that also includes 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 suspension specifically applies to:

· Nonimmigrant visas, including B-1/B-2 visitor visas and F, M, and J student and exchange visitor visas.

· Immigrant visas, with a narrowly defined set of exemptions.

U.S. officials have clarified that the proclamation is not a blanket ban. Exempt categories include:

· Immigrant visas for ethnic or religious minorities facing persecution in Iran.

· Dual nationals applying with a passport from a non-suspended country.

· Special Immigrant Visas for eligible former U.S. government employees.

· Lawful permanent residents of the United States (green card holders).

· Accredited participants in certain major international sporting events.

Crucially, the order only applies to individuals outside the United States on January 1, 2026, who do not already possess a valid U.S. visa issued before that date. The U.S. Mission explicitly stated that “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 schedule and attend interviews. However, the Mission cautioned that such applicants “may be ineligible for visa issuance or admission to the United States” under the new rules.

This development is the latest in a series of restrictive U.S. measures affecting Nigerian travelers and migrants in recent months. In October, the U.S. redesignated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” regarding religious freedom, citing ongoing insecurity and attacks on Christian communities. Nigeria was subsequently added to a revised U.S. travel ban list, foreshadowing the current partial entry restrictions.

Additional immigration policy changes have already been implemented, including a reduction in the validity of most non-immigrant visas for Nigerians to single-entry, three-month documents earlier this year. While reports had suggested a potential suspension of certain immigrant visa categories, U.S. authorities have now confirmed that lawful permanent residents and existing valid visa holders will not be impacted by the new proclamation.