US to Restrict Nigerian Visas from January 2026 Under New Security Proclamation

US to Restrict Nigerian Visas from January 2026 Under New Security Proclamation

The United States has announced a partial suspension of visa issuance to Nigerian nationals, effective January 1, 2026, under a new presidential proclamation on 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 accordance 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. Others listed 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.

According to the statement, the proclamation introduces a partial suspension of visa issuance covering nonimmigrant B-1/B-2 visitor visas, as well as F, M and J student and exchange visitor visas. It also applies to immigrant visas, though with limited exemptions.

The US Mission clarified that the restriction does not apply to all applicants. Exempted categories include lawful permanent residents of the United States, dual nationals applying with passports from non-affected countries, and Special Immigrant Visa holders, particularly eligible US government employees.

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Other exemptions cover participants in select major international sporting events and immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran.

US authorities stressed that the proclamation applies only to foreign nationals outside the United States on the effective date 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 said.

While visa applicants from affected countries may continue to submit applications and attend interviews, the Mission cautioned that such applicants may be found ineligible for visa issuance or admission under the new rules.

The development comes amid tightening US immigration and visa policies that have raised concerns among Nigerians seeking to travel, study or migrate to the United States.

In recent months, Nigeria was relisted by Washington as a country of concern for religious freedom violations, a move linked to ongoing insecurity and attacks on Christian communities. This was followed by Nigeria’s inclusion on a revised US travel ban list, introducing partial entry restrictions.

Earlier in the year, the US government reduced the validity of most nonimmigrant visas issued to Nigerians to single-entry visas valid for three months. More recently, reports suggested that certain immigrant visa applications, including green cards, could face suspension under the new proclamation.

However, US authorities have reiterated that lawful permanent residents and holders of valid visas issued before January 1, 2026, remain exempt, and that no existing visas will be revoked under the policy.

US to Restrict Nigerian Visas from January 2026 Under New Security Proclamation