The United States government has announced a partial suspension of the issuance of specific categories of visas to Nigerian citizens, with the new restrictions set to take effect from January 1, 2026.
The decision follows Presidential Proclamation 10998, which focuses on border control and national security concerns.
The US Mission in Nigeria confirmed on Monday that the measure will commence at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time under the proclamation titled “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States.”
Nigeria is listed among 19 countries affected by the policy, alongside Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, and Zambia.
Under the proclamation, the United States will impose a partial suspension on the issuance of nonimmigrant B-1/B-2 visitor visas, as well as F, M, and J visas issued to students and exchange visitors. The restrictions also extend to immigrant visas, though certain exemptions apply.
Those exempted include immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran, dual nationals applying with passports from countries not affected by the suspension, eligible US government employees under the Special Immigrant Visa programme, participants in designated major international sporting events, and Lawful Permanent Residents.
The policy applies strictly to foreign nationals who are outside the United States on the effective date and who do not already possess a valid US visa. According to the statement, “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.”
While Nigerian applicants can continue to submit visa applications and attend scheduled interviews, the mission cautioned that they “may be ineligible for visa issuance or admission to the United States” once the new rules are enforced.
The development comes against the backdrop of recent policy actions by Washington affecting Nigeria. In October, the United States reinstated Nigeria on its list of countries accused of violating religious freedom, citing ongoing insecurity and attacks on Christian communities. This was followed by Nigeria’s inclusion in a revised US travel ban framework that introduced partial entry restrictions for its nationals.
What you should know
The US visa suspension targeting Nigeria is not a total ban but a partial restriction affecting visitor, student, exchange, and some immigrant visas from January 2026.
Nigerians who already hold valid US visas before the effective date will not be affected, and no existing visas will be cancelled under the proclamation. Applications can still be submitted, though approval is not guaranteed.
The decision is tied to broader US security and immigration policies and follows earlier actions that placed Nigeria on religious freedom and travel restriction watchlists.
