The United States Embassy in Nigeria has reiterated the implementation of visa restrictions affecting nationals of 19 countries, including Nigeria, with effect from January 1, 2026.
The reminder was issued on Wednesday via the embassy’s official 𝕏 (formerly Twitter) account, stressing that the measure remains in force in line with a presidential directive.
According to the embassy, the restriction is pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 10998, titled “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States.”
In its post, the embassy stated, “Reminder to Non-Immigrant Visa Applicants: Effective January 1, 2026, in line with Presidential Proclamation 10998 on ‘Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States,’ the Department of State is partially suspending visa issuance to nationals of Nigeria for B-1/B-2 visitor visas and F, M, and J student and exchange visitor visas.”
The affected categories include non-immigrant B-1/B-2 visitor visas, F and M student visas, J exchange visitor visas, and all immigrant visas.
Recall that on December 19, 2025, the United States announced a partial suspension of visa issuance to nationals of 19 countries.
The affected countries are Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Despite the restrictions, the US government listed several exemptions to the policy. These include immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran, dual nationals applying with passports from countries not affected by the suspension, and Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for eligible US government employees under 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)(D).
Other exemptions cover participants in certain major international sporting events and lawful permanent residents of the United States.
The embassy urged prospective applicants to take note of the restrictions and exemptions as the policy takes full effect from January 2026.