Here’s the latest situation (as of late 2025) regarding U.S. travel restrictions under President Donald Trump’s expanded travel ban — including the status of Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali, Togo, and other affected countries.
🇺🇸 Current U.S. Travel Ban & Restrictions (Effective Jan 1, 2026)
🟥 Full Travel Ban (No Entry/No Visas for Most Citizens)
The U.S. completely bars citizens of the following countries from entering the United States (with limited exceptions for existing visa holders, green card holders, certain diplomats, and other special cases):
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Afghanistan
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Burkina Faso new
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Mali new
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Niger new
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South Sudan new
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Syria new
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Myanmar (Burma)
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Chad
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Republic of the Congo
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Equatorial Guinea
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Eritrea
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Haiti
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Iran
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Libya
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Somalia
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Sudan
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Yemen
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Individuals holding Palestinian Authority–issued travel documents are also fully restricted.
These full bans mostly target countries the U.S. says have security screening deficiencies, persistent conflict, weak vetting processes, or are unwilling to cooperate on deportations/identity verification.
🔶 Partial Travel Restrictions
For many countries — including Nigeria and Togo — the U.S. has imposed partial restrictions rather than a full travel ban. This means:
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Some visa categories (especially immigrant visas, student visas, and exchange visas) may be limited, suspended, or hard to obtain.
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Tourist and business visa issuance could be curtailed or subject to extra vetting.
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People with valid visas already issued or who are green card holders are typically exempt from new restrictions.
Countries under partial restrictions include:
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Nigeria newly added under partial limits
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Togo (has been under partial restrictions since June 2025)
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Angola
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Antigua and Barbuda
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Benin
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Côte d’Ivoire
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Dominica
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Gabon
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The Gambia
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Malawi
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Mauritania
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Senegal
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Tanzania
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Tonga
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Zambia
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Zimbabwe
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Also continued partial restrictions for Burundi, Cuba, and Venezuela.
These restrictions generally make it more difficult for nationals to get immigrant visas, student visas (F/M), exchange visas (J), and some temporary business or tourist visas (B-1/B-2) — but don’t fully bar all entry in every case.
📌Nigeria’s Specific Status
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Nigeria is not on the full travel ban list.
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However, Nigeria is now subject to partial restrictions, meaning some visa types (especially new immigrant, student, and exchange visas) are being restricted or subjected to enhanced scrutiny.
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Existing valid visas and green card holders are generally not revoked by these new restrictions.
🧾 Why These Restrictions Were Expanded
Recent U.S. policy statements cite reasons like:
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National security concerns
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Weak security screening systems
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High visa overstay rates
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Inadequate information sharing on identity and background checks
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Terrorism or extremist threats in some regions
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Conflict and lack of government control in certain countries
Critics argue the list disproportionately targets African and lower-income nations, while supporters frame it as a security measure.
📌 Exceptions & Notes
Even for fully banned countries, there are exceptions for:
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Lawful permanent residents (green card holders)
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Nationals with valid existing U.S. visas
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Certain diplomatic travel or essential travel (e.g., some athletes, specific workers)
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Dual nationals who travel on an unaffected passport
Always check with the U.S. Embassy/Consulate or an immigration attorney for the most current guidance, especially if you have a pending visa application or specific travel plans.
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