A significant expansion of the United States' controversial travel ban policy has officially taken effect, impacting citizens from nearly 40 nations. The new restrictions, enacted under Proclamation 10998, came into force on January 1, 2026, following an announcement by the Trump administration in late 2025.
What Does the New US Travel Ban Entail?
US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the administration's intent to broaden the travel ban on December 4, 2025. The formal policy was published in an executive order from the White House on December 16, 2025. According to the White House, the extended restrictions are deemed necessary to prevent the entry of foreign nationals about whom the US lacks sufficient information to assess potential risks.
The proclamation places a total of 39 countries and entities under either full or partial travel restrictions. Notably, the ban now also includes immediate family members of US citizens from the affected nations, marking a stringent escalation of the policy.
Countries Under a Full Entry Ban
Effective January 1, 2026, a complete suspension of entry applies to both immigrants and all nonimmigrants from 20 countries and entities. This list includes nations from the original proclamation and several new additions.
The countries subject to a full ban are:
- Afghanistan
- Burma (Myanmar)
- Burkina Faso (newly added)
- Chad
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Haiti
- Iran
- Laos (moved from partial ban)
- Libya
- Mali (newly added)
- Niger (newly added)
- Republic of the Congo
- Sierra Leone (moved from partial ban)
- Somalia
- South Sudan (newly added)
- Sudan
- Syria (newly added)
- Yemen
Note: This list also includes individuals travelling on travel documents issued by the Palestinian Authority, which has been added under the new rules.
Countries Under a Partial Entry Ban
An additional 20 countries face a partial suspension of entry. For these nations, the ban applies to immigrants and to nonimmigrants seeking admission under specific visa categories: B-1 (business), B-2 (tourism), B-1/B-2, F (student), M (vocational student), and J (exchange visitor).
The countries under partial restrictions include:
- Angola (newly added)
- Antigua and Barbuda (newly added)
- Benin (newly added)
- Burundi
- Côte d'Ivoire (newly added)
- Cuba
- Dominica (newly added)
- Gabon (newly added)
- The Gambia (newly added)
- Malawi (newly added)
- Mauritania (newly added)
- Nigeria (newly added)
- Senegal (newly added)
- Tanzania (newly added)
- Togo
- Tonga (newly added)
- Turkmenistan*
- Venezuela
- Zambia (newly added)
- Zimbabwe (newly added)
*Important Exception for Turkmenistan: For this country, entry restrictions apply only to immigrants. All nonimmigrant visa categories remain unaffected, making it a unique case within the partial ban list.
For all other countries under the partial ban, consular officers are instructed to limit the validity of any other non-immigrant visas to the maximum extent permitted by law.
Implications and Global Reaction
The expansion of the US travel ban to 39 countries is one of the most sweeping versions of the policy since its initial implementation. It is expected to have profound effects on family reunification, academic exchanges, business travel, and tourism from the affected regions. The inclusion of immediate family members of US citizens represents a particularly impactful shift, potentially separating families across borders.
As the policy takes effect, prospective travellers, students, and immigrants from the listed nations are advised to consult with official US immigration channels and legal experts to understand the specific implications for their individual circumstances. The global community continues to watch the diplomatic and humanitarian fallout of this significant policy move by the United States.
