A significant expansion of the United States' controversial travel ban policy has officially taken effect. As of January 1, 2026, citizens from a total of 39 countries now face either full or partial restrictions on entering the US. This move follows a White House proclamation issued by the Trump administration late last year, marking one of the most sweeping immigration policy shifts in recent years.
Timeline and Rationale Behind the Expanded Ban
The plan to widen the travel restrictions was first announced by US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on December 4, 2025. She indicated the administration's intent to extend the ban's scope to cover nearly 40 nations, including immediate family members of American citizens. This plan was formalized through an executive order on December 16, 2025.
According to the White House, the expanded restrictions under Proclamation 10998 are deemed necessary to prevent the entry of foreign nationals about whom the US lacks sufficient information to assess potential risks. The policy officially came into force on the first day of 2026.
Countries Under Full and Partial US Travel Bans
The new policy imposes a two-tiered system of restrictions. A full ban suspends entry for all immigrants and nonimmigrants from designated countries. A partial ban limits entry for immigrants and for nonimmigrants applying under specific visa categories, including common visas like B-1/B-2 (business/tourism), F (student), M (vocational student), and J (exchange visitor).
Nations Subject to a Complete Entry Suspension
Nationals of the following 19 countries, plus individuals using Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents, cannot enter the US as of January 2026:
- Afghanistan
- Burkina Faso (newly added)
- Burma (Myanmar)
- 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
Palestinian Authority Travel Documents are also included in this full ban category.
Nations Subject to Partial Entry Restrictions
Citizens from 20 countries face limitations. They are barred from entering as immigrants and as nonimmigrants on B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, or J visas. The list includes:
- Angola (added)
- Antigua and Barbuda (added)
- Benin (added)
- Burundi
- Côte d’Ivoire (added)
- Cuba
- Dominica (added)
- Gabon (added)
- The Gambia (added)
- Malawi (added)
- Mauritania (added)
- Nigeria (added)
- Senegal (added)
- Tanzania (added)
- Togo
- Tonga (added)
- Turkmenistan*
- Venezuela
- Zambia (added)
- Zimbabwe (added)
*Turkmenistan is a unique exception within this group. The restrictions apply only to immigrants, while all nonimmigrant visa categories remain unaffected.
Broader Implications and Visa Validity
For all countries under the partial ban, the proclamation carries an additional significant directive. It instructs US consular officers to limit the validity of any other nonimmigrant visas to the maximum extent permitted by law. This means even for visa categories not explicitly banned, applicants from these nations may receive visas with shorter validity periods, increasing the frequency of renewals and scrutiny.
This expansive policy is set to impact thousands of students, business travelers, tourists, and prospective immigrants, reshaping global travel dynamics and diplomatic relations. The inclusion of several new countries across Africa, the Caribbean, and Asia signals a broader application of the administration's immigration and security criteria.
