US Partial Travel Ban on Nigerians: Which Visa Types Are Affected?

The U.S. partial travel ban on Nigerians has recently been expanded, affecting multiple visa categories and raising concerns among travellers planning to visit the United States. The White House officially announced these new restrictions in a statement on its website on Tuesday, 16th December 2025, citing security concerns and challenges in vetting Nigerian nationals. For those planning trips to the U.S., understanding which visas are affected is now more critical than ever.

Which Visa Types Are Affected?

The U.S. partial travel ban on Nigerians extends to both immigrant and non-immigrant visa categories. Nigerians applying for admission as green card holders or on temporary visas, including B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J, are now restricted from entering the US. Specifically, the ban affects:

• B-1 visas for business trips
• B-2 visas for tourism purposes
• B 1/B 2 visas for combined business and tourism
• F visas for academic studies
• M visas for vocational or non-academic studies
• J visas for exchange programs and cultural visits

The White House emphasised that these measures are necessary due to ongoing difficulties in verifying applicants’ backgrounds and persistent security challenges in Nigeria.

Reasons Behind the US Travel Ban on Nigerians

The administration highlighted several reasons for implementing the travel restrictions:

• The presence of radical Islamist groups, such as Boko Haram and ISIS-affiliated organisations, complicates effective security screening.
• High rates of visa overstays among Nigerian nationals. Official data show that B-1/B-2 visa overstays are at 5.56% and F, M, and J visa overstays are at 11.90%.
• General security concerns and the difficulty in adequately vetting visitors from Nigeria.

These restrictions also aim to reinforce US immigration laws and encourage cooperation from foreign governments.

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Partial Exemptions

While the ban affects most new visa applicants from Nigeria, some travellers are exempt from the travel ban on Nigerians:

• Lawful permanent residents (green card holders)
• Holders of diplomatic visas
• Athletes attending major international events
• Certain special immigrant visa holders
• Persecuted ethnic or religious minorities

Even with exemptions, Nigerians applying for new visas under the affected categories will not be permitted entry under current rules.

Broader Context

The US travel restrictions on Nigeria form part of a wider update to its travel policies. In addition to Nigeria, 15 other countries are now under partial restrictions, including Angola, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Malawi, Senegal, and Zambia. A total travel ban applies to Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger, Syria, and Sudan due to instability, corruption concerns, and unreliable documentation.

According to the US administration, these measures are essential for national security and preventing entry by foreign nationals whose risk profiles cannot be adequately assessed.

Ongoing Discussions Between Nigeria and the U.S.

Despite the newly imposed restrictions, diplomatic engagement between Nigeria and the United States remains active. High-level delegations from both countries have continued discussions focused on addressing shared security concerns, improving information sharing, and strengthening identity verification and vetting processes. Nigerian officials have reportedly emphasized ongoing reforms in passport issuance, data management, and counter-terrorism efforts, while US authorities have reiterated their expectations around compliance with international security and immigration standards.

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These talks suggest that the U.S. partial travel ban on Nigerians is not intended as a permanent measure but rather as part of a pressure strategy to encourage measurable improvements in security cooperation. Both governments have signalled openness to reviewing the restrictions if progress is made in areas such as document integrity, biometric data reliability, and reducing visa overstays.