US announces travel ban on 39 countries from January 1: Complete list

 

The United States has expanded its travel ban to include citizens from seven additional countries, effective January 1. President Trump signed a proclamation on December 16, 2025, limiting entry into the United States for citizens of 39 nations as well as those using travel documents provided by the Palestinian Authority (PA).

This proclamation, which will go into force on January 1, 2026, builds upon the June 4, 2025, one that prohibited some foreign nationals from 19 nations from entering the country.

Nationals of 19 countries will come under full suspension, while another 20 countries will face partial suspension.

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Trump’s proclamation aims to restrict the entry of certain foreign nationals into the United States to prevent national security and public safety threats. The countries have been identified for which screening and vetting information was so deficient as to warrant a full or partial suspension.

The Administration referenced two immigration-related legal authorities: Section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which grants the President the power to suspend the entry of any aliens deemed detrimental to U.S. interests, and INA §215(a), which allows the President to set limitations and exceptions regarding entry or departure from the United States.

Exceptions

This proclamation shall not apply to an individual who has been granted asylum by the United States or to a refugee who has already been admitted to the United States. The proclamation makes it clear that the ability of an individual to seek asylum, refugee status, withholding of removal, or protection under the Convention Against Torture will remain as it is.

Section 6(b) of the proclamation outlines exceptions to the restrictions, specifically identifying lawful permanent residents and dual nationals traveling on passports from non-designated countries as exempt.

In contrast to the June proclamation, the December proclamation excludes categorical exceptions for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, adoptions, and Afghan SIVs.

Effective January 1, 2026, the United States has officially expanded its travel restrictions under Presidential Proclamation 10998.¹ This executive action more than doubles the previous list from 19 to 39 countries (plus the Palestinian Authority).²

The ban is divided into two categories: Full Restrictions (no immigrant or nonimmigrant visas) and Partial Restrictions (suspension of immigrant visas and specific nonimmigrant visas like tourist, student, and exchange visitor visas).

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1. Countries Under Full Restriction (19 + PA)

Nationals from these countries are generally barred from receiving all immigrant and non-immigrant visas.

• Original 12: Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.³

• Newly Added/Upgraded: Burkina Faso, Laos, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Syria.⁴

• Other: Individuals using travel documents issued or endorsed by the Palestinian Authority.⁵

2. Countries Under Partial Restriction (20)

For these countries, the U.S. has suspended immigrant visas and specific nonimmigrant visas, primarily B-1/B-2 (Visitor), F (Student), M (Vocational), and J (Exchange Visitor) visas.⁶

• Angola

• Antigua and Barbuda⁷

• Benin⁸

• Burundi

• Côte d'Ivoire

• Cuba

• Dominica⁹

• Gabon¹⁰

• The Gambia¹¹

• Malawi¹²

• Mauritania¹³

• Nigeria¹⁴

• Senegal

• Tanzania¹⁵

• Togo

• Tonga

• Turkmenistan (Note: Nonimmigrant ban lifted, but immigrant visas remain suspended)¹⁶

• Venezuela

• Zambia¹⁷

• Zimbabwe

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Key Rules & Exemptions

If you are a national of one of these 39 countries, here is how the ban affects you:

• Existing Visas: The proclamation does not revoke visas issued before January 1, 2026.¹⁸ If you have a valid visa or Green Card, you can still travel, though you may face enhanced screening at the border.

• Physical Presence: The ban does not apply to nationals of these countries who were already physically present in the U.S. as of January 1.¹⁹

• Major Exemptions: * Diplomats: Holders of A, C, G, and NATO visas are exempt.²⁰

  • Athletes: Participants in major sporting events (like the 2026 World Cup) may be granted special consideration.²¹

  • Dual Nationals: If you travel on a passport from a country not on the list, you are exempt.²²

• Removed Exceptions: Notably, prior exceptions for immediate relatives (spouses/children) of U.S. citizens and Afghan Special Immigrant Visas have been largely eliminated or suspended.

Retaliation

Several nations, including Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, have already announced reciprocal travel bans on U.S. citizens starting today, January 1, 2026.²³

Would you like me to find more details on the specific "National Interest Exceptions" or how this might affect the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup?

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