The United States has entered 2026 with a significantly expanded travel ban that reshapes who can enter the country, how, and under what conditions.

The new rules, which took effect at 12:01 a.m. Eastern on January 1, 2026, extend sweeping entry suspensions to nationals of 20 countries, including Mali, Burkina Faso, and Syria, and tighten partial restrictions on millions of potential visitors from other nations.

For travelers, airlines, and global tourism businesses, the move marks one of the most consequential shifts in US border and visa policy in recent years.

More News

What the New US Travel Ban Actually Does

The latest proclamation, signed on December 16, 2025 by President Donald Trump and now in force, is formally titled “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States.”

It builds on an earlier June 2025 order but goes further by enlarging both the list of countries under a full ban and those facing partial restrictions.

Under the new framework, citizens of certain countries are subject to a “full ban,” which suspends their entry to the United States as both immigrants and nonimmigrants.

In practice, this means they cannot be issued US visas in any category, from tourist and student visas to work and immigrant visas, except in narrow, case-by-case waiver situations.

A separate “partial ban” category applies to other countries whose nationals face suspension of immigrant visas and common visitor and study visas, including B-1 business, B-2 tourism, F student, M vocational student, and J exchange visitor visas.

While other less common nonimmigrant categories remain technically available, consular officers are instructed to restrict their validity wherever possible, which adds another layer of unpredictability for travelers, employers, and universities.

The restrictions apply only to individuals who were outside the United States and did not hold a valid US visa as of the effective date, January 1, 2026.

They do not revoke existing visas, nor do they apply to US lawful permanent residents, dual nationals traveling on a passport from a non-listed country, or certain diplomatic and international organization travelers.

Countries Under Full Ban: Mali, Burkina Faso, Syria and Others

The most dramatic aspect of the new policy is the expansion of the full ban list. Twelve countries already under comprehensive restrictions since mid-2025 remain fully barred: Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.

To this roster, the December 2025 proclamation adds seven more states, along with holders of certain Palestinian travel documents.

Among the new additions are Mali and Burkina Faso, two Sahelian nations that Washington has flagged over persistent insecurity, the presence of armed groups, and limited cooperation in sharing security and identity information.

Syria, already long subject to US sanctions and layered restrictions, is also now explicitly folded into the full travel ban regime that blocks both immigrant and nonimmigrant entry for most of its citizens.

The other countries newly placed under a full ban are Laos, Niger, Sierra Leone, and South Sudan. In addition, individuals traveling on documents issued or endorsed by the Palestinian Authority are now barred from receiving US immigrant or nonimmigrant visas, unless an exception or case-by-case waiver applies.

Collectively, these measures close the door to almost all routine travel from these territories, affecting tourism, family visits, business trips, and labor migration.

For Malian, Burkinabe, and Syrian nationals, the shift is stark. Before January 1, 2026, many could at least apply for visitor, student, or humanitarian-related visas, even amid existing security vetting hurdles.

As of the effective date, those channels are largely sealed, apart from a narrow band of waivers that advocates say are difficult to obtain and inconsistently granted.

Partial Restrictions on a Second Tier of Countries

Parallel to the expanded full ban, the United States has recalibrated a separate list of countries facing partial restrictions. Four states previously subjected to partial limits remain on that list: Burundi, Cuba, Togo, and Venezuela.

Nationals from these countries cannot obtain immigrant visas or the most common visitor and study visas, though some specialized nonimmigrant categories may remain technically available.

To this group, the December 2025 proclamation adds a broad mix of 15 additional countries: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

For large, travel-intensive countries such as Nigeria and Senegal, the policy shift is substantial, affecting tens of thousands of potential visitors each year.

The partial ban does not shut off all avenues of entry, but it sharply curtails tourism, short-term business travel, academic exchanges, and many forms of family and cultural visits.

US consular posts are also instructed to reduce the validity periods of other visas issued to nationals of these countries wherever law permits, adding a climate of uncertainty and administrative burden for travelers and their hosts in the United States.

Turkmenistan occupies a unique place in the revised framework. Previously subject to a broader partial ban, it is now restricted only for immigrant visas.

Nonimmigrant visas for Turkmen nationals are no longer suspended as a category, although they remain subject to standard vetting and security checks.

Government Justifications and Security Rationale

The White House and Department of State have characterized the expanded travel ban as a national security measure rooted in concerns about identity management, information sharing, and counterterrorism cooperation.

Officials say that the countries listed either do not adequately share security and identity information with US authorities, or are experiencing levels of internal conflict, terrorism, or governance breakdown that undermine reliable vetting.

The December 2025 proclamation followed an interagency review process mandated by an earlier June 2025 order.

According to the administration’s public explanation, that review evaluated countries on factors such as the integrity of travel documents, reporting on lost or stolen passports, willingness to share criminal and terrorist information, and cooperation with US repatriation requests.

Recent domestic security incidents, including a November 2025 attack in Washington, D.C. that drew wide national attention, have been cited in official statements as part of the backdrop for tightening entry rules.

Administration officials argue that limiting travel from states seen as high-risk or uncooperative reduces opportunities for bad actors to exploit weaknesses in the US immigration and border control systems.

Critics, however, including immigrant-rights advocates, civil society groups, and some legal scholars, contend that the bans are overly broad, disproportionately target low- and middle-income countries, and effectively penalize ordinary travelers for the actions or capacities of their governments.

They also argue that the US already operates one of the world’s most intensive visa vetting systems, and question whether blanket country-level bans meaningfully improve security.

Immediate Impact on Travelers, Airlines, and Tourism

For the global travel and tourism sector, the new rules are already altering itineraries, booking patterns, and operational planning in the opening days of 2026.

Airlines serving routes from affected countries face a fresh wave of denied boardings, last-minute cancellations, and complex passenger communications, especially for those who had planned to apply for visas early in the new year.

Travel agencies and tour operators that work with clients from Mali, Burkina Faso, Syria, and other listed nations report a surge in inquiries from worried customers, many of whom have upcoming family events, conferences, or academic programs in the United States.

With visa issuance for most categories now suspended, these trips are effectively off the table unless travelers possess an already valid visa or can qualify under one of the narrow exemptions.

US universities, research institutes, and cultural organizations are also beginning to assess how the partial and full bans will affect incoming students, scholars, and exchange visitors.

Nationals from full-ban countries face a near-total bar on new F and J visas, while those from partial-ban countries such as Nigeria, Senegal, or Zambia could find their study or exchange plans delayed or blocked, depending on the timing of visa interviews and the specific category.

Downstream effects on US communities that have large African, Middle Eastern, Caribbean, or South Asian diasporas are likely to become clearer in the coming months.

Family reunions, weddings, funerals, and religious pilgrimages that depend on cross-border travel may be postponed or re-routed to third countries, affecting local hospitality industries in US cities that typically welcome relatives and visitors from the newly banned jurisdictions.

Diplomatic Fallout and Reciprocal Bans

The expanded US travel ban is already generating diplomatic pushback, particularly from West African governments that find themselves on the full-ban list.

On December 31, 2025, just one day before the new restrictions came into effect, Mali and Burkina Faso announced retaliatory bans on US citizens, prohibiting Americans from entering their territories in response to Washington’s decision to bar their nationals.

Officials in Bamako and Ouagadougou framed their moves as acts of reciprocity, arguing that if their citizens were not welcome in the United States, then US nationals should not expect unrestricted access to their countries.

The tit-for-tat steps highlight the risk of a broader cycle of travel restrictions that could impact international organizations, aid operations, and regional security cooperation at a time when the Sahel remains highly volatile.

Diplomats and analysts note that the expanded US ban also lands in a wider context of strained relations with a number of military-led governments in Africa and beyond. Some of these states have already diversified their international partnerships, turning toward other global powers for security assistance and investment.

The new restrictions on travel and visas may deepen that drift, complicating US efforts to maintain influence and shape outcomes in key regions.

In multilateral forums, human rights advocates and representatives of affected states are expected to press for the bans to be revisited, citing concerns about collective punishment and the impact on students, medical patients, and family members who have no connection to terrorism or security threats.

Legal challenges inside the United States, reminiscent of earlier litigation over previous travel bans, are also widely anticipated.

Who Is Exempt and What Waivers Exist

While the language of the proclamation is sweeping, it also includes a series of categorical exemptions and the possibility of case-by-case waivers.

Understanding these carve-outs is critical for travelers, immigration attorneys, and institutions trying to navigate the new landscape.

The ban does not apply to US lawful permanent residents, nor to individuals who already hold valid US visas as of January 1, 2026.

It also carves out space for dual nationals of a listed country who travel on a passport issued by a non-listed country, such as a Malian-French dual citizen using a French passport for entry to the United States.

Diplomatic and official travelers on visas such as A, G, and certain NATO classifications are also exempt, as are some international organization personnel.

Refugees and asylees who have already been admitted to the United States are not retroactively affected, though the proclamation’s practical implications for future refugee processing from banned countries remain to be fully clarified.

Beyond these broad exceptions, the order authorizes waivers when denying entry would cause undue hardship and admission would not pose a national security or public safety risk, and would be in the national interest.

Examples cited in past guidance under similar regimes have included urgent medical care, significant business or professional obligations, and reunification of immediate family in limited circumstances.

However, advocates stress that such waivers are discretionary, time-consuming, and historically granted only in a small fraction of cases.

Practical Advice for Affected Travelers and US Hosts

For would-be travelers from Mali, Burkina Faso, Syria, and other fully banned countries, the new rules mean that standard visa applications made after January 1, 2026 are likely to be refused automatically unless an exception clearly applies.

Immigration attorneys advise those individuals to seek professional legal guidance before paying visa fees or arranging travel, and to be extremely wary of misinformation circulating on social media.

Nationals of partially banned countries such as Nigeria, Senegal, Angola, or Zambia who are planning to study, visit, or participate in exchanges in the United States should check which visa category they need and whether that category is specifically suspended. In many cases involving B-1, B-2, F, M, or J visas, the answer will be yes.

Those with specialized work or talent visas outside the banned categories may still find a pathway, though approvals can be more tightly scrutinized.

US universities, employers, and cultural institutions hosting individuals from affected countries are being urged by immigration counsel to conduct immediate audits of pending and prospective cases.

Where necessary, they may need to adjust recruitment strategies, shift programs to partner countries, or expand remote and hybrid alternatives in order to keep international collaborations alive.

Travel insurance policies and flexible booking options have taken on fresh importance.

Travelers and hosts alike are being encouraged to favor refundable tickets and accommodations, and to maintain close communication with airlines, consulates, and legal advisors as US policy continues to evolve in the months ahead.

FAQ

Q1. Which countries are now under a full US travel ban as of January 1, 2026?
Nationals of 20 countries are subject to a full ban on both immigrant and nonimmigrant entry: Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Burma (Myanmar), Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, plus individuals traveling on documents issued or endorsed by the Palestinian Authority.

Q2. What is the difference between a full ban and a partial ban?
A full ban suspends entry to the United States for almost all immigrant and nonimmigrant visa categories for nationals of the listed countries, leaving only narrow discretionary waivers. A partial ban suspends immigrant visas and several key nonimmigrant categories, particularly common visitor and study visas, while allowing limited access to other visa types that consular officers can still restrict.

Q3. I am from Mali and already have a valid US visa. Can I still travel?
Yes, the proclamation applies to people who were outside the United States and did not hold a valid visa on January 1, 2026. If your visa is valid and has not been revoked, you can generally still travel, subject to standard border inspections, although you should expect close scrutiny and should carry documentation supporting the purpose of your trip.

Q4. How are travelers from Burkina Faso affected if they planned to apply for a tourist visa this year?
Nationals of Burkina Faso are now covered by the full ban, which means new applications for tourist or other nonimmigrant visas are expected to be refused unless they fall within a specific exemption or obtain a rare case-by-case waiver. Travelers should not assume that previously available visa categories remain accessible.

Q5. Which countries are under partial restrictions, and what does that mean for tourism and study?
Nationals of Burundi, Cuba, Togo, Venezuela, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe face a partial ban. For many, this means they cannot obtain B-1 or B-2 visitor visas or F, M, and J student and exchange visas, sharply limiting opportunities for tourism, academic study, and short-term business or cultural visits.

Q6. Are US citizens also affected by these changes when traveling abroad?
Technically the US proclamation governs who can enter the United States, not where US citizens can travel. However, some affected countries, including Mali and Burkina Faso, have already announced reciprocal bans on US nationals, which means Americans may find themselves barred from entry or subject to new restrictions when traveling to those countries.

Q7. Do these bans affect US lawful permanent residents from the listed countries?
No, the proclamation explicitly exempts US lawful permanent residents, often referred to as green card holders. They remain eligible to enter the United States using their permanent resident documentation, though they should still anticipate thorough questioning and document checks at ports of entry.

Q8. Can students from affected countries still attend US universities?
Students from full-ban countries will usually be unable to obtain new F or M student visas, making in-person study in the United States extremely difficult unless they already hold valid visas or secure a waiver. Students from partial-ban countries may also be blocked from obtaining new study visas, depending on the category and timing, so many institutions are exploring remote or third-country alternatives for impacted applicants.

Q9. Are there any humanitarian or emergency exceptions to the ban?
The proclamation allows for case-by-case waivers when denying entry would cause undue hardship, admission would not pose a security risk, and entry would be in the national interest. In practice, such waivers have historically been rare and require strong documentation, often including evidence of urgent medical needs, critical family circumstances, or significant professional obligations.

Q10. What should travelers and hosts do if they are unsure whether the ban applies to a specific case?
Individuals and organizations should consult qualified immigration counsel or accredited legal service providers, and review the most recent guidance from US consulates and official government channels before making travel plans. They should avoid relying on informal online advice, confirm visa eligibility for the specific nationality and category involved, and allow extra time for any required legal or administrative steps.