With effect from January 1, 2026, Trump extends the U.S. travel ban to 39 nations.
On January 1, 2026, the United States will implement a new travel ban that will impact the issuing of visas to individuals from 39 different nations. Here is a clear explanation of who is covered, who is not, and what travelers should know before making any overseas travel arrangements.
On January 1, 2026, there will be a significant travel update. A new decree from US President Donald Trump broadens the reach of his previous travel restriction. The new regulations restrict or prohibit the issuing of visas for individuals from 39 countries and those traveling with documentation issued by the Palestinian Authority.
The prohibition does not apply to you if you are in the United States on January 1st or if you already have a valid visa.
What This New Travel Prohibition Really Does
The arrangement separates nations into various categories. The United States will cease issuing all immigrant and non-immigrant visas to 19 countries. The United States will cease providing immigrant visas and certain common temporary visas for an additional 19 countries,
including:
B (Vacation)
F and M (Students)
J (Visitors on Exchange)
Turkmenistan is one nation where some regulations have been loosened, allowing its citizens to reapply for non-immigrant visas.
According to the government, security screenings require these modifications. However, many tourists might be perplexed or concerned about how the regulations would be implemented at borders and consulates.
Countries with Complete Restrictions
As you may know, up to 13 countries are currently completely barred under the June travel ban, and they are still on the list. Among them are:
Iran and Afghanistan
Libya
Somalia
Yemen and Sudan
The Haitian
A number of others.
The full-ban group now includes seven more nations thanks to the recent decree.
Among them are:
Burkina Faso
Mali
Sierra Leone, Laos, and Niger
Syria's South Sudan
The same limitations apply to those who use travel documents issued by the Palestinian Authority. Unless they are eligible for a rare exception, no one from these locations will be granted an immigrant or non-immigrant visa.
Nations with Partial Restrictions
A new kind of restriction will apply to visitors from a different group of 19 nations. They are not eligible for B, F, M, or J visas or immigrant visas.
These regulations impact the following nations:
Angola
Barbuda and Antigua
Benin
Burundi
Ivoire's Côte
Cuba
Dominica
Gabon
The Gambia
Malawi
The Mauritania
Nigeria
Senegal
Tanzania
Togo
Tonga
Venezuela
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Consulates may still provide visas for all other categories of visas, but they will have a limited validity period. These visas are already frequently limited to a single entrance and a few-month validity duration.
Who Is Not Affected
The list is shorter than it was previously, but there are still several exceptions. You are unaffected if:
On January 1, 2026, you are in the United States.
As of January 1, your visa is still valid.
You are a permanent resident of the United States.
You travel with the passport of a non-restricted countries while holding dual nationality.
You work as a government official or as a diplomat.
You travel for important international sporting events as an athlete or member of the support staff.
There is a very particular national interest exception that applies to you.
There were additional exceptions to the previous travel prohibition, such as adoption visas and close relatives. These have been eliminated.
Additionally, those who have already been admitted as refugees or those seeking asylum or CAT protection are unaffected by the directive.
What Travelers Should Know About This
Time is of the essence if you are from any of the impacted nations and intend to travel. The regulations change after January 1st, so anyone who is able to enter the country legally before then might choose to do so. You can still use your current visa, but you might have to go through additional screening at the airport.
Although the government has not verified how this will operate, residents of the United States having a legal status on January 1st may still be allowed to apply for a new visa at a later time. Uncertainty or delays could occur.
It's also important to note that US immigration authorities recently stopped processing immigration applications for individuals from nations with travel restrictions. Even if they are of a different nationality, those who were only born in one of these nations are equally impacted.
Concluding Remarks
Every 180 days, the United States will review the list, allowing for the addition, removal, or reclassification of nations. However, the regulations are now scheduled to go into effect on January 1 and will have a big effect on immigration and travel.
If you or someone you know is impacted, it could be beneficial to get advice as soon as possible and make careful travel arrangements.
