United States has announced a travel ban affecting 39 countries, effective January 1, 2026, Full List
The United States has announced a travel ban affecting 39 countries, effective January 1, 2026, under a proclamation signed by President Donald Trump on December 16, 2025.
Scope of Ban:
– Nationals of 19 countries face full suspension of entry.
– Nationals of 20 countries face partial suspension.
Legal Basis:
– Section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) – allows the President to suspend entry of foreign nationals deemed detrimental to U.S. interests.
– Section 215(a) of INA – permits setting limitations and exceptions on entry/departure.
Exceptions:
– Individuals granted asylum or admitted as refugees.
– Lawful permanent residents and dual nationals traveling on passports from non-designated countries.
– However, unlike the June 2025 proclamation, no categorical exceptions for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, adoptions, or Afghan SIVs.
Reasoning:
Countries included were identified as having deficient screening and vetting information, posing potential national security and public safety threats.
Countries Under Full Suspension (19 nations)
Nationals from these countries are completely barred from entry into the U.S. unless they qualify for specific exceptions:
Afghanistan
Burkina Faso
Burma (Myanmar)
Chad
Republic of the Congo
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Haiti
Iran
Laos
Libya
Mali
Niger
Sierra Leone
Somalia
South Sudan
Sudan
Syria
Yemen
Holders of travel documents issued by the Palestinian Authority
Partial Suspension (20 countries)
Nationals from these countries face limited entry restrictions (certain visa categories suspended, enhanced vetting required):
Angola
Bangladesh
Benin
Cambodia
Cameroon
Central African Republic
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Djibouti
Ethiopia
Ghana
Guinea
Kenya
Mauritania
Nigeria
Pakistan
Senegal
Tanzania
Togo
Uganda
Uzbekistan
Implications
– This marks a significant expansion of the June 2025 travel restrictions, which initially covered 19 nations.
– The ban also applies to individuals traveling with documents issued by the Palestinian Authority.
– Could impact global mobility, especially for students, workers, and families from the affected regions.
Originally Published at Travel Media
