16 December 2025
Background: The U.S. imposed full travel restrictions on citizens from 12 countries under Presidential Proclamation 10949 in June of 2025. The countries affected were Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Additionally, the proclamation partially restricted the entry of people from seven countries, including Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
New Restrictions: The U.S. expanded the list of travel restricted countries on December 16, 2025. The new expanded proclamation will go
- Full Travel Ban
The full restrictions apply to citizens of
the U.S. as of January 1, 2026, and do
The new proclamation continues the full immigrant and nonimmigrant visa
into effect on January 1, 2026.
the affected countries who are outside hold a valid U.S. visa as of that date.
suspension of entry to the U.S. of all who are citizens of Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen and adds 5 countries to the full restriction list: Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria, and moves two countries, Laos and Sierra Leone, from the partially restricted list to the fully restricted list.
People using Palestinian Authority-issued or endorsed travel documents are also restricted from traveling to the U.S.
- Partial Travel Ban
The partial restriction applies to people
from the listed countries who are outside the U.S. as of January 1, 2026, and who do not have a valid visa as of that date. It prevents the entry of immigrants, and certain specific non-immigrant categories, B-1, B-2, F, M, consular officers to reduce the validity
and J visas, as well as instructs any other nonimmigrant visas issued to nationals of the countries listed below. It does not apply to citizens of the listed countries who are in the U.S. under one of the restricted categories of visas.
Burundi, Cuba, Togo, and Venezuela continue to be under a partial restriction. 15 countries are added to the partial restriction list: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe
Citizens of Turkmenistan may enter the immigrants.
Exceptions Lawful permanent residents of the U.S., athletes and diplomats are exempt from
as non-immigrants, but not as
current non-immigrant visa holders, the travel restrictions, as are some other individuals deemed to serve the national interest. In addition, dual nationals of a listed country are exempt passport issued by a country not
Removed Exceptions
when the individual is traveling on a to the travel ban.
The new December 2025 travel ban eliminates the following exceptions that previously existed under the June 2025 Proclamation, meaning that individuals from the impacted countries falling within one of these categories are no longer eligible for an exception to the December 2025 travel ban:
- Immigrant visas for family members in the U.S.
- Adoptions (IR-3. IR-4, IH-3, IH-4)
- Afghan Special Immigrant Visas
The reasons cited for the expansion of these restrictions include nationality security and public safety.
Considerations for International Students and Scholars International students or scholars currently in the U.S. who are citizens of one of the affected countries should consult with their international services office, and or an immigration attorney, before from the affected countries who have a
travel outside the U.S. Students valid visa should be allowed to re-enter the U.S., though to avoid possible problems, they may wish to return prior to the effective date of January 1, 2026. These travel restrictions should not apply to visa holders remaining inside the U.S. who are maintaining valid non-immigrant status, however, as always in uncertain times, careful consideration should be given to the risks of international travel and re-entry to the U.S.
Student Population Impact: According to an analysis by Inside Higher Ed and NBC News of the initial 2025 ban, nearly 19,000 students were already studying in the U.S. from the first group of travel ban countries. The most significant addition in the December 2025 expansion is Nigeria, which sent 21,833 students to the U.S. in the 2024-25 academic year, making it a top-10
Combining these figures, it is estimated
of international students.
that over 45,000 international students currently in the U.S. are citizens of countries now subject to either full or partial travel restrictions under the 2025 expanded bans.
Legal Challenge: Legal challenges to this expansion of the travel ban proclamation may be filed. One currently seeking plaintiffs against the travel ban is from IMMpact Litigation. See the details at https://www.immpactlitigation.com/39-country-adjudication-pause-litigation-pl aintiff-onboarding/.
The deadline to join the 39 Country Ban
Sources: The December 2025 Proclamation can
Litigation is December 30, 2025.
found here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/12/restricting-and-limiti ng-the-entry-of-foreign-nationals-to-protect-the-security-of-the-united-stat es/ The related fact-sheet announcement can be found here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/12/fact-sheet-president-donald -j-trump-further-restricts-and-limits-the-entry-of-foreign-nationals-to-protect -the-security-of-the-united-states/
Final summary: Fully restricted travel from the following travel documents issued or endorsed by
19 countries, and individuals using the Palestinian Authority:
Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, Syria, Laos and Sierra Leone
Partially restricted travel from the following 20 countries:
Burundi, Cuba, Togo, Venezuela, Turkmenistan (immigrants only), Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe