Originally Posted: 3/10/2025 | Last Updated: 12/17/2025
On December 16, 2025, President Trump signed a proclamation expanding and building on prior policies to restrict the entry of citizens of certain countries. Along with the proclamation, the Administration released a Fact Sheet highlighting the additional restrictions. This, in effect, doubles the number of nations impacted by travel limits released earlier this year. The effective date for the December 2025 proclamation is January 1, 2026.
As we reported previously, effective June 9, 2025, nationals of 12 countries were fully banned from entry into the U.S. with 7 other countries facing a partial ban based on a Presidential Proclamation signed June 4, 2025. The December 2025 Proclamation maintains full entry restrictions on these 12 “high-risk” countries and adds full restrictions on an additional 5: Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, Syria, Laos, and Sierra Leone (notably, Laos and Sierre Leon were originally partially restricted, but moved to the full restriction list). The Proclamation also applies full restrictions to holders of Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents. Finally, the Proclamation imposes partial restrictions on 15 additional countries, noted below.
With some exceptions (described below), this applies to foreign nationals who:
- Are outside the United States on the applicable effective date of this proclamation;
- Do not have a valid visa as of June 9, 2025 (or January 1, 2026 for those newly added); and
- Are nationals of one of the listed countries (listed below).
Immigrant and nonimmigrant visas issued prior to June 9, 2025 or January 1, 2026 will not be revoked pursuant to this proclamation, indicating that nationals of the designated countries listed below may still enter the U.S., so long as they hold a valid visa. Other exemptions may also apply, as described below.
Nationals of the following countries are fully restricted from entry into the U.S. if they do not hold a valid visa and do not qualify under an exemption described below:
- Afghanistan
- Myanmar (referred to in the proclamation as Burma)
- Chad
- Republic of the Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Haiti
- Iran
- Libya
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Yemen
- Burkina Faso
- Mali
- Niger
- South Sudan
- Syria
- Laos
- Sierra Leone
- Those holding Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents.
Nationals of the following countries are partially restricted from entry into the U.S. if they do not hold a valid visa and do not qualify under an exemption described below:
- Angola
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Benin
- Burundi
- Cote d’Ivoire
- Cuba
- Dominica
- Gabon
- The Gambia
- Malawi
- Mauritania
- Nigeria
- Senegal
- Tanzania
- Togo
- Tonga
- Turkmenistan
- Per the December update, the nonimmigrant visa ban on Turkmenistan has been lifted, but maintains immigrant entry restrictions.
- Venezuela
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
The partial travel ban applicable to the countries listed above restricts entry into the U.S. in the following visa categories: B-1, B-2, F, M, and J. In addition, consular officers are to reduce the validity of any other nonimmigrant visa issued to nationals of above countries to the extent permitted by law.
The Associated Press provided the below graphic summarizing the impact:
Categorical Exemptions: This proclamation does NOT apply to the following:
- Any lawful permanent resident of the United States;
- Any dual national of a designated country that is traveling on a passport issued by a non-restricted country;
- Foreign nationals with a valid visa in the following classifications: A-1, A-2, C-2, C-3, G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, NATO-1, NATO‑2, NATO-3, NATO-4, NATO-5, or NATO-6;
- Any athlete or member of an athletic team, including coaches, persons performing a necessary support role, and immediate relatives, traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event as determined by the Secretary of State;
- Special Immigrant Visas for United States Government employees under 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)(D);
- Any individual who has been granted asylum by the United States or to a refugee who has already been admitted to the United States; and
- “Nothing in this proclamation shall be construed to limit the ability of an individual to seek asylum, refugee status, withholding of removal, or protection under the Convention Against Torture, consistent with the laws of the United States.”
- immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran.
Importantly, the following no longer appear under the categorical exemptions list, and instead, may fall under the case-by-case exemptions:
- Immediate family immigrant visas (IR-1/CR-1, IR-2/CR-2, IR-5) with clear and convincing evidence of identity and family relationship (e.g., DNA);
- According to the Fact Sheet, the December 2025 update “narrows broad family-based immigrant visa carve-outs that carry demonstrated fraud risks, while preserving case-by-case waivers.” The Proclamation states: “…immigrant visas for family members of individuals in the United States will no longer be a broad categorical exception.”
- Adoptions (IR-3, IR-4, IH-3, IH-4);
- Afghan Special Immigrant Visas; and
- Individuals who have been granted withholding of removal or protection under the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment of Punishment (CAT).
National Interest Exceptions: The Proclamation contains a limited national interest exception under the authority of either the Attorney General or Secretary of State, noting:
“Exceptions…may be made for certain individuals for whom the Attorney General finds, in her discretion, that the travel by the individual would advance a critical United States national interest involving the Department of Justice, including when individuals must be present to participate in criminal proceedings as witnesses. These exceptions shall be made only by the Attorney General, or her designee, in coordination with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security. Exceptions…may be made case-by-case for individuals for whom the Secretary of State finds, in his discretion, that the travel by the individual would serve a United States national interest. These exceptions shall be made by only the Secretary of State or his designee, in coordination with the Secretary of Homeland Security or her designee.”
It remains unclear at this point what type of travel may qualify for an exemption based on national interests or how those determinations will be made.
As indicated above, this policy is subject to review and alteration. We are monitoring the situation closely and will update this page with any new information as we know more. Also keep an eye on our Trending Topics page for updates on other issues impacting travel, noting other potential risks depending on visa classification, nationality, and other circumstances.
