US Trends

which countries are banned from us visa

There is no single, simple list of “countries banned from US visas,” but in early 2026 there are two overlapping things going on:

  1. a longer‑running “travel ban” policy that fully or partially blocks US visas for some countries, and
  2. a new January 2026 move to temporarily suspend immigrant visa processing for 75 countries, which does not ban all travel or all visa types.

Below is a clear breakdown you can treat like a “Quick Scoop” explainer.

What “banned from US visa” really means

When people ask “which countries are banned from US visas,” they’re usually referring to one of these:

  • Full travel bans: Nationals generally cannot get immigrant or non‑immigrant visas, with narrow exceptions.
  • Partial bans / restrictions: Some visa categories are suspended (often immigrant visas and selected visitor/student categories), but others still exist.
  • Temporary suspensions (like the 75‑country move): A pause on immigrant visa processing from certain countries, while tourist visas and other categories may still be issued.

Because of these layers, the real question is usually:

Is my country under a full ban , a partial restriction , or just the new immigrant‑visa suspension?

Countries under full travel bans (2026)

Law‑focused summaries and immigration analyses describe a group of countries facing full bans , where both immigrant and non‑immigrant visas are largely blocked, except for narrow humanitarian or special‑case waivers.

Commonly listed in this category for 2026:

  • Afghanistan
  • Burkina Faso
  • Chad
  • Republic of the Congo
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Eritrea
  • Haiti
  • Iran
  • Laos
  • Libya
  • Mali
  • Myanmar (Burma)
  • Niger
  • Sierra Leone
  • Somalia
  • Sudan
  • South Sudan
  • Syria
  • Yemen
  • People traveling on Palestinian Authority‑issued passports

In these cases, the ban applies broadly to entering the US, not just to one visa type.

Countries under partial / limited visa bans

A second group of countries is under partial travel bans , where the US may:

  • Suspend immigrant visas.
  • Restrict certain non‑immigrant visas (like some visitor or student categories).
  • Still allow other types (for example, diplomatic, some business, or case‑by‑case waivers).

Frequently mentioned in 2025–2026 partial‑ban lists:

  • Angola
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Benin
  • Burundi
  • Côte d’Ivoire
  • Cuba
  • Dominica
  • Gabon
  • The Gambia
  • Malawi
  • Mauritania
  • Senegal
  • Tanzania
  • Tonga
  • Togo
  • Venezuela
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

Some policy updates in late 2025 also mention additional states rotating between partial and full‑ban categories.

Key point: Partial ban ≠ total ban. People from these countries may still get certain visas, depending on category and individual circumstances.

The “75 countries” immigrant‑visa suspension (January 2026)

In mid‑January 2026, news outlets reported that President Trump’s administration would suspend immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries , starting around January 21, 2026. This is separate from, but layered on top of, the earlier travel bans.

Important details:

  • The move targets immigrant visas (e.g., green‑card type applications), not all travel.
  • Reports and commentary stress that tourist visas are not directly included in this particular suspension, at least in the initial statement.
  • The 75‑country list includes countries across:
    • Latin America (e.g., Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay).
    • Africa (e.g., Ghana, Nigeria, Algeria, Morocco, Rwanda).
    • The Middle East (e.g., Iraq, Jordan).
    • Eastern Europe and Central Asia (e.g., Albania, Belarus, Uzbekistan).
    • Asia and the Caribbean (e.g., Pakistan, Bangladesh, Haiti, Cuba).

Because different sources format and spell the list slightly differently, anyone affected should check the official US embassy or Department of State website for their country for the exact current status.

Quick guidance if you’re checking your own country

Given how fast these rules have changed since mid‑2025, here’s how to think about “which countries are banned from US visas” in practice:

  1. Check what type of “ban” applies.
    • Full travel ban = nearly all visas blocked, except for rare waivers.
    • Partial ban = some visa categories blocked, others still allowed.
    • 75‑country suspension = immigrant visas paused; other visas may still be available.
  1. Look up your specific country on an official site.
    • Go to your local US embassy/consulate website and look for “travel ban,” “visa suspension,” or “Presidential Proclamation” notices.
  1. Pay attention to timing (2025 vs 2026).
    • Lists changed in June 2025 , December 2025 , and January 2026 , so a country that was “clear” last year might now be restricted.
  1. Consider visa category.
    • Even under heavy restrictions, some categories (diplomatic, UN, emergency, or case‑by‑case waivers) may still be possible.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.