US Suspends Visa Issuance for 12 African Nations in 2026

The US Department of State has announced a complete suspension of visa issuance to nationals from 12 African countries, effective January 1, 2026, under Presidential Proclamation 10998. This proclamation, titled "Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States," is part of a broader initiative affecting nationals from 39 countries.

The affected African nations include Burkina Faso, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Libya, Mali, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan. The restrictions apply to all nonimmigrant and immigrant visa categories, preventing these nationals from obtaining tourist, student, work, or residence-based visas.

The US government stated that these measures are necessary to ensure rigorous security screening and to mitigate risks to national security and public safety. This new proclamation builds on the earlier Presidential Proclamation 10949, which had already suspended entry for nationals of 19 countries and was replaced by the broader Proclamation 10998.