What’s Happening
On Tuesday, December 16, 2025, President Trump signed a new proclamation further restricting and limiting the entry of foreign nationals of 20 additional countries and the Palestinian Authority, effective January 1, 2026. These measures build on the June 2025 travel ban proclamation, which imposed full entry restrictions on 12 countries and partial restrictions on an additional 7 countries.
Under the new proclamation, the United States continues full restrictions and entry limitations on nationals of the original 12 countries: Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
The proclamation adds full entry restrictions and entry limitations on 5 additional countries: Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria. It further applies full restrictions and entry limitations to individuals holding Palestinian-Authority-issued travel documents.
Two countries that were previously subject to partial restrictions, Laos and Sierra Leone, have been elevated to the full restrictions list.
The expansion also imposes partial restrictions and entry limitations on 15 additional countries: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The proclamation continues the partial restrictions on 4 countries: Burundi, Cuba, Togo, and Venezuela, while lifting partial entry restrictions on Turkmenistan’s nonimmigrant visas, although immigrant entry remains suspended.
Exceptions are preserved for lawful permanent residents, existing valid visa holders, certain diplomatic and official categories, athletes, and persons whose entry serves U.S. national interests, but family-based carve-outs have been narrowed.
D&S is continuing to monitor this developing situation and will provide updates as they become available. Individuals impacted by the travel ban or travel restrictions are encouraged to reach out to their D&S attorney.