USA imposes visa and entry ban on citizens of 38 countries, including two Caribbean states

The United States has imposed visa restrictions on citizens of 38 countries. The list includes Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica — Caribbean states that allow foreign nationals to obtain citizenship by investment.

The restrictions will come into force on January 1st, 2026. The decision was announced in a presidential proclamation titled “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States”, signed by Donald Trump on December 16th, 2025[1].

The USA will review the restrictions every 180 days and may amend or lift them if necessary.

The presidential proclamation introduces two formats of visa restrictions — full and partial. Depending on the country, the USA will either completely suspend entry for new applicants or limit the issuance of certain visa categories.

Why the US is introducing entry restrictions

The US attributes the restrictions to deficiencies in screening and vetting information and related security standards in a number of countries.

A separate ground for the restrictions is the existence of citizenship-by-investment programs in some states. The US government argues that investors may use a second passport to conceal their identity and assets to circumvent travel restrictions or financial or banking restrictions.

What will change for citizens of Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica

Once the entry restrictions come into force, citizens of Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica will no longer be able to obtain:

• immigrant visas for permanent residence in the country;
• B‑1 visas for short-term business travel;
• B‑2 tourist visas;
• B‑1/B‑2 visas for combined business and tourist travel;
• F visas for academic study at universities, colleges, and other accredited US educational institutions;
• M visas for vocational and technical education;
• J visas for participation in cultural, educational, and professional exchange programs.

The USA has also instructed consular officers to shorten the validity period of any other non-immigrant visas issued to citizens of Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica, where permitted by law.

Who will still be able to travel to the USA despite the restrictions

US visa restrictions do not apply to three categories of foreign nationals:

1. Lawful permanent residents of the United States.
2. Dual nationals, provided they travel on a passport issued by a country not subject to the restrictions.
3. Holders of valid non-immigrant visas in the following categories: A‑1, A‑2, C‑2, C‑3, G‑1—G‑4, and NATO‑1—NATO‑6.

In addition, the USA allows for case-by-case exceptions where an individual’s travel is deemed to be in the national interests of the United States.

The prime ministers of Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica commented on the US announcement the day after its publication and said they intended to engage promptly with the US government.

Antigua and Barbuda

Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne described the US decision as a mistake and said that the current rules of the country’s citizenship-by-investment program do not pose risks to US security.

Three days after the decree was published, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda secured a partial easing of visa restrictions. This was announced by Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States, Ronald Sanders, on December 19th, 2025[3].

The two countries signed a preliminary agreement guaranteeing that citizens of Antigua and Barbuda holding valid US visas as of December 31st, 2025, would retain the right to enter the United States.

Antigua and Barbuda’s Consul General in Nigeria, Ambassador William Wallace, stated that the minimum physical presence requirement for investors in Antigua and Barbuda could be increased from 30 to 90 days within 5 years of obtaining citizenship[4].

Dominica

The government of Dominica took a more measured approach and said it was already engaging with the US Embassy in Bridgetown to obtain urgent clarification on the scope of the measures, the grounds for their introduction, and their implications for citizens of Dominica.

The statement also said the government was ready to continue working with US authorities to protect the interests of Dominica citizens[5].

Full restrictions apply to citizens of the following countries:

• Afghanistan,
• Burkina Faso,
• Haiti,
• Iran,
• Yemen,
• Laos,
• Libya,
• Mali,
• Myanmar,
• Niger,
• Republic of the Congo,
• Somalia,
• Sudan,
• Sierra Leone,
• Syria,
• Chad,
• Equatorial Guinea,
• Eritrea,
• South Sudan.

Partial visa restrictions apply to citizens of:

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

The US statement introducing entry restrictions does not mention other Caribbean countries that offer citizenship by investment, namely St Kitts and Nevis, Grenada, and St Lucia.

Grenada

Grenada citizenship allows investors to apply for a US E-2 visa, which permits them to live and work in the country. Citizens of Grenada may also obtain a B-1/B-2 tourist visa valid for up to 10 years. This visa allows stays of up to 180 days per year in the United States.

The minimum investment required to obtain Grenada citizenship is $235,000. An application may include a spouse, children up to the age of 30, parents, grandparents, and siblings.

St Kitts and Nevis

With citizenship of St Kitts and Nevis, investors are eligible for a 10-year B-1/B-2 tourist visa to the United States.

To qualify for a St Kitts and Nevis passport, an investment of at least $250,000 in the country’s economy is required. Citizenship may be extended to a spouse, children up to 25 years old, and parents over 55.

St Lucia

St Lucia citizenship also allows its holders to obtain a 10-year B-1/B-2 visa to the United States.

The minimum investment under the program is $240,000. A citizenship application may include a spouse, children up to 30 years old, parents over 55, and siblings under 18.

If regular travel to the United States is a priority for you, Immigrant Invest’s lawyers can advise on the most suitable immigration route in a one-to-one consultation.