U.S. Travelers Are Now Banned From These Countries—What to Know

Several countries have banned American travelers from coming after the United States implemented its own expanded travel ban for many international visitors.

Both Mali and Burkina Faso in West Africa blocked U.S. citizens from heading there after President Donald Trump’s Administration placed both nations on a list of banned countries.

“In accordance with the principle of reciprocity, entry into Malian territory by US nationals is completely suspended,” the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation wrote in a statement posted to X. The post listed exceptions to the rule, including for athletes, diplomats, or U.S. citizens who are permanent residents of Mali.

The ministry added: “The measure will be subject to appropriate assessment.”

Burkina Faso similarly banned U.S. citizens, according to a statement obtained by the BBC. Burkina Faso’s foreign affairs minister has also said the government is acting on the “principle of reciprocity.”

The country of Niger imposed a similar travel ban on U.S. citizens the week before, The New York Times reported. Niger is also on the U.S. list of fully restricted countries.

All three countries share a border.

Even before the bans, the U.S. State Department had previously advised citizens not to travel to these three countries. The department classifies Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger under its highest Level 4 advisory, warning Americans about issues of terrorism, crime, kidnapping, and more.

Last month, Trump signed an order restricting entry to the U.S. for citizens from more than twenty countries, expanding an original ban issued in June. Partial restrictions were also added for citizens of popular Caribbean destinations Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica, which are each currently classified under the State Department’s lowest Level 1 travel advisory.

Countries that are fully banned include Afghanistan, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, and more.

“The United States must exercise extreme vigilance during the visa-issuance and immigration processes to identify, prior to their admission or entry into the United States, foreign nationals who intend to harm Americans or our national interests,” Trump wrote in the order.

The State Department issues travel advisories for countries and destinations around the world ranging from the lowest Level 1 warning to the highest Level 4. Regardless of where Americans are heading, the department recommends all international travelers enroll in the free Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), which automatically alerts travelers of changes in risk or emergency notifications.