December 2025 Travel Restrictions: Major Policy Shifts Reshape International Travel
Travel restrictions updates for December 2025 reveal sweeping changes that affect millions of travelers worldwide. The United States is expanding its travel ban from 19 to over 30 countries, while simultaneously pausing all immigration applications for nationals from affected nations.
These dramatic policy changes follow the November 27, 2025 shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, DC. The incident has triggered the most significant immigration restrictions in recent years, with new measures announced almost daily.
US Travel Ban Expansion: From 19 to 30+ Countries
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed the administration will expand the current travel ban significantly.
- Current ban: 19 countries face full or partial travel restrictions since June 9, 2025
- Planned expansion: Between 30-32 countries will be affected, adding 10-13 new nations
- Full entry bans: Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen
- Partial restrictions: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela
- Additional countries: Up to 36 more nations under consideration, mostly in Africa
When asked about specific numbers, Secretary Noem stated: "I won't be specific on the number, but it's over 30, and the president is continuing to evaluate countries." The official announcement is expected around mid-December 2025.
USCIS Immigration Application Pause
On December 2, 2025, USCIS issued a memo freezing all immigration cases for nationals of the 19 travel ban countries. This unprecedented move affects multiple categories of applicants.
- Green card applications: All pending cases paused indefinitely
- Citizenship requests: Naturalization ceremonies halted for affected nationals
- Asylum applications: Over 1.4 million pending cases affected by comprehensive review
- Work permits: Employment authorization processing suspended
- Retroactive review: All cases approved since January 20, 2021 under re-examination
Former USCIS official Michael Valverde called the move "unprecedented," noting it affects "a large group of individuals and in every category of immigration benefit."
Who Is Affected by These Travel Restrictions?
These December 2025 travel restrictions impact several distinct groups of travelers and immigrants.
For Nationals of the 19 Banned Countries
Citizens of Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela face immediate restrictions. All pending immigration applications are frozen until further notice.
For Green Card Holders and Visa Applicants
Starting December 26, 2025, all non-citizens—including green card holders—must have photographs taken upon entry and exit at all US ports of entry. This applies regardless of nationality or visa status.
For Afghan Nationals Specifically
All visa and immigration processing for Afghan nationals was completely suspended effective December 2, 2025. This includes Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for those who assisted US forces.
How to Navigate These Travel Restrictions - Step by Step
If you're affected by these changes, here's what you should do immediately:
- Check your country status: Verify if your nationality is on the current 19-country list or potentially the expanded 30+ list
- Contact an immigration attorney: Seek legal counsel before any planned travel to or from the United States
- Prepare compliant documents: Ensure your passport photo meets current requirements for any pending applications
- Monitor USCIS announcements: Check uscis.gov daily for policy updates and memo releases
- Document your case: Keep copies of all immigration benefits, approval notices, and travel history
- Delay non-essential travel: If you hold a green card from an affected country, consider postponing international trips
Important Dates and Timeline
Key dates to remember for these December 2025 travel restrictions:
- November 27, 2025: Washington DC shooting triggers policy review
- December 2, 2025: USCIS issues memo pausing all immigration cases for 19 countries
- December 2, 2025: All Afghan visa processing suspended effective immediately
- December 26, 2025: New biometric photography requirement begins at all US ports of entry
- Mid-December 2025: Expected announcement of expanded 30+ country travel ban
- TBD: USCIS director must issue new memo to lift application pause
New Biometric Requirements at US Borders
The Department of Homeland Security announced that US Customs and Border Protection will begin implementing new facial recognition requirements.
- Who is affected: All non-citizens entering or exiting the United States
- What's collected: Photographs using facial recognition technology
- When it starts: December 26, 2025
- Where it applies: All US ports of entry nationwide
- Green card holders: Yes, they must comply with this requirement
This means having a current, compliant passport photo is more important than ever for international travelers.
Europe's Entry/Exit System (EES) Also Rolling Out
Meanwhile, 29 European countries began implementing the Entry/Exit System (EES) on October 12, 2025.
- Biometric collection: Fingerprints and facial scans required for non-EU nationals
- Data retention: Information stored for three years (five years if you overstay)
- Full implementation: April 9, 2026 - passport stamps will end
- Pre-registration: Frontex EES app allows travelers to register before arrival
The ETIAS visa waiver program has been delayed until late 2026, so current visa-free travel arrangements remain in place.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will the USCIS immigration pause last?
The pause has no set end date. According to the USCIS memo, applications will only resume when the USCIS director issues another formal memo lifting the restrictions. There is currently no timeline for this decision.
Can I still travel to the US if I'm from one of the 19 countries?
If you're from one of the 12 countries with full entry bans, travel to the US is prohibited with very limited exceptions. If you're from one of the 7 countries with partial restrictions, some visa categories may still be available, but processing is paused. Consult an immigration attorney before making any travel plans.
Will the travel ban expansion affect my pending visa application?
If your country is added to the expanded list, your pending application will likely be paused immediately. The administration has not provided guidance on what happens to applications already in process when new countries are added.
Do green card holders need to worry about re-entry?
Green card holders from the 19 affected countries should exercise caution. USCIS is conducting retroactive reviews of all immigration benefits granted since January 2021. Additionally, starting December 26, 2025, all green card holders will be photographed upon entry and exit.
What You Need to Know: Bottom Line
December 2025 marks a significant turning point in US immigration policy. The expansion from 19 to 30+ countries, combined with the unprecedented pause on all immigration applications and new biometric requirements, creates substantial uncertainty for millions of travelers and immigrants.
If you're planning international travel or have pending immigration applications, ensure all your documents are in order. VisaPics can help you prepare compliant passport photos and visa photos that meet the latest official requirements for over 950 document types across 170+ countries. Stay informed by monitoring official government announcements and consult with qualified immigration attorneys before making travel decisions.
Sources: - [CNN Politics - DHS recommends travel ban include at least 10 more countries](https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/02/politics/dhs-travel-ban-countries) - [NPR - US pauses green card, citizenship applications for 19 countries](https://www.npr.org/2025/12/03/g-s1-100218/trump-administration-halts-immigration-19-nations) - [OPB - Trump administration will expand travel ban to more than 30 countries](https://www.opb.org/article/2025/12/05/trump-administration-will-expand-travel-ban-to-more-than-30-countries-noem-says/) - [Council on Foreign Relations - Guide to Countries on Trump's 2025 Travel Ban List](https://www.cfr.org/article/guide-countries-trumps-2025-travel-ban-list) - [European Commission - Entry/Exit System](https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen/smart-borders/entry-exit-system_en) - [Boundless - US to Photograph All Foreign Travelers](https://www.boundless.com/blog/cbp-facial-recognition-rule-2025)