The United States Department of State has updated its visa bond list to include 50 countries, requiring nationals from these nations to pay a financial bond before travelling to the US. The list was last revised on October 2, 2026. This update includes a significant number of African countries, with 30 nations from the continent now subject to the bond requirement. The bond amounts can reach as high as $20,000 per applicant.
The implementation of the bond requirement has been staggered, with some countries subject to the requirement as early as August 2025. Malawi and Zambia were among the first affected, with their requirements taking effect on August 20, 2025. The Gambia followed on October 11, 2025, while Mauritania, Sao Tome and Principe, and Tanzania were added on October 23, 2025. This phased approach suggests that the Department of State has rolled out the measure in phases rather than as a single blanket policy.
African countries on the US visa bond list include Nigeria, Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cote D'Ivoire, Djibouti, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia, Senegal, Togo, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, among others. Their bond requirements came into force on January 21, 2026. A further wave of African countries, including Ethiopia, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, and Tunisia, were added later, with their requirements effective from April 2, 2026.
The list extends beyond Africa, with countries from Asia, the Caribbean, and the Pacific also subject to the bond requirement. In Asia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Georgia, the Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Nepal, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan are all subject to the requirement. Caribbean and Pacific nations affected include Antigua and Barbuda, Cuba, Dominica, Fiji, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. Venezuela is also included on the list.
Several non-African nations, including Cambodia, Georgia, Grenada, Mongolia, Nicaragua, and Papua New Guinea, were added in the April 2026 round of updates, indicating a continued expansion of the policy. The US Department of State's update represents the most comprehensive revision to date. The staggered implementation dates reflect a careful and phased rollout of the policy.
The US Department of State has also listed seven distinct categories of nonimmigrant visa applicants who are not required to pay the standard visa application processing fee. These exemptions apply to a defined set of applicants and do not extend automatically across all visa types. This move is part of a broader effort to streamline and clarify visa requirements for international travellers.
The updated visa bond list and exemptions reflect the US government's ongoing efforts to manage and regulate international travel. As global travel continues to evolve, the US Department of State is likely to revisit and revise its policies to address emerging trends and security concerns. Citizens of countries on the visa bond list should be aware of the requirements and plan accordingly to avoid any disruptions to their travel plans.
Key points
- The US Department of State has updated its visa bond list to include 50 countries, requiring nationals to pay a financial bond of up to $20,000 before travelling to the US.
- Thirty African nations are on the updated list, with bond requirements reaching as high as $20,000 per applicant.
- The implementation dates for the bond requirements vary, with some countries subject to the requirement as early as August 2025.
