The United States has listed 50 countries whose citizens must pay a visa bond of up to $20,000 when applying for certain visitor visas, including Nigeria, according to the US Department of State.

The measure applies to eligible applicants for B-1 business and B-2 tourist visas travelling on passports issued by the listed countries. The bond amounts are $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000, with the specific amount determined by a consular officer during the visa interview.

In a notice published on October 2, 2026, the Department of State outlined the countries subject to the visa bond programme and their respective implementation dates.

The programme operates under Section 221(g)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, with the department stating that the requirement applies regardless of where an applicant submits their visa application.

Full list of countries subject to US visa bonds

The 50 countries listed by the US Department of State, alongside their implementation dates, are:

Algeria — January 21, 2026

Angola — January 21, 2026

Antigua and Barbuda — January 21, 2026

Bangladesh — January 21, 2026

Benin — January 21, 2026

Bhutan — January 1, 2026

Botswana — January 1, 2026

Burundi — January 21, 2026

Cabo Verde — January 21, 2026

Cambodia — April 2, 2026

Central African Republic — January 1, 2026

Côte d’Ivoire — January 21, 2026

Cuba — January 21, 2026

Djibouti — January 21, 2026

Dominica — January 21, 2026

Ethiopia — April 2, 2026

Fiji — January 21, 2026

Gabon — January 21, 2026

The Gambia — October 11, 2025

Georgia — April 2, 2026

Grenada — April 2, 2026

Guinea — January 1, 2026

Guinea-Bissau — January 1, 2026

Kyrgyz Republic — January 21, 2026

Lesotho — April 2, 2026

Malawi — August 20, 2025

Mauritania — October 23, 2025

Mauritius — April 2, 2026

Mongolia — April 2, 2026

Mozambique — April 2, 2026

Namibia — January 1, 2026

Nepal — January 21, 2026

Nicaragua — April 2, 2026

Nigeria — January 21, 2026

Papua New Guinea — April 2, 2026

São Tomé and Príncipe — October 23, 2025

Senegal — January 21, 2026

Seychelles — April 2, 2026

Tajikistan — January 21, 2026

Tanzania — October 23, 2025

Togo — January 21, 2026

Tonga — January 21, 2026

Tunisia — April 2, 2026

Turkmenistan — January 1, 2026

Tuvalu — January 21, 2026

Uganda — January 21, 2026

Vanuatu — January 21, 2026

Venezuela — January 21, 2026

Zambia — August 20, 2025

Zimbabwe — January 21, 2026

How much must Nigerians pay for a US visa bond?

Nigerian citizens applying for B-1 business or B-2 tourist visas may be required to post a bond of $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000 if they are otherwise eligible for the visa.

The amount Is determined during the visa interview. The bond is an additional financial requirement and does not guarantee that the applicant will receive a visa.

Applicants must submit Department of Homeland Security Form I-352 and agree to the bond’s terms through the US Department of the Treasury’s Pay.gov platform.

The department ’arns applicants not to pay a bond before being instructed to do so by a consular officer. Applicants are expected to use the specific payment link supplied through official instructions.

The bond may be paid by the applicant or a third party, such as a relative, friend or business associate. However, the name of the person identified as the bond obligor on Form I-352 must match the name of the person making the payment.

If the bond conditions are satisfied, the money is refundable under the programme’s terms.

US visa bond holders restricted to commercial air entry

The programme also imposes travel conditions on people who post visa bonds.

According to the State Department, bond holders must enter and leave the United States through designated commercial air ports of entry, including US Customs and Border Protection preclearance locations.

They are not permitted to use charter aircraft, general aviation, land borders or sea ports of entry under the stated bond conditions.

Failure to comply with the designated entry and exit requirements could result in problems with entry or the recording of a traveller’s departure.

When will the US refund visa bonds?

The department outlined several circumstances under which a bond may be cancelled and the deposit returned automatically. (Vanguard)