Pakistan Is Not on the US 39-Country Visa Suspension List
Pakistan is not named on the US State Department list of 39 countries under an entry and visa suspension. See who is, what it covers and who is exempt.
Short answer: No. Pakistan is not named on the US State Department's list of 39 countries whose nationals face a full or partial suspension of entry and visa issuance. The measure, Presidential Proclamation 10998, took effect on 1 January 2026. Pakistani passport holders can still apply for US visas under normal rules.
The question keeps coming up because several US measures hit Pakistan in 2026 and people mix them up. The immigrant visa pause did include Pakistan. The 39 country suspension does not. We read the State Department's own page and the US Embassy Islamabad visa page on 12 October 2026, and set out what they say.
The suspension covers 39 countries, and Pakistan is not among them
The State Department page names 19 countries under a full suspension, 19 under a partial suspension and one with an immigrant visa only restriction. We read every name. Pakistan does not appear. The page also covers people who travel on Palestinian Authority documents.
The page carries a "last updated" date of 2 February 2026. We could not see any later change, but a later change is possible. The US Embassy Islamabad visa page still describes the measure on 12 October 2026, which tells us it was in force then.
| Group | Countries named on the State Department page |
|---|---|
| Full suspension (19) | Afghanistan, Burma, Burkina Faso, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Yemen |
| Partial suspension (19) | Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe |
| Immigrant visas only (1) | Turkmenistan |
Full and partial suspensions work differently
For a fully suspended country, the page says the measure applies to all nonimmigrant and immigrant visa categories, with exceptions. For a partially suspended country, it covers B-1 and B-2 visitor visas, F, M and J student and exchange visas, and all immigrant visas.
The page adds that applicants under the measure may still submit applications and attend interviews. They may be ineligible for a visa or for admission to the United States. So an application is not blocked at the form, but the outcome is shaped by the rule.
The measure took effect on 1 January 2026 at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. That is the time Washington used, which is 10:01 a.m. Pakistan time on the same day.
Who is exempt from the suspension
The page lists exceptions. They include certain diplomatic and official visas, lawful permanent residents, dual nationals travelling on a passport from a country not on the list, special immigrant visas for US government employees and participants in major sporting events.
It also lists children adopted by Americans, with case by case exceptions, and immigrant visas for persecuted ethnic and religious minorities from Iran. Check the page itself before you rely on an exemption, because the wording has conditions.
This matters for some families in Pakistan. A person who holds a Pakistani passport is judged by the passport. The page speaks of nationals of the listed countries, so it is the nationality that counts.
What it means for a Pakistani applicant
A Pakistani applicant for a visitor, student or work visa is not covered by the suspension. Normal rules apply, including the interview, the fee and social media screening for some categories. Neighbouring Afghanistan and Iran are on the full suspension list, which can matter for families with dual ties.
A person holding only an Afghan or Iranian passport but living in Pakistan is a national of a listed country. The suspension applies to that person even though they live in Pakistan. A Pakistani citizen is not affected on that ground.
- Check the passport you will apply on. The nationality on it decides whether the list applies.
- Look for your country in the State Department list, not in social media posts.
- If you are not on it, follow the normal visa steps for your category.
- If you hold a second passport, read the dual national exception carefully.
- Ask the embassy, not an agent, if your case is unclear.
Three US measures that are easy to confuse
Pakistan appears in one of three recent US measures, and the three have different rules. Mixing them up leads to wrong advice, so keep them apart.
| Measure | Pakistan covered? | Status we read |
|---|---|---|
| Entry suspension, Proclamation 10998 (39 countries) | No | In force since 1 January 2026 |
| Visa bond for tourist visas (50 countries) | No | In force since 1 August 2026, per our earlier report |
| Immigrant visa pause (75 countries) | Yes | No longer in effect since 21 August 2026 |
We covered the visa bond list earlier, and the immigrant visa pause that ended in August separately. Neither changes the answer here.
Common questions
Is Pakistan on the US travel ban list?
No. Pakistan is not named on the State Department page for Presidential Proclamation 10998, which lists 39 countries. The word Pakistan does not appear on it.
What is Presidential Proclamation 10998?
It is the US measure that fully or partially suspends entry and visa issuance for nationals of 39 countries. It took effect on 1 January 2026.
Can I still apply for a US visitor visa from Pakistan?
Yes. A visitor visa application from a Pakistani passport follows the normal rules. You still need an interview in most cases, and approval is not guaranteed.
Does the measure affect Afghans living in Pakistan?
Yes. Afghanistan is on the full suspension list, and the measure applies to Afghan nationals wherever they live. It applies to the passport nationality, not the place of residence.
Will Pakistan be added later?
We cannot say. The State Department can change the list, and the page we read was last updated on 2 February 2026. Check the State Department page before you travel or pay a fee.
Where do I read the official list?
On the State Department's page titled for the suspension of visa issuance to foreign nationals, which the US Embassy Islamabad visa page also links to.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
We read the State Department page on the suspension of visa issuance to foreign nationals and the US Embassy Islamabad visa services page on 12 October 2026. The State Department page shows "Last Updated: February 2, 2026". The country lists can change by order.
About the author
Global Affairs & Political Economy Writer
Muhammad Hatim is a book lover who started writing because he enjoys it. At Pakistan Era he writes about international relations, geopolitics and the global economy, with a particular interest in South Asia and the forces behind current events.
