The administration of Donald Trump has announced a significant policy change, discontinuing the issuance of United States visas from several African nations, including Gabon, with this measure set to take effect by the end of June 2026.
This directive revises the list of African countries authorized to process US entry visas. Moving forward, approximately fifty nations across the continent will retain the privilege of issuing these travel documents.
The stated objective behind this decision is to strengthen efforts aimed at combating irregular immigration. For Gabonese citizens and residents, the nearest authorized countries for visa applications will now include Cameroon (specifically in Yaoundé), Togo (Lomé), and the Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa). Consequently, any individual residing in Gabon who wishes to travel to the United States will be required to journey to one of these designated locations to submit their visa application.
This new requirement is expected to lead to a substantial increase in overall travel expenses for prospective applicants, primarily due to the added costs of airfare and accommodation during their stay in the country where they must apply for their visa to the United States.
