Travellers from 20 countries will be barred from entering the US unless they already hold a valid visa or are already in the country. Photo: Shutterstock.
On 4 June, American president Donald Trump issued a proclamation banning travel to the United States for citizens of several countries, effective Monday 9 June.
This unwelcome—but not unexpected—development echoes his previous term in office, during which he introduced the so-called "Muslim travel ban."
Who is affected?
Starting June 9, 2025, travellers from 20 countries will be barred from entering the US unless they already hold a valid visa or are already in the country.
The ban applies fully to citizens of Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
It also applies to travellers from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela who are using B1, B2, B1/B2, F, M, or J visas.
There are, however, some exceptions to this proclamation. For more details, please see this advisory note from our colleagues at Tamizdat—a nonprofit organization that facilitates and advocates for international artist mobility and cultural exchange.
More information on working in the US
Tamizdat has issued a series of FAQs regarding travelling to the US, further to recent press commentary regarding increased scrutiny at ports of entry.
You can also revisit our news story from April which includes a webinar recording from Arts Infopoint—an organisation offering free guidance to international artists and arts organisations across the country on the administrative requirements for creative visits. The webinar covers topics such as visa types, the current climate, the impact on artists, and risk management considerations.