Check the official site before you travel. imptmanhattan.com is a hotel and travel site; it does not issue visas or ESTAs and this is not legal advice. Rules change: confirm on esta.cbp.dhs.gov and travel.state.gov.
| Status | Visitor visas suspended |
|---|---|
| Visa or authorization | Partial suspension: B-1/B-2 visitor visas included |
| Where to apply | Check the State Department notice first |
| Fees and processing | Set by the US government: check the official site |
| Arrival | Inspection by US Customs and Border Protection at the airport |
Nigeria is not part of the Visa Waiver Program, so an ESTA is not available and a visa is required for the United States. Under Presidential Proclamation 10998, new visitor visas for Nigerian nationals are suspended (the partial suspension covers B-1/B-2 visitor visas), with limited exceptions. Visas issued before the proclamation remain valid. Check the State Department's announcement before booking flights or hotels in Manhattan.
What the status means in practice
Nigerian citizens need a visa for the United States; an ESTA is not available. Under Presidential Proclamation 10998, in force since January 1, 2026, the issuance of new B-1/B-2 visitor visas to Nigerian nationals is suspended (the partial suspension covers B-1/B-2 visitor visas), with limited exceptions. A consular officer may therefore decline a new visitor visa in most cases. Visas issued before the proclamation were not revoked.
One exception covers certain dual nationals who travel on another country's passport. If you hold a second nationality, read the wording of the proclamation and confirm your position with a US embassy or consulate before applying or paying for anything. A hotel booking or flight is not a reason to expect an exception. Nothing in a Manhattan itinerary changes the visa rules that apply to your passport.
Before the flight and on arrival
Build the trip in the right order. Confirm the visa position first, then book. Travel insurance, hotel reservations in Manhattan and a return ticket are practical preparations, not a substitute for a visa. Keep documents in hand luggage: passport, printed confirmation of any visa, hotel confirmation with a Manhattan address, and return or onward travel details. Check current entry requirements with the embassy and the airline.
Arrival at John F. Kennedy International, LaGuardia or Newark Liberty means a Customs and Border Protection inspection. Expect questions about the purpose of the visit, where you will stay and when you plan to leave. Answer plainly and carry supporting papers. A visa lets you travel to a US port of entry and ask for admission; the officer decides at the border.
Staying in Manhattan
Hotels in Manhattan ask for a passport at check-in. Have the booking confirmation ready, with the name matching the passport. Hotel staff cannot advise on immigration status. If a booking is flexible, keep it that way until the visa position is settled. Midtown, the Financial District, the Upper West Side and Harlem each have different characters and transport links, so choose a neighborhood that fits the days.
Getting into the city from the airports works by public transport, taxi, ride app, and by rail from Newark. Check current routes and service information before traveling, since these change. Carry a return or onward booking, because the officer at the airport may ask to see it. Allow realistic time for the journey back; Manhattan traffic is slow at peak hours.
Longer stays, work and study
A visitor visa covers tourism, family visits and short business meetings. Study, employed work, transfer within a company and long stays need different categories, each with its own application and conditions. If your plans involve any of these, check travel.state.gov before making commitments. The partial suspension of new visitor visas does not open an alternative route into the United States.
Students and workers usually need a sponsoring institution or employer, supporting documents and an interview at a consulate. Applications are individual, so general advice has limits. Confirm details with the embassy or consulate that covers your part of Nigeria. If an application is refused, ask for the reasons in writing before applying again. No third party can guarantee an outcome.
Step by step
- Read the State Department announcement of Presidential Proclamation 10998 on travel.state.gov and note its date and wording.
- Check whether an exception applies to you, for example certain dual nationals traveling on another country's passport.
- Contact the US embassy or consulate in Nigeria about how the proclamation affects your circumstances.
- Plan nothing non-refundable, including Manhattan hotels and flights, until the visa status is clear.
- Add a second option, such as different dates or another destination, in case the visa is not issued.
Documents to carry
- Passport with the name matching the flight booking and visa record.
- Printed confirmation of any US visa issued before the proclamation took effect.
- Hotel confirmation showing a Manhattan address and the dates of stay.
- Return or onward ticket and a short outline of the planned days.
- Contact details for the US embassy or consulate that handled the application.
Nigerian citizens: questions
Do Nigerian citizens need a visa to visit Manhattan?
Yes. Nigeria is outside the Visa Waiver Program, so an ESTA is not available and a US visa is required. Under Presidential Proclamation 10998, new visitor visas for Nigerian nationals are suspended (the partial suspension covers B-1/B-2 visitor visas) with limited exceptions. Check travel.state.gov and the embassy before booking.
Does Presidential Proclamation 10998 cancel visas Nigerian citizens already hold?
No. Visas issued before the proclamation were not revoked, and a valid visa in a Nigerian passport can still be used to travel to a US port of entry and ask for admission. Customs and Border Protection decides at the border. Carry the passport, the visa and hotel details, and check the official site before departure.
Can Nigerian citizens use an ESTA for a Manhattan trip?
No. The Visa Waiver Program does not include Nigeria, so an ESTA is not available to Nigerian citizens, and no other online authorization replaces a visa. A visa issued by a US consulate is the route for a visit to Manhattan. The official site esta.cbp.dhs.gov explains who may use the system.
What should Nigerian citizens ask the US embassy before booking a Manhattan hotel?
Ask whether the proclamation affects your situation, which category fits the trip and what documents the consulate expects. Confirm current entry requirements as well. Keep reservations flexible until the position is clear, because a hotel booking does not support a visa application and staff cannot advise on status.
Where will you stay in Manhattan?
Midtown for a first visit, SoHo or the West Village for character, the Upper West Side for the park. Live prices for your dates open in the IMPT app.
Photo credits: Pexels.