US Implements Visa Restrictions for Palestinian Passport Holders Amid Diplomatic Tensions

Tue Sep 23 2025 13:44:19 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In a controversial move, the US government has announced a suspension of most visas for Palestinian passport holders, significantly affecting those wanting to travel for business, education, or medical treatment.

The US has reportedly suspended most visitor visas for holders of Palestinian passports, following the rejection of visa applications for 80 Palestinian officials ahead of the United Nations General Assembly. The restrictions come as part of heightened US policies regarding national security and visa requirements, which may now include applicants from the West Bank and other parts of the Palestinian diaspora.

US officials have further restricted visitor visas for Palestinians, by denying them to almost all applicants who use a Palestinian passport, media reports say.

The development comes days after 80 Palestinian officials were denied visas ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Earlier in August, visitor visas were paused for people hoping to travel from the Palestinian territory of Gaza. This newly-reported decree would affect a wider group - including people living in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

The Department of State did not explicitly confirm the move but stated it was 'taking concrete steps in compliance with US law and our national security'.

The decision was issued in a diplomatic cable dated August 18, the New York Times and CNN reported.

US consular officers were instructed to refuse non-immigrant visas to 'all otherwise eligible Palestinian Authority passport holders'. This could impact Palestinians wishing to travel to the US for various reasons, including business, study, or medical treatment.

This means officials would now have to conduct further reviews of each application, effectively instituting a blanket ban on issuing visas to Palestinians, as reported by the New York Times.

However, Palestinians who can apply using other passports remain unaffected by these new restrictions.

It remains unclear what prompted this reported move, though the Trump administration has been consistent in its support for Israel's military campaign against Hamas in Gaza.

This announcement follows commitments from several US allies, including the UK, Canada, and France, to recognize a Palestinian state under specific conditions. US Vice-President JD Vance has indicated that Washington has 'no plans' to follow suit.

The Trump administration has also taken measures to clamp down on pro-Palestinian demonstrations at universities.

The recent visa restrictions are a further tightening of the president's stance, coming after earlier measures aimed at limiting travel for Palestinians.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, along with other officials, was recently blocked from attending the UN General Assembly meeting in New York after US officials revoked his visa, stating that both the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)—which Abbas leads—are undermining peace efforts.

The Department of State had previously paused approvals for visitor visas from Gaza for a review process on August 16.

The new visa policy additions impact applicants from the West Bank and the broader Palestinian diaspora.

According to a spokesperson from the Department of State, 'Every visa decision is a national security decision', and the State Department continues to vet and adjudicate these visa applications accordingly.