A New US Visa Bond Raises the Cost of Access for African Startups
For African founders and tech professionals, access to the United States is about to become more expensive. Beginning in January 2026, applicants from more than 20 African countries seeking short-term US visas will be required to post a refundable bond as a condition of entry.
The policy, a revival of a US visa bond programme, applies to applicants who already qualify for B1 and B2 business and tourist visas. Under the new rules, travellers must lodge a bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000, which will only be refunded if they leave the US before the expiration of their authorised stay.
Most of the affected countries will see the policy take effect on January 21, 2026.
Who the Policy Applies To
The directive covers a wide range of African countries, including Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Angola, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Malawi, Zambia, The Gambia, Gabon, Benin, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Burundi, and Cabo Verde, among others.
Applicants subject to the bond requirement must complete a Department of Homeland Security immigration bond form and make payment through the US Treasury’s online system. Entry into the US will also be restricted to three designated airports: Boston Logan International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, and Washington Dulles International Airport.
While framed as an administrative measure, the directive introduces a new layer of friction for African professionals whose work depends on global mobility.
A Financial Squeeze for Early-Stage Founders
On paper, the policy is designed to reduce visa overstays. In practice, it presents a meaningful financial burden for Africa’s startup ecosystem, one of the continent’s most internationally integrated sectors.
For early-stage startups, where seed funding typically ranges from $50,000 to $250,000, a $10,000 bond represents a significant portion of available capital. In real terms, that amount can equal one to three months of operating runway.
The challenge compounds when startups need to send more than one team member to the US for conferences, accelerator programmes, or investor meetings. Even though the bond is refundable, the temporary freeze on cash can disrupt payroll, product development, and growth plans.
As a result, mobility may increasingly favour founders with access to international capital, institutional backing, or personal liquidity. Entrepreneurs without these buffers, including many women-led and youth-led startups, could find US travel harder to justify.
Fundraising Becomes More Complicated
The timing of the policy is particularly sensitive. The United States remains one of the most important sources of venture capital for African startups. In recent years, US-linked funds have participated in more than a third of major venture deals on the continent.
Despite the rise of remote pitching, in-person engagement continues to play a critical role in fundraising, especially during due diligence. Investor trust is often built through repeated, face-to-face interactions, particularly in a global funding environment that has grown more cautious.
By adding a financial gate to travel, the visa bond risks widening the gap between founders with established US networks and those still trying to build them. Access, rather than traction or product quality, could become the deciding factor in who gets funded.
Accelerators and the Silicon Valley Pipeline
Accelerator programmes have long served as a bridge between African startups and Silicon Valley. Many of these programmes rely on in-person residencies that require founders to spend several weeks in the US.
The new bond requirement may force accelerators to rethink how many African founders they invite for physical programmes. Some may reduce in-person slots or shift more activities online, potentially weakening one of the most effective pathways African startups have used to integrate into global tech networks.
Although the policy is presented as a response to immigration compliance concerns, its effects extend well beyond tourism and casual travel.
Read More: Google and Apple Warn Visa-Dependent Employees Against International Travel
Mobility as a Competitive Advantage
For Africa’s tech ecosystem, mobility is not a luxury. It is a strategic asset. Capital, partnerships, and market access are often unlocked through physical presence, not just pitch decks and video calls.
By increasing the cost of that presence, the US visa bond introduces a new barrier at a time when African startups are already navigating tighter funding conditions and rising operational costs. The risk is not just fewer trips to Silicon Valley but a slower flow of ideas, capital, and opportunity in both directions.
As the global tech economy becomes more fragmented, policies that restrict movement may end up shaping who gets to participate and who gets left behind.
