The United States government has announced that its embassy in Abuja will no longer handle routine visa applications from August 1, 2026, as part of a wider restructuring of consular services across Africa.
The change will also affect 24 other US embassies and consulates on the continent, with routine visa applications set to be processed through designated regional centres instead.
According to the US Department of State, the reorganisation is designed to strengthen security measures, improve efficiency, reduce operating costs and standardise visa screening and adjudication across its diplomatic missions.
In a statement published on its official website, the department said the decision forms part of ongoing efforts to ensure overseas operations better reflect the priorities of President Donald Trump’s administration.
“The Department of State is constantly evaluating its overseas operations in order to advance America’s priorities as efficiently and effectively as possible. This includes a visa process that maintains rigorous standards of security screening and vetting and aligns resources and operational capacity with America’s national interests.
“The Trump administration has no higher priority than the safety and security of Americans, and the State Department will continue to provide Americans with appropriate consular services and assistance at diplomatic posts around the world,” the statement read.
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The diplomatic missions affected by the new policy include those in Abuja, Asmara, Bamako, Banjul, Brazzaville, Bujumbura, Conakry, Cotonou, Durban, Freetown, Gaborone, Harare, Juba, Libreville, Lilongwe, Lusaka, Maputo, Maseru, Mbabane, N’Djamena, Niamey, Nouakchott, Ouagadougou and Windhoek.
The department clarified that the adjustment is limited to routine visa processing and does not mean the affected embassies and consulates will cease operations.
It noted that the missions will continue carrying out their diplomatic responsibilities while providing other consular services, including assistance to US citizens.
The State Department also reassured travellers that visas already issued remain valid and will not be affected by the operational changes.
With the new arrangement, applicants seeking routine US visas from countries covered by the policy will be directed to regional processing hubs, while local diplomatic missions continue to provide non-visa-related consular support.