The United States will stop routine visa processing at its embassy in Abuja and 24 other diplomatic missions across Africa from August 1, 2026, as part of a major overhaul of its overseas consular operations.
The US Department of State said the restructuring is intended to centralise routine visa services in regional hubs, strengthen national security, cut government spending and improve consistency in visa screening, vetting and adjudication.
In a statement published on its website on Wednesday, the department said the move aligns with President Donald Trump’s administration’s priority of putting America’s security and national interests first.
According to the statement, the State Department regularly reviews its overseas operations to ensure resources are deployed efficiently while maintaining rigorous security standards for visa processing.
The department stressed that the changes affect only routine visa services and do not alter the operational status of the affected embassies and consulates, which will continue providing consular assistance and other diplomatic services.
It also assured travellers that visas already issued remain valid.
Apart from Abuja, the affected diplomatic missions are located in 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.
Under the new arrangement, applicants in the affected countries will access routine visa services through designated regional processing hubs, while embassies and consulates continue to perform other diplomatic and consular functions.
