The United States has announced that its embassy in Abuja and 24 other diplomatic missions across Africa will no longer handle routine visa applications from August 1, 2026, following a major restructuring of its global consular operations.
According to the US Department of State, the decision is part of efforts to centralise routine visa processing in regional hubs to strengthen national security, improve consistency in visa screening and adjudication, and reduce operational costs.
In a statement published on its official website, the department said the reorganisation reflects the administration of President Donald Trump‘s commitment to prioritising America’s security and national interests.
“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 said.
The policy will affect US diplomatic missions in Abuja as well as those 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.
Despite the adjustment, the State Department stressed that the affected embassies and consulates will remain fully operational and continue providing other diplomatic and consular services.
It also assured travellers that visas already issued remain valid and will not be affected by the new arrangement.
The department explained that the changes apply only to routine visa processing, with applicants in the affected countries expected to submit their applications through designated regional visa processing centres, while embassies continue to deliver other essential consular assistance.
The United States noted that it periodically reviews its overseas diplomatic operations to improve efficiency, optimise resources and strengthen the delivery of consular services worldwide.
