The United States of America has announced a stop to routine visa processing at its embassy in Abuja and 24 other diplomatic missions across Africa from August 1, 2026.
The U.S. Department of State said the move is part of a broader restructuring of its overseas consular operations aimed at centralising routine visa services in regional hubs to enhance national security, reduce government spending, and ensure greater consistency in visa screening, vetting and adjudication.
In a statement on the U.S. Department of State website on Wednesday, the department said the reorganisation aligned with the priority of President Donald Trump‘s administration to place America’s interests and security first.
Besides Abuja, the affected diplomatic posts 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.
The State Department, however, clarified that the change affected only routine visa processing and does not alter the operational status of the embassies and consulates involved.
It also emphasised that all diplomatic missions would continue to provide consular services and carry out their regular functions on behalf of the United States.
The department further assured travellers that the policy did not invalidate visas already issued.
(Ripples)