The United States Embassy in Nigeria has clarified that it will continue processing diplomatic and official visas in Abuja despite recent changes to routine visa services affecting the mission.
The clarification came from the U.S. Mission Nigeria in a post on X, following concerns about the U.S. Department of State’s decision to realign routine visa processing in Abuja and several other African locations to designated regional visa hubs.
According to the U.S. government, the new arrangement, which took effect on August 1, 2026, aims to strengthen security screening, improve operational efficiency, and align overseas visa services with U.S. national interests.
The changes affect routine visa services in Abuja and several other African cities, including Antananarivo, 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.
However, the U.S. Department of State emphasised that the realignment does not mean the affected diplomatic missions are closing.
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In its latest clarification, the U.S. Mission Nigeria said the U.S. Embassy in Abuja would continue processing visas under the A, G and C categories, which cover eligible diplomatic and official travel.
The embassy also advised applicants who believe they qualify for any of the diplomatic or official visa categories to contact their protocol office, which typically handles visa-related matters.
The clarification confirms that although routine visa applications have been redirected to regional processing hubs, the U.S. Embassy in Abuja will continue to provide visa services for eligible diplomatic and official applicants.
Source: The nation
