The United States Embassy in Nigeria has clarified that it will continue to process diplomatic and official visas despite recent changes to routine visa services in the country.
The clarification was issued by the U.S. Mission Nigeria on X amid concerns over the decision by the US Department of State to transfer routine visa processing in Abuja and several other African locations to designated regional visa hubs.
The US government said the realignment was part of measures aimed at strengthening security screening, improving operational efficiency and ensuring that its overseas activities remain aligned with US national interests.
The new arrangement, which took effect on August 1, 2026, affects routine visa services in Abuja and a number of 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.
Despite the changes, the US Department of State has emphasised that the affected diplomatic missions are not being shut down.
In its latest clarification, the U.S. Mission Nigeria said the US Embassy in Abuja would retain responsibility for processing diplomatic and official visas under the A, G and C categories.
The mission advised applicants who believe they qualify for any of the diplomatic or official visa categories to first contact their protocol office, which typically coordinates visa-related matters for eligible applicants.
The clarification indicates that although routine visa processing has been moved to designated regional hubs, the US Embassy in Abuja will continue to handle visa applications for qualified diplomatic and official applicants.
