US has suspended visa services in Abuja among 24 other African Diplomatic Posts from August 1.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the United States has announced that it will discontinue routine visa services at its Embassy in Abuja and 24 other diplomatic posts across Africa from August 1, 2026, as part of a major regional realignment aimed at strengthening security and improving operational efficiency.
The announcement was contained in a statement issued by the US Department of State, which said the move is designed to enhance national security, eliminate government waste, and ensure more consistent screening, vetting, and adjudication standards for visa applicants.
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According to the department, the administration of President Donald Trump is restructuring overseas operations to better align with America’s national interests while maintaining high standards in visa processing.
“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 department clarified that the realignment affects only routine visa services and does not alter the operating status of the affected embassies and consulates, which will continue to provide other diplomatic and consular services.
It also stressed that the policy does not affect any currently valid US visas.
According to the State Department, the regional hub model has already been successfully implemented in several African countries and parts of Europe.
Full List of African Diplomatic Posts Where US Visa Services Will End from August 1
- Abuja, Nigeria
- Asmara, Eritrea
- Bamako, Mali
- Banjul, The Gambia
- Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
- Bujumbura, Burundi
- Conakry, Guinea
- Cotonou, Benin
- Durban, South Africa
- Freetown, Sierra Leone
- Gaborone, Botswana
- Harare, Zimbabwe
- Juba, South Sudan
- Libreville, Gabon
- Lilongwe, Malawi
- Lusaka, Zambia
- Maputo, Mozambique
- Maseru, Lesotho
- Mbabane, Eswatini
- N’Djamena, Chad
- Niamey, Niger
- Nouakchott, Mauritania
- Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
- Windhoek, Namibia
US Diplomatic Posts in Africa That Will Continue Offering Routine Visa Services
The State Department said routine visa processing will remain available at the following US embassies and consulates:
- Lagos, Nigeria
- Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
- Accra, Ghana
- Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Cape Town, South Africa
- Dakar, Senegal
- Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Djibouti, Djibouti
- Johannesburg, South Africa
- Kampala, Uganda
- Kigali, Rwanda
- Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Lomé, Togo
- Luanda, Angola
- Malabo, Equatorial Guinea
- Monrovia, Liberia
- Nairobi, Kenya
- Port Louis, Mauritius
- Praia, Cape Verde
- Yaoundé, Cameroon
The latest realignment is expected to centralize visa operations at regional hubs while allowing affected embassies and consulates to continue providing other essential diplomatic and consular services.
