US Embassy ends routine visa processing in Abuja and shifts services to Lagos

Routine visa applicants in Nigeria must now travel to Lagos for processing after the US Embassy in Abuja stopped handling those applications on August 1, 2026.

“

Routine visa services are only available at the Consulate General in Lagos. Effective August 1, 2026, U.S. Embassy Abuja no longer processes routine visa applications.

The embassy announced the arrangement in a reminder on its official X account. It said applicants with existing appointments would still be attended to, although some appointments might have been rescheduled. Those applicants were told to check their email for a new date if necessary.

Applicants with unused and still-valid MRV visa fee receipts can use them to schedule appointments at the US Consulate General in Lagos. The change covers routine nonimmigrant and immigrant services, including tourist, business, petition-based, family-preference and employment-based immigrant visas.

“

All applicants who already have scheduled appointments will be honored; however, those dates may have been rescheduled. Those with appointments in Abuja should check their email for their new appointment date.

The shift followed a US Department of State decision to realign routine visa operations across Africa through designated regional hubs. Lagos became Nigeria’s regional hub, alongside centres in Accra, Abidjan, Addis Ababa, Dakar, Johannesburg, Nairobi and Yaoundé. The embassy stressed that the change does not mean Abuja has closed, but affects routine visa processing.

“

Additionally, applicants holding an unused and still-valid MRV (visa application) fee receipt may use it to schedule a new appointment at U.S. Consulate Lagos.