US ends routine visa services in Abuja, moves operations to Lagos

U.S. citizens and residents in Nigeria must now direct their visa applications to Lagos, as routine services at the embassy in Abuja will cease on August 1, 2026. The U.S. Mission in Nigeria issued a reminder that the Consulate General in Lagos will serve as the newly designated regional hub for all visa processing.

This policy shift is part of a larger consolidation of visa processing operations across Africa. The U.S. Department of State stated that this realignment aims to strengthen national security by promoting uniform screening, vetting, and adjudication standards. The move is also intended to enhance operational efficiency and adapt to evolving U.S. immigration policy priorities.

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Citizens and residents of Nigeria who wish to apply for a visa must schedule an appointment and pay the required visa fee at US Consulate Lagos, the new designated location.

Applicants are instructed to schedule appointments and pay fees specifically at the U.S. Consulate in Lagos. The Department of State has designated twenty cities across Africa as regional visa hubs, including Lagos, Accra, and Nairobi. Consequently, twenty-five other diplomatic posts, such as Abuja, will now offer only American Citizen Services and limited non-immigrant visa services.

This realignment affects both non-immigrant and immigrant visa categories, encompassing tourist, business, and petition-based visas, as well as family, employment, and diversity visas. The department emphasized that while operations are being consolidated, the affected embassies and consulates will remain open, continuing their work on behalf of Americans.

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The US Department of State was consolidating visa processing at select regional hubs as part of a long-standing practice that strengthens national security by promoting more uniform screening, vetting and adjudication standards.