The United States has announced that it will discontinue routine visa processing at its embassy in Abuja and 24 other diplomatic missions across Africa from August 1, 2026, as part of a major overhaul of its global consular operations.
The US Department of State said the policy is designed to centralise routine visa processing in regional hubs to strengthen national security, improve the consistency of visa screening and adjudication, and reduce operational costs.
In a statement published on its website on Wednesday, the department said the restructuring forms part of President Donald Trump’s administration’s broader agenda of prioritising America’s national interests and security.
“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 read.
The affected diplomatic missions include the US Embassy in Abuja and embassies and consulates in 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.
The State Department clarified that the decision applies only to routine visa processing and does not affect the overall operations of the affected embassies and consulates.
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According to the department, the diplomatic missions will continue to provide consular assistance to US citizens and carry out their diplomatic responsibilities without interruption.
It also assured travellers that visas already issued remain valid and will not be affected by the new policy.
The department explained that the United States periodically reviews its overseas diplomatic operations to improve efficiency and better allocate resources.
Under the new arrangement, applicants from countries affected by the policy will be required to process routine visa applications through designated regional processing hubs, while their local US embassies and consulates continue to provide other diplomatic and consular services.
