US to End Visa Services in Abuja, 24 Other African Cities from August 1

The United States government has announced that it will discontinue routine visa services at its Embassy in Abuja and 24 other diplomatic posts across Africa beginning August 1, 2026, as part of a major restructuring of its global consular operations.

The announcement was made in a statement issued by the US Department of State, which explained that the move is part of a broader strategy to improve national security, reduce government expenditure, and standardize visa screening and adjudication processes across its diplomatic missions.

According to the State Department, the realignment is designed to consolidate visa processing into regional hubs capable of delivering more efficient and consistent services while ensuring rigorous security checks.

The department said the administration of President Donald Trump remains committed to putting America’s national interests first by deploying resources more effectively across its overseas missions.

“The Department of State is constantly evaluating its overseas operations in order to advance America’s priorities as efficiently and effectively as possible,” the statement said.

It added that the visa process would continue to maintain strict security screening and vetting standards while aligning operational capacity with the country’s national security objectives.

“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 added.

Apart from Abuja, the diplomatic posts affected by the policy include 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 realignment does not mean the closure of any US embassy or consulate. It explained that all affected diplomatic missions will continue carrying out their regular diplomatic, consular, and citizen services despite the suspension of routine visa processing.

The department also emphasized that currently valid US visas remain unaffected, assuring travellers that existing visas will continue to be honoured according to their terms and validity.

Officials further noted that the regional hub model has already been successfully implemented in parts of Africa and Europe, improving operational efficiency without disrupting diplomatic services.

Despite the changes, routine visa services will continue to be available at selected US embassies and consulates across Africa, including those in Lagos, Abidjan, Accra, Addis Ababa, Cape Town, Dakar, Dar es Salaam, Djibouti, Johannesburg, Kampala, Kigali, Kinshasa, Lomé, Luanda, Malabo, Monrovia, Nairobi, Port Louis, Praia, and Yaoundé.

The latest policy marks one of the most significant changes to US visa operations in Africa in recent years and is expected to affect thousands of visa applicants who previously relied on the US Embassy in Abuja for routine visa appointments.