The United States will stop routine visa processing at its embassy in Abuja and 24 other diplomatic missions across Africa from August 1, 2026, in a major shake-up of its overseas consular operations.
The US Department of State said the move is part of a plan to centralise routine visa services in regional hubs, tighten security screening, cut government spending and make visa decisions more consistent.
In a statement, the department said the overhaul is in line with President Donald Trump’s “America First” agenda, insisting that protecting the safety and security of Americans remains its top priority.
It said it is constantly reviewing its overseas operations to ensure resources are deployed efficiently while maintaining strict visa screening and vetting standards.
The affected missions are in Abuja, 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, however, stressed that the embassies and consulates will not shut down. It said only routine visa processing will be suspended, while diplomatic duties and other consular services will continue as usual.
The department also assured travellers that visas already issued remain valid and will not be affected by the new policy.
Under the new system, applicants from the affected countries will have their routine visa applications processed through designated regional hubs as the US restructures its global consular operations.
