US To End Routine Visa Services In Abuja From August 1

The United States has announced that it will discontinue routine visa services at its embassy in Abuja and 24 other diplomatic missions across Africa from August 1, 2026, as part of a broader restructuring of its consular operations.

The US Department of State said the move is intended to centralize visa processing at regional hubs, improve security screening, reduce operational costs, and standardize visa adjudication procedures across its diplomatic missions.

According to the department, the restructuring forms part of the Trump administration’s efforts to align overseas operations with US national security priorities while improving the efficiency of consular services.

The State Department, however, clarified that the decision does not mean the US Embassy in Abuja or the affected embassies and consulates will close. It said the missions will continue to provide other consular and diplomatic services, including assistance to American citizens.

The department also stated that visas already issued remain valid and are not affected by the policy change.

Besides Abuja, the affected diplomatic posts 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 said further guidance on visa application procedures and designated regional processing centres will be made available to applicants through official US embassy and consulate channels.