The United States government has moved routine visa processing in Nigeria from its embassy in Abuja to the US Consulate General in Lagos.
The new arrangement, which commenced on August 1, 2026, means applicants seeking routine US visas are now required to use the Lagos consulate for the processing of their applications.
The US Embassy in Abuja announced the change in a reminder shared on its official X account, stressing that the development affects routine visa services only.
“Routine visa services are only available at the Consulate General in Lagos. Effective August 1, 2026, U.S. Embassy Abuja no longer processes routine visa applications,” the embassy said.
The mission, however, assured applicants who had already obtained appointments in Abuja that their appointments would be honoured, although some dates may have been adjusted.
It urged such applicants to monitor their email addresses for notifications about any changes to their scheduled dates.
“All applicants who already have scheduled appointments will be honored; however, those dates may have been rescheduled. Those with appointments in Abuja should check their email for their new appointment date,” it stated.
The embassy further explained that applicants with unused and valid MRV visa application fee receipts could use the receipts to obtain new appointments at the Lagos consulate.
The shift is part of a wider decision by the US Department of State to restructure routine visa operations across Africa and concentrate services in selected regional centres.
The department said the realignment was designed to strengthen national security by ensuring greater consistency in visa screening, vetting and adjudication, while improving operational efficiency.
Under the revised arrangement, Lagos has been designated Nigeria’s regional visa hub. Other designated hubs include Accra, Abidjan, Addis Ababa, Dakar, Johannesburg, Nairobi and Yaoundé.
The US government has also stressed that the adjustment does not constitute the closure of its diplomatic mission in Abuja.
Instead, it concerns the processing of routine visa applications, with the Abuja embassy no longer serving as a routine visa processing centre.
The affected services include routine nonimmigrant and immigrant visa applications, covering categories such as tourist and business visas, petition-based visas, family preference immigrant visas and employment-based immigrant visas.
Nigerians requiring routine US visa services will consequently have to schedule and attend their appointments at the US Consulate General in Lagos under the new system.
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