Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has criticised the decision as “misaligned with the principles of reciprocity, equity, and mutual respect
On July 8, the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria announced a significant change to its visa policy for Nigerians, limiting most non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas to single-entry and three-month validity, replacing the previous longer-term and multiple-entry permits. The embassy explained that “visa reciprocity is a continuous process and is subject to review and change at any time, such as increasing or decreasing permitted entries and duration of validity.” The move is part of a wider State Department review of global standards, including passport security, overstay management, and data sharing.
Nigerian travellers, particularly students, tourists, and business professionals, will now have to reapply more frequently. Visas issued before July 8 remain valid under previous terms. The policy comes after Nigeria was included in a list of 36 countries under potential U.S. travel restrictions last month. Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has criticised the decision as “misaligned with the principles of reciprocity, equity, and mutual respect,” urging the U.S. to reconsider.