The United States Embassy in Abuja has stopped handling routine visa applications, directing applicants to the US Consulate General in Lagos for such services.
The change took effect on August 1, 2026, as part of a wider restructuring of routine visa operations by the US Department of State across Africa. Under the new arrangement, Lagos now serves as Nigeria’s designated regional hub for routine visa processing.
Applicants who already had appointments scheduled in Abuja will still have their applications attended to, although some appointments may have been rescheduled. Those affected have been advised to check their email for updated appointment information.
Applicants with unused and valid Machine Readable Visa (MRV) fee receipts can also use them to schedule appointments at the Lagos consulate.
The new arrangement covers routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa services, including applications related to tourism, business, family and employment.
However, the development does not mean that the US Embassy in Abuja has been closed. The embassy remains operational, but routine visa processing has been moved to Lagos.
The US government said the broader realignment is intended to improve efficiency and promote more consistent screening and vetting procedures across its visa operations.
