The United States Department of State has made changes to its visa rules for Nigerians, reducing the validity of most non-immigrant, non-diplomatic visas to three months and limiting them to single entry.
In a press statement released by the US Embassy in Abuja on Tuesday, the embassy noted that the new rule is now in effect. The update states that “most non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas issued to citizens of Nigeria will be single-entry visas with a three-month validity period.”
The change applies only to new visas issued from July 8, 2025, onward. According to the embassy, “those US non-immigrant visas issued before July 8, 2025, will retain their status and validity.” This means that anyone who already holds a valid visa will not be affected by the new restrictions until it expires.
The US Embassy also noted that the decision is part of what it called the Department’s global visa reciprocity process. This is described in the statement as “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 US government further explained that the new measures are part of broader efforts to uphold immigration policies and protect the country’s visa system. “US visa criteria and standards are designed to protect the integrity of US immigration systems,” the embassy stated.
It also mentioned that the policy update is in line with global security practices. “These standards are based on global technical and security benchmarks,” the statement added.
The US Mission is in contact with the Nigerian government as part of the effort to meet these global requirements. “The US Mission is working with the Government of Nigeria to ensure that Nigeria can meet the criteria,” the statement said.
One of the examples given by the embassy includes the need for “Secure Travel Documents: Ensuring countries issue secure travel documents with verified traveler identities.”
