US Moves Routine Visa Processing From Abuja To Lagos

Routine United States visa processing for applicants in Nigeria has moved from the US Embassy in Abuja to the consulate in Lagos, following a regional realignment that took effect on August 1, 2026.

The US Department of State said routine visa services in Abuja were being transferred to designated regional hubs. Lagos is listed among the African posts that will provide routine visa services under the new arrangement.

The change covers routine immigrant and nonimmigrant services, including tourist and business-related visas. The official notice said the realignment does not close the Abuja embassy or change the operating status of US diplomatic posts.

For Nigerians outside Lagos, the shift may add travel, accommodation and scheduling costs to the application process. Applicants with appointments or fees connected to the former Abuja arrangement should follow the specific instructions sent by the US mission and check the current appointment guidance before making travel plans.

Punch previously reported the planned end of routine visa processing at Abuja. The change is now in effect, while the US notice says emergency and other limited consular services will continue at posts affected by the regional-hub arrangement.

The move is part of a wider US restructuring of visa operations across Africa. The designated hubs named in the notice include Lagos, Accra, Johannesburg, Nairobi, Dakar and other regional centres.

Sources: U.S. Department of State and Punch