The United States has announced a significant change to its visa policy for Nigeria, reducing the validity and entry options for most non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas issued to Nigerian citizens.
In a statement on Tuesday, the US Embassy in Nigeria confirmed that most affected visa categories will now be limited to single-entry and a three-month validity period.
The new policy takes immediate effect.
However, the embassy clarified that visas issued before July 8 will remain valid under the terms in which they were originally granted.
This adjustment, according to the embassy, is part of a global visa reciprocity process designed to align US visa policies with how American citizens are treated by other countries.
The US embassy stated that the policy will undergo regular reviews and may be revised to allow longer validity or multiple entries in the future.
The embassy emphasized that Nigeria must meet certain benchmarks to improve its visa reciprocity status. These include issuing secure travel documents with verifiable identities, managing visa overstays effectively, and sharing relevant security and criminal data with US authorities.
“The U.S. Mission is working with the Government of Nigeria to ensure that Nigeria can meet the criteria,” the statement reads.
Despite the stricter visa terms, the United States reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining strong diplomatic and bilateral ties with Nigeria.
In a related development, the embassy also advised applicants for F, M, and J non-immigrant visas—intended for academic and vocational programs—to set their social media profiles to public.
This requirement, it said, is part of enhanced vetting measures aimed at confirming applicants’ identities and eligibility under US immigration law.