US Embassy in Abuja moves routine visa services to Lagos

The United States Embassy in Abuja has ceased routine visa processing, redirecting applicants to the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos. This change, which took effect on August 1, 2026, applies to both nonimmigrant and immigrant visa services, including tourist, business, family-preference, and employment-based visas.

Applicants with existing scheduled appointments in Abuja will still be attended to, though some may have been rescheduled; the embassy advised individuals to check their email for updates. Furthermore, those holding unused and valid Machine Readable Visa (MRV) fee receipts may use them to schedule new appointments at the Lagos consulate.

The shift is part of a broader U.S. Department of State initiative to realign routine visa operations across Africa into designated regional hubs. By consolidating services in cities such as Lagos, Accra, Abidjan, Addis Ababa, Dakar, Johannesburg, Nairobi, and Yaoundé, the department aims to improve efficiency and strengthen national security through more uniform screening, vetting, and adjudication standards. U.S. officials clarified that this realignment does not signify the closure of the Abuja embassy.