Nigerians applying for non-immigrant visas to the United States will now be issued single-entry permits valid for just three months, a sharp departure from the previous policy that allowed up to five-year, multiple-entry visas, the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria announced.
In a statement posted on its official website, the embassy emphasized that the decision is part of a global visa reciprocity process, which allows the U.S. to adjust visa terms based on how its citizens are treated by other countries.
“Visa reciprocity is a continuous process and is subject to change at any time, including adjustments to the number of permitted entries and duration of stay,” the embassy noted.
A Nigerian foreign ministry official, speaking to local media, admitted that Nigeria does not offer similar long-term visas to U.S. citizens, possibly prompting the policy revision by Washington.
This development follows the Trump administration’s move in June to place Nigeria on a list of 36 countries that could face further travel restrictions if they fail to address specific security and diplomatic issues within a two-month period.
Despite the new restrictions, Nigeria remains one of the largest recipients of U.S. non-immigrant visas in Africa. In 2024, it accounted for nearly 20% of all such visas issued on the continent, ranking second only to South Africa, according to U.S. State Department data.
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has not issued any official comment on the matter
