Nigerians hoping to travel to the United States will now face stricter visa rules as the U.S. Department of State has announced new restrictions affecting several countries, including Nigeria.
Under the new policy, which takes effect immediately, most non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas issued to Nigerian citizens will now be valid for only three months and will allow just a single entry.
The U.S. Department of State issued a statement on Tuesday, saying the policy shift is expected to affect thousands of Nigerian students, businesspeople, tourists, and families who frequently travel to the U.S. for various purposes.
“Effective immediately, most non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas issued to citizens of Nigeria will be single-entry visas with a three-month validity period,” it said.
Those who already hold valid U.S. non-immigrant visas issued before July 8, 2025 will not be affected, as their visas will retain their original status and validity.
The latest changes also cover other countries as the U.S. continues to review its global visa reciprocity arrangements.
The statement said, “We wish to underscore, that as is standard globally, visa reciprocity is a continuous process and is subject to review and change at any time, such as increasing or decreasing permitted entries and duration of validity.
“U.S. visa criteria and standards are designed to protect the integrity of U.S. immigration systems. These standards are based on global technical and security benchmarks. The U.S. Mission is working with the Government of Nigeria to ensure that Nigeria can meet the criteria.
“Examples of standard criteria include: Secure Travel Documents: Ensuring countries issue secure travel documents with verified traveler identities.
Visa Overstay Management: Implementing measures to limit overstays by travelers on U.S. visas. Information Sharing: Sharing relevant security and/or criminal record information to protect public safety.”
“The United States values its longstanding relationship with Nigeria and remains committed to expanding our partnership based on mutual respect, shared security priorities, and economic opportunity, keeping both our countries safer and stronger.
“We commend the ongoing efforts by the Government of Nigeria’s immigration and security agencies to meet standards of international best practices. We continue to engage with Nigerian government officials to address the remaining challenges.
“Nigerian travelers are encouraged to respect and adhere to the terms of their visas, and ensure travel documents are authentic, accurate, and up to date. The United States remains a committed partner in deepening people-to-people ties with Nigeria via business, educational, and cultural exchanges.”
“We look forward to continued cooperation at all levels with the Nigerian public and government officials to ensure safe and lawful travel between the United States and all countries,” it added.