Move to regional hubs aims to tighten security screening and streamline visa processing, State Department says

The United States government has announced it will discontinue routine visa services in Abuja and 24 other diplomatic posts across Africa starting August 1, 2026, as part of a broader restructuring of its overseas operations.

In a statement, the US Department of State said the decision forms part of a “realignment to regional hubs” designed to enhance national security, reduce operational costs, and ensure more consistent standards in visa screening, vetting, and adjudication.

The department explained that the move aligns with the administration of President Donald Trump’s policy of prioritising American security and optimising the use of government resources.

“The Department of State is constantly evaluating its overseas operations to advance America’s priorities as efficiently and effectively as possible,” the statement read.

It added that the revised visa process is intended to maintain strict security checks while better aligning staff capacity and resources with US national interests.

“The Trump administration has no higher priority than the safety and security of Americans,” the statement continued, assuring that consular services for US citizens would remain available at diplomatic missions worldwide.

Aside from Abuja, other African cities affected by the change include Asmara, Bamako, Banjul, Brazzaville, Bujumbura, Conakry, Cotonou, Durban, Freetown, Gaborone, Harare, Juba, Libreville, Lilongwe, Lusaka, Maputo, Maseru, Mbabane, N’Djamena, Niamey, Nouakchott, Ouagadougou and Windhoek.

Despite the shift, the State Department clarified that US embassies and consulates in these locations will remain operational and continue to carry out other diplomatic and consular responsibilities.

It also stressed that the policy will not affect visas that have already been issued and remain valid.

According to the department, similar visa service realignments have previously been implemented successfully in parts of Africa and Europe.

Meanwhile, routine visa services will continue at designated regional hubs, including Lagos, Abidjan, Accra, Addis Ababa, Cape Town, Dakar, Dar es Salaam, Djibouti, Johannesburg, Kampala, Kigali, Kinshasa, Lomé, Luanda, Malabo, Monrovia, Nairobi, Port Louis, Praia and Yaoundé.

Travellers seeking US visas from affected locations are expected to be redirected to these centres for processing under the new arrangement.