The United States has announced a major shift in its visa policy for Nigerians, reducing the validity of non-immigrant visas from five years to just three months. The new rule, which takes effect from July 8, 2025, also limits these visas to a single entry.
According to a memo from the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria on Tuesday evening, the adjustment is part of a reciprocal move, citing the Nigerian government’s existing treatment of American citizens seeking entry into Nigeria.
The policy specifically affects non-immigrant visa categories such as tourism and business, which represent the vast majority of U.S. visa requests from Nigerians annually. It does not apply retroactively to visas issued before July 8. “Visas issued before July 8, 2025, remain valid and are not impacted by this change,” the embassy stated.
The embassy also pointed to ongoing concerns about visa overstays by Nigerian nationals, noting that the revised duration is intended to help address the issue.
This rollback comes just a few years after the U.S. extended Nigerian visa validity to five years in 2022 following calls that the previous two-year term was too short and cumbersome for frequent travelers.
The abrupt reversal is expected to spark outrage among many Nigerians who already face one of the world’s most difficult visa approval processes. With increased costs and reduced utility, the three-month single-entry window may discourage many from applying.
The announcement follows a series of recent policy shifts by Donald Trump’s administration, including visa restrictions targeting over 30 countries, Nigeria among them. The affected nations were accused of corruption or failure to properly screen their citizens.
Adding to the growing diplomatic chill, Trump on Sunday ordered a 10 percent hike on Nigerian exports, referencing the country’s growing alignment with BRICS—an international economic bloc seen as a challenger to U.S. global dominance.
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