By Kogi News Tribune | July 8, 2025
Washington, D.C. — The United States government has announced a significant revision to its visa policy affecting Nigerian citizens, reducing the validity of most non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas to just three months with single entry.
In a statement released on Tuesday by the U.S. Department of State, the new measure takes immediate effect and is expected to impact thousands of Nigerian students, business travelers, tourists, and families who routinely visit the U.S.
“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,” the statement read.
However, the department clarified that individuals who currently hold valid U.S. non-immigrant visas issued before July 8, 2025, will not be affected by the new rule, as their visas will maintain their existing terms and duration.
Global Visa Reciprocity Under Review
The U.S. government cited an ongoing review of its global visa reciprocity policy as the reason for the sudden change, emphasizing that the new measures are not unique to Nigeria alone but part of a broader diplomatic and security reassessment.
“Visa reciprocity is a continuous process and is subject to change at any time, such as increasing or decreasing permitted entries and duration of validity,” the statement explained.
The revised policy aims to align foreign visa practices with U.S. security and immigration standards. Among the key criteria listed are the issuance of secure travel documents, enhanced visa overstay management, and information sharing on security or criminal records.
Nigeria’s Cooperation Commended
Despite the stringent new rules, the U.S. Department of State reaffirmed its commitment to fostering a strong bilateral relationship with Nigeria. The statement applauded the efforts of Nigeria’s immigration and security agencies to meet international best practices.
“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,” the U.S. noted.
“We commend the ongoing efforts by the Government of Nigeria’s immigration and security agencies to meet standards of international best practices,” it added.
Advisory for Nigerian Travelers
The U.S. Mission in Nigeria advised all Nigerian travelers to comply strictly with the terms of their visas and ensure that their travel documents are authentic and current.
“The United States remains a committed partner in deepening people-to-people ties with Nigeria via business, educational, and cultural exchanges,” the statement concluded.
As the new policy unfolds, diplomatic channels between both countries are expected to remain open, with ongoing discussions aimed at resolving outstanding compliance challenges and possibly restoring more flexible visa terms in the future.
