The United States government has imposed new visa restrictions on Nigerians seeking to travel under non-immigrant categories, reducing the validity period from up to five years to just three months for a single entry.
The U.S. Embassy in Nigeria confirmed the change in a statement published on its website on Thursday, July 10, 2025, citing visa reciprocity rules that allow adjustments based on how U.S. citizens are treated by other countries.
“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,” the embassy stated.
The policy shift means Nigerians who previously enjoyed multi-entry visas valid for several years will now be limited to a one-time, three-month stay in the U.S.
A Nigerian foreign ministry official, speaking to local media, noted that Nigeria currently does not impose such restrictions on American citizens, raising concerns about the fairness of the decision.
The development comes shortly after the Trump administration added Nigeria to a list of 36 countries warned of possible travel restrictions if they fail to address specific security and diplomatic issues within two months.
While Nigerian Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar did not respond to media inquiries about the policy, analysts view the move as a pressure tactic aimed at tightening immigration and diplomatic accountability.
Nigeria is a major source of U.S. visa applications in Africa. According to the U.S. State Department, nearly 20% of all non-immigrant visas issued to Africans in 2024 went to Nigerians, placing the country second only to South Africa in that category.
The move is expected to impact thousands of Nigerian students, tourists, business travelers, and professionals who rely on U.S. visas for short-term travel.
Observers say the change could strain diplomatic ties between the two countries unless reversed or revised through further negotiations.
