In a major policy shift, the United States Department of State has announced an update to its nonimmigrant visa issuance rules for Nigerian passport holders. Effective Tuesday, July 9, 2025, the U.S. will now issue most categories of nonimmigrant and non-official visas to Nigerians on a single-entry basis, with a validity period of just three months.
The policy change, which was communicated via an official statement by the U.S. Mission in Nigeria, is part of a broader visa reciprocity adjustment. According to the new directive, only one entry will be allowed per visa within the three-month window, a significant departure from previous practices where many visa categories, including B1/B2 (business and tourism), had multiple entries and longer validity periods, sometimes extending up to two years.
The revised rules apply to all new visa applications approved from July 9 onward, while those issued prior to this date will remain valid under their existing terms until their expiration. The U.S. authorities clarified that the decision was based on the principle of reciprocity, a diplomatic standard where visa conditions offered to foreign nationals reflect what their home countries offer to U.S. citizens.
Sources familiar with the development say the U.S. government had engaged Nigerian authorities in discussions aimed at harmonising visa regimes. However, it appears that a consensus on longer-term, multiple-entry visas for Americans visiting Nigeria was not reached, prompting the U.S. to revise its own terms accordingly.
This move is expected to impact thousands of Nigerian travelers, including tourists, businesspersons, students, and professionals who frequently visit the United States for short-term engagements. Travel experts have raised concerns that the policy may increase the financial and administrative burden on Nigerian applicants, who will now need to reapply for a visa with each intended visit, subject to standard application fees and processing times.
Although the U.S. Mission has not made further comments on whether exceptions may apply for diplomatic or special visa categories, the announcement underscores the U.S. government’s ongoing reassessment of its global visa policies amid geopolitical considerations and bilateral relations.
Nigerians planning to travel to the United States are advised to confirm the new requirements before submitting visa applications, and to take note that existing multiple-entry visas remain valid until their expiry dates, provided they were issued before July 8, 2025.
The development comes amid broader concerns about mobility restrictions and visa hurdles facing African nationals globally, with experts calling for more balanced and equitable travel policies that reflect mutual respect and cooperation between countries.
