The United States Department of State has announced plans to significantly reduce the number of embassies and consulates in Africa that handle visa processing, in a move set to reshape travel procedures across the continent.
According to officials and an internal memo, the US intends to cut its current network of nearly 50 visa-processing missions in Africa down to about 20 designated hubs within the coming weeks.
The decision, reportedly approved by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, was conveyed to American diplomats, including consular chiefs, during a conference call last Friday.
Under the new arrangement, visa processing will be centralised in selected cities such as Lagos, Accra, Nairobi, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Dakar, Addis Ababa, and Kigali, alongside other hubs across the continent.
Other approved locations include Abidjan, Dar es Salaam, Djibouti, Kampala, Kinshasa, Lomé, Luanda, Malabo, Monrovia, Port Louis, Praia, and Yaoundé.
Although an official start date has not been confirmed, the changes are expected to take effect in June.
The move is part of wider adjustments in US immigration and foreign policy, which include stricter visa requirements and higher financial thresholds for some applicants. In certain cases, African travellers, including Nigerians, could be required to pay visa bonds of up to $15,000 for B1/B2 applications.
The planned consolidation is expected to make the application process more demanding, with many applicants potentially required to travel across borders for visa services, increasing both cost and logistical burden.
Despite the reduction, US embassies and consulates in countries outside the designated hubs will remain operational, but with limited services such as assistance to US citizens, passport renewals, emergency support, and select diplomatic or national interest visa processing.
