The Federal Government has expressed concern over the United States’ revised visa reciprocity policy, urging Washington to reconsider its decision limiting Nigerian non-immigrant visas to single-entry and three-month validity.
In a statement released Wednesday by Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, the government said the new policy places a “disproportionate burden on Nigerian travellers,” including students, professionals, families, and individuals contributing to cultural and educational exchanges.
“Nigeria respectfully urges the U.S. to reconsider this decision in the spirit of partnership, cooperation, and shared global responsibilities, while acknowledging the sovereign right of every country to determine its immigration policies,” Ebienfa stated.
The Ministry described the development as misaligned with the principles of reciprocity, equity, and mutual respect that should govern relations between friendly nations. It emphasized that the decision affects the strong people-to-people ties and long-standing cordial relations between Nigeria and the United States.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria announced that, effective immediately, most non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas issued to Nigerian citizens would be restricted to single-entry and valid for only three months. However, it clarified that existing visas issued before July 8, 2025, remain valid and unaffected.
According to the U.S. Embassy, the policy is in line with the Trump-era reciprocal visa framework, which applies to several countries, including Nigeria. “Visa reciprocity is a continuous process and is subject to review and change at any time,” the embassy stated.
In response, the Nigerian government says it is taking diplomatic steps to address the issue through appropriate channels.
