The United States government has announced a significant restriction on non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas issued to Nigerian citizens, limiting them to single entry and a three-month validity period.

In a statement on Tuesday, the US Mission in Nigeria said the new rule takes effect immediately and aligns with the Trump-era policy of visa reciprocity, which affects several countries, including Nigeria.

“Effective immediately, most non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas issued to Nigerian citizens will be single-entry visas valid for three months,” the statement read.

The Mission clarified that visas issued before 8 July 2025 would remain valid under the previous terms.

“As is standard globally, visa reciprocity is a continuous process subject to change at any time, including in the number of permitted entries and length of validity,” the statement added.

The US government emphasised that its visa standards are based on international technical and security benchmarks, aimed at protecting the integrity of its immigration system.

“The US Mission is working closely with the Nigerian government to ensure compliance with these benchmarks,” the statement noted.

It reaffirmed America’s commitment to its longstanding partnership with Nigeria, stating: “We value our relationship with Nigeria and remain committed to deepening our cooperation on shared security, mutual respect, and economic opportunity to keep both nations safer and stronger.”

The Mission commended Nigerian immigration and security agencies for their ongoing reforms and urged Nigerian travellers to comply fully with visa conditions and ensure their travel documents are genuine, accurate, and up to date.