The United States plans to reduce visa-processing embassies and consulates in Africa from nearly 50 to 20 hubs, a move expected to impact travel, costs, and visa access across the continent
US to Slash Visa Processing Centres in Africa, Cuts Embassies from 50 to 20
The United States has unveiled plans to significantly scale back its visa-processing network across Africa, in a move that is expected to reshape how millions of travellers on the continent apply for entry into the country.
According to reports based on officials and an internal memo, the US State Department intends to reduce its current network of nearly 50 embassies and consulates handling visa applications across Africa to just 20 designated processing hubs within weeks.
The directive, which was reportedly communicated to US diplomats and consular chiefs during a conference call last Friday, has already been approved by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to the same sources.
Under the proposed arrangement, visa processing will be centralised in 20 locations spread across the continent, including Abidjan in Côte d’Ivoire, Accra in Ghana, Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, Cape Town and Johannesburg in South Africa, Dakar in Senegal, Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, Djibouti, Kampala in Uganda, Kigali in Rwanda, Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lagos in Nigeria, Lomé in Togo, Luanda in Angola, Malabo in Equatorial Guinea, Monrovia in Liberia, Nairobi in Kenya, Port Louis in Mauritius, Praia in Cape Verde, and Yaoundé in Cameroon.
While an exact implementation date has not been officially announced, the changes are expected to take effect in June, raising concerns among prospective travellers who may soon be required to journey across borders to access visa services.
The decision comes months after reports that the Trump administration recalled ambassadors from more than two dozen countries, with African missions among those most affected, signaling a broader shift in US diplomatic engagement on the continent.
It also coincides with tighter US immigration controls, including stricter visa requirements and increased financial obligations for applicants. In some cases, African nationals, including Nigerians, could be required to post visa bonds of up to $15,000 for certain B1/B2 travel applications.
Several African countries are already affected by partial travel restrictions imposed by the US, further complicating mobility for business, tourism, and family visits.
The consolidation is expected to significantly increase costs and logistical burdens for applicants who may now need to travel long distances to one of the 20 approved visa hubs for interviews and processing.
However, US officials noted that consular sections in countries outside the designated hubs will continue to operate in a limited capacity, providing services such as assistance to US citizens, passport renewals, emergency support, select national interest cases, and diplomatic visa processing.
