The U.S. Department of State has confirmed that Nairobi will continue to serve as a major regional visa processing center for Africa under a new system effective August 1, 2026.
This restructuring shifts routine visa services from over 20 U.S. embassies and consulates across the continent to designated hubs, aiming to enhance security screening, improve efficiency, and align with current U.S. immigration priorities.
Continued Services in Nairobi
The U.S. Embassy in Nairobi will maintain both immigrant and non-immigrant visa processing, positioning Kenya among a select group of countries authorized to handle applications from across Africa.
Other Regional Visa Hubs
- Accra
- Addis Ababa
- Cape Town
- Dakar
- Dar es Salaam
- Djibouti
- Johannesburg
- Kampala
- Kigali
- Kinshasa
- Lagos
- Lomé
- Luanda
- Malabo
- Monrovia
- Port Louis
- Praia
- Yaoundé
- Abidjan
Impact on Other Missions
Routine visa services have been discontinued at multiple U.S. missions including Abuja, Antananarivo, Asmara, Bamako, and others. Applicants from these locations must now travel to their assigned regional hubs for visa applications. For example, Nigerian applicants will be redirected from Abuja to the U.S. Consulate in Lagos.
The State Department emphasized that existing visas remain valid and consular offices will continue to offer American Citizen Services and other diplomatic functions despite the changes.
Background and Objectives
This overhaul is part of a broader initiative announced in mid-July 2026 aimed at strengthening national security, reducing government expenses, and streamlining diplomatic operations abroad.
