The United States Department of State has announced the suspension of routine visa processing at 25 diplomatic missions across Sub-Saharan Africa, effective August 1, 2026. This move marks the largest reorganisation of American diplomatic visa services in recent history.

Closure of Visa Services in 25 Countries

Visa applicants from nations including Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and Zambia will no longer be able to apply or complete visa procedures at their nearest US embassy or consulate. Instead, they must travel to one of 20 designated regional processing centres across the continent.

The affected missions include those in:

  • Abuja (Nigeria)
  • Antananarivo (Madagascar)
  • Asmara (Eritrea)
  • Bamako (Mali)
  • Banjul (The Gambia)
  • Brazzaville (Republic of the Congo)
  • Bujumbura (Burundi)
  • Conakry (Guinea)
  • Cotonou (Benin)
  • Durban (South Africa)
  • Freetown (Sierra Leone)
  • Gaborone (Botswana)
  • Harare (Zimbabwe)
  • Juba (South Sudan)
  • Libreville (Gabon)
  • Lilongwe (Malawi)
  • Lusaka (Zambia)
  • Maputo (Mozambique)
  • Maseru (Lesotho)
  • Mbabane (Eswatini)
  • N'Djamena (Chad)
  • Niamey (Niger)
  • Nouakchott (Mauritania)
  • Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso)
  • Windhoek (Namibia)

While visa services in Durban will cease, those in Cape Town, South Africa, will continue without interruption.

Designated Regional Visa Processing Centres

The 20 regional hubs where visa processing will continue are located in:

  • Abidjan
  • Accra
  • Addis Ababa
  • Cape Town (South Africa)
  • Dakar
  • Dar es Salaam
  • Djibouti
  • Johannesburg
  • Kampala
  • Kigali
  • Kinshasa
  • Lagos
  • Lomé
  • Luanda
  • Malabo
  • Monrovia
  • Nairobi
  • Port Louis
  • Praia
  • Yaoundé

Applicants from countries like Mali will be directed to Dakar, Senegal, while those from Benin and Niger will apply through Lomé, Togo.

Reasons for the Restructuring

The State Department attributes the overhaul to efforts initiated under the Trump administration to enhance national security, standardise vetting procedures, reduce government expenditure, and improve operational efficiency. Similar consolidations have been implemented in other parts of Africa and Europe.

The restructuring will reduce the number of US missions processing visas in Sub-Saharan Africa from around 50 to 20.

Implications for Applicants

Applicants in affected countries will face additional travel and accommodation costs, as in-person interviews and biometric data collection must now occur at regional hubs outside their home countries.

The department has advised those with appointments at affected posts to monitor communications for updates and to schedule any pending appointments before July 31, 2026. Visa fees already paid at closing missions remain valid.

Additional Notes

  • Embassies and consulates at affected locations will continue providing American Citizen Services and other diplomatic functions.
  • All previously issued US visas remain valid despite the changes.