The US State Department has announced new visa rules for Nigerians wishing to travel to the US in the non-immigrant and non-diplomat categories.

The US embassy in Nigeria posted to its website on July 8 that the US would issue single-entry visas with a three-month validity period.

That rolls back the previous five-year multiple-entry visas that Nigerians enjoyed when it came to traveling to the US.

US President Donald Trump has signed a directive banning the citizens of 12 countries, seven in Africa, from entering the US.

A State Department memo from June indicated the US was considering a travel ban on 36 other countries, including Nigeria. That proposed, expanded, ban has not yet been officially announced. 

"We wish to underscore that as is standard globally, visa reciprocity is a continuous process and is subject to review and change at any time, such as increasing or decreasing permitted entries and duration of validity," the statement said. 

A Nigerian foreign ministry official told local media that Nigeria had no similar policy toward US citizens, according to Reuters news agency.

Nigeria received nearly one-fifth of the non-immigrant visas issued by the US government in 2024 in Africa, according to the State Department.

Trump hosting leaders of five African countries

Meanwhile, President Trump is also hosting the leaders of five African nations — Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania and Senegal — to discuss commercial opportunities.

Trump will host the leaders for a White House lunch, with closed-door meetings to follow through Friday.

The Nigerian foreign minister last month warned that travel bans and tariffs could get in the way of potential trade deal with West Africa, particularly in the sectors of rare earth mineral and energy. 

Edited by: Wesley Rahn