US cuts visa validity for Nigeria, Cameroon, and Ethiopia to single-entry, 3 months only
The United States has slashed the visa durations for Nigeria, Cameroon, and Ethiopia, a move that will now restrict most travellers from those countries to single-entry visas valid for just three months.
The policy change, announced by the US Department of State, is part of what Washington calls a “global reciprocity realignment” — an effort to match visa conditions with what other countries offer Americans.
This marks a major shift from the previous arrangement, where many nationals of the three countries enjoyed multiple-entry visas valid for up to two years or more.
Reacting to the announcement, Nigeria strongly denied US claims that it only grants Americans short-term single-entry visas.
In a statement, Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said:
“We want to reiterate that the US government’s claim of reciprocity does not reflect the actual situation. We continue to issue five-year multiple-entry visas to US nationals.”
Nigeria is urging Washington to reconsider the restrictions, warning that they could hurt long-standing academic and cultural exchange programs between the two countries.
While Nigeria has publicly challenged the move, Cameroon and Ethiopia have yet to respond.
According to available data, Americans can receive one-year visas in Cameroon and up to 90-day stays in Ethiopia, raising questions over whether the US decision is proportionate.
While the US maintains the changes are based on standard diplomatic practice, some in Nigeria believe it’s political.
Bashir Ahmad, an aide to former President Muhammadu Buhari, suggested the move may be linked to Nigeria’s growing ties with BRICS nations like Brazil and China:
“This is not purely about reciprocity. It reflects unease in Washington about Nigeria’s global realignment.”
However, immigration lawyer Godwin Oke disagrees. He told the BBC:
“This is standard policy. The US was giving Nigerians five-year visas while Nigeria gave Americans only short ones. It was only a matter of time before this changed.”
For many young Nigerians hoping to relocate abroad, often called the “Japa generation”, the US has been a top destination. Nigeria ranked as the leading African source of students in the US in 2024, with a 13.5% rise from the year before.
But visa denials, overstaying fears, and rising restrictions may dampen the hopes of many would-be migrants.
In March, the US Embassy in Nigeria issued a warning that overstaying a visa could result in a lifetime ban and possible criminal charges.
There is no official data yet on how many Nigerians overstay, but the tension around visa rules continues to rise.
