The United States has revised its visa reciprocity policy for Nigeria and Ghana, significantly tightening restrictions on travelers from the two West African nations. Under the new rules, tourist, business, and academic travelers are now limited to single-entry visas valid for just three months, according to a notice released by the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria on Tuesday. The updated policy applies to non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visa applicants and takes effect immediately. Visas issued before July 8, 2025, however, will remain valid for their original duration.
In a statement, the U.S. Embassy emphasized that visa reciprocity is a standard practice worldwide and is subject to review at any time. It also reassured that the United States “values its relationship with Nigeria” and remains committed to expanding cooperation despite the changes. On Wednesday, Business Insider Africa reported that Ghana is also included under the new policy, with similar restrictions on visa duration and entries. The move effectively reverses previous visa arrangements that allowed for longer stays or multiple entries over extended periods.
The policy change comes amid a broader immigration crackdown led by President Donald Trump, who returned to office in January 2025. During his 2024 re-election campaign, Trump pledged to significantly reduce immigration and enforce stricter screening for foreign nationals. This latest action follows a June 5th travel ban announced by the Trump administration targeting 12 countries, including Chad, Eritrea, Somalia, Libya, Sudan, and the Republic of Congo. A week later, an internal U.S. State Department memo revealed that another 36 countries, including Nigeria and Ghana, may also face travel bans if alleged issues related to terrorism, anti-Semitism, and anti-American activity are not resolved within 60 days. The revised visa policy marks a significant shift in U.S.-West Africa relations and could have broad implications for academic exchange, tourism, and business ties between the countries and the U.S.
