People waiting with luggage at an airport terminal, preparing for departure.
The US has reduced visa stays for Nigerian tourists and business travelers. Before this move, the US offered Nigerians a five-year, multiple-entry visa that permitted them to stay in the US for up to six months at a time. Now, Nigerians can only secure a three-month visa with one entry. This shift, announced by the State Department, is part of a broader push to enforce visa reciprocity and curb overstays. Notably, Nigeria does not issue a five-year visa to Americans, despite a promise to do so in 2023. And while Nigeria’s 7% overstay rate in 2024 placed it below the continent’s worst offenders, it still raised concerns. With Africa increasingly in the crosshairs of Trump-era immigration policy, Nigeria finds itself in a tough diplomatic spot—especially as it courts foreign investment.
SEMAFOR