Washington – The United States plans to significantly reduce the number of embassies and consulates across Africa authorized to process visa applications, but Liberia will remain among a select group of countries retaining full visa-processing services.
According to an internal U.S. State Department memo first reported by the Associated Press, the number of American diplomatic missions in Africa handling visa applications will be reduced from nearly 50 to just 20 regional hubs in the coming weeks.
The proposed restructuring is part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to tighten immigration controls, reduce visa issuance, and streamline consular operations across the continent.
Under the plan approved by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, visa processing services will be consolidated at designated locations, with no more than 20 embassies and consulates serving as regional centers for visa applications throughout Africa.
Among the diplomatic posts expected to retain visa-processing authority is the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia, making Liberia one of only 20 African countries selected under the new arrangement.
The other designated visa-processing hubs are located in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire; Accra, Ghana; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Cape Town and Johannesburg, South Africa; Dakar, Senegal; Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Djibouti City, Djibouti; Kampala, Uganda; Kigali, Rwanda; Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo; Lagos, Nigeria; Lomé, Togo; Luanda, Angola; Malabo, Equatorial Guinea; Nairobi, Kenya; Port Louis, Mauritius; Praia, Cape Verde; and Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Three U.S. officials familiar with the plan told the Associated Press that implementation is expected as early as June, although a specific date has not yet been announced.
The changes were reportedly discussed during a recent conference call involving U.S. diplomats and consular officials across Africa, where they were informed that visa services would be consolidated into regional centers.
The move comes amid a series of immigration-related restrictions introduced by the Trump administration, including tighter scrutiny of visa applicants, efforts to reduce visa overstays, staffing reductions at embassies and consulates, and travel restrictions affecting several countries.
For Liberia, the decision to maintain visa-processing services in Monrovia is expected to bring relief to thousands of citizens seeking travel opportunities in the United States.
Liberia has one of the largest diaspora populations in the United States among African nations, with many Liberians traveling annually for family visits, business engagements, educational opportunities, medical treatment, and other purposes.
Had Monrovia lost its visa-processing authority, applicants could have been forced to travel to neighboring countries to complete visa interviews and related consular procedures, potentially increasing costs and delays.
The inclusion of Liberia among the 20 designated regional hubs underscores the country’s longstanding diplomatic relationship with the United States and ensures continued access to visa services for Liberians and foreign nationals residing in the country.
