Nigerians seeking to travel to the United States on non-immigrant visas will now receive single-entry three-month permits, the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria said, rolling back the up to five-year, multiple-entry visas they enjoyed previously.

Staring 8 July, the US Department of State says nearly all non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas issued to Nigerian citizens will now be single-entry and valid for only three months. It says this is part of a global reciprocity realignment, a sharp shift from previous visa terms, which often allowed for multiple entries over two years or more.

The United States government has announced an immediate change to its visa reciprocity policy, significantly tightening travel conditions for Nigerian citizens. Under the new directive, most non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas issued to Nigerians will now be limited to a single entry and will be valid for only three months.