The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has disclosed that the visa application process is now automated, with approvals being processed within 48 hours.
The development was revealed during President Bola Tinubu’s inauguration of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Technology Innovation Complex (BATTIC) at the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) headquarters.
According to Tunji-Ojo, the automation marks a significant reduction from previous timelines that often extended to days or weeks.
“We now have an automated visa regime with 48 hours of visa approval,” Tunji-Ojo stated.
The minister’s disclosure comes on the heels of the United States embassy reviewing its immigration visa processes for immigrants starting from January 1, 2025.
The embassy announced that applicants with interviews will now visit the Consulate General in Lagos at least twice during the process.
“For applicants with interviews scheduled after January 1, 2025, you are required to visit the Consulate General in Lagos at least twice during the immigrant visa process.
“This new process is designed to help you prepare for your visa interview and to prevent significant delays in processing your immigrant visa,” the post on social media reads.