U.S. Citizen Services

Notice

The U.S. Embassy in Nigeria is offering emergency appointments only for passport and citizenship services that require an in-person appearance. Please be aware that emergency appointment availability is extremely limited.

Schedule an Appointment

Abuja
Lagos

Notice

Schedule an Appointment

Overview

The American Citizen Services (ACS) Unit of the Consular Section of the U.S. Mission to Nigeria provides a wide range of information and assistance to U.S. citizens in Nigeria. American Citizens Services are offered at the Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate in Lagos. Each has different service hours.

Emergency Assistance

Arrest of a U.S. Citizen Death of a U.S. Citizen International Parental Child Abduction Victims of Crime Passport

Arrest of a U.S. Citizen

The Department of State assists U.S. citizens imprisoned overseas and works to ensure their fair and humane treatment.

Local Attorneys

Death of a U.S. Citizen

The Department of State helps the family and friends of U.S. citizens who die abroad. We inform the U.S. citizen’s next-of-kin of the death and we provide information on arrangements for local burial or the return of remains to the United States and on disposition of estates and personal effects. We also issue a Consular Report of Death Abroad, an official record of death.

Learn More

International Parental Child Abduction

The Department of State’s Office of Children’s Issues works to resolve and prevent cases of international parental child abduction and to help children and families involved in abduction cases. For more information, see our international parental child abduction page on travel.state.gov.

Learn More

Victims of Crime

The Department of State helps U.S. citizens who are victims of crime overseas. We connect crime victims with police and other services and provide information and resources to assist with physical, emotional, and/or financial injuries from crime.

Learn More

Passport

Are you a U.S. citizen who needs a passport?

Learn More

Emergency Financial Assistance

Contacting Home Wiring Money Directly Sending Money through the U.S. Department of State Repatriation Loans

Contacting Home

U.S. citizens in need of emergency financial assistance while abroad should first attempt to contact their family, friends, banking institution, or employer. Our American Citizen Services unit can assist in this effort, if necessary.

Learn More

Wiring Money Directly

Use a commercial money transfer service, such as Western Union or MoneyGram., to wire money overseas. Money transfer cost comparison tools online can help you identify the best option. The person receiving the money will need to present proof of identity such as a passport. Link text: Be wary of International Financial Scams.

Be wary of International Financial Scams.

Sending Money through the U.S. Department of State

When the commercial options listed above are not available or feasible, family or friends may send funds via the U.S. Department of State for delivery to a destitute U.S. citizen abroad at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. The U.S. Department of State assesses a $30 fee to establish an account and transfer funds.

Learn More

Repatriation Loans

Destitute U.S. citizens may be eligible for a loan from the U.S. government to travel to the United States. Repatriation loans must eventually be paid back to the U.S. government. Your U.S. passports will be limited at the time the loan is issued and in most cases you will not be issued a new passport until the loan is paid in full. Contact us for more information.

Learn More

U.S. Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate in Lagos

Abuja

Lagos

Abuja

The U.S. Embassy has extensive programs to assist its citizens in Nigeria. Any citizen in need of assistance can call, e-mail or visit the Embassy in Abuja or Consulate in Lagos to request assistance.

Phone:

+234 9 461 4000

Email:

AbujaACS@state.gov

Lagos

Phone:

+234 1 460 3400

Email:

LagosACS@state.gov

Consular Affairs (CA) is the public face of the Department of State for millions of people around the world. We provide many services, and the most common are listed below.

Visas to the U.S.

Travelers to the U.S. can get visa information and guidance.

Visas

U.S. Passport Services

U.S. Citizens overseas can renew passports, replace passports, or apply for new passports.

Passports

Notarial Services

Anyone can take advantage of our notarial services.

Notarials

Get Travel Alerts

Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)

Enroll Now

Federal Programs

Internal Revenue Service Selective Service Social Security Veterans Affairs Voting

Internal Revenue Service

If you are a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (green card holder), you are responsible for filing U.S. federal income tax returns while abroad. You will find useful information on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website, such as Frequently Asked Questions about taxes or how to apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).

Learn More

Selective Service

If you are a U.S. dual citizen or U.S. citizen living outside of the United States, you can register with the Selective Service System.

Learn More

Social Security

If you live in Nigeria and have questions about Social Security Administration (SSA) services, contact the SSA Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) in the United Kingdom

Service Around the World

Veterans Affairs

U.S. service members, veterans, and their beneficiaries can apply for benefits on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) website. The Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) may also be able to help veterans and beneficiaries with questions about benefits and services.

Department of Veterans Affairs

Voting

Depending on where you are eligible to vote, you may get your ballot by email, fax, or internet download. To start, complete a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) here. Print, sign, and return the FPCA to your local U.S. election office. Include your email address so election officials can reach you if there is a problem. If your state delivers ballots electronically by fax only, include your fax number. If you request electronic delivery and include your email address or fax number, you will receive your blank ballot 45 days before general and mid-term elections and generally 30 days before special, primary, and run-off elections for federal offices. We recommend completing a new FPCA each January, or when you move. If you have any questions about registering to vote overseas, please contact the U.S. Embassy in Suva at SuvaACS@State.gov.

Federal Voting Assistance Program

Local Resources

The Department of State assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability or reputation of, or the quality of services provided by, the entities or individuals whose names appear on the following lists. Inclusion on this list is in no way an endorsement by the Department or the U.S. government. Names are listed alphabetically, and the order in which they appear has no other significance. The information on the list is provided directly by the local service providers; the Department is not in a position to vouch for such information.

Legal assistance Medical Assistance For American Journalists Scams List of Tax Preparers

Legal assistance

American citizens in Nigeria may at times require the services of a Nigerian attorney. The Mission cannot act as the legal representative of an American citizen.

Medical Assistance

The best health care in Nigeria is available in private and nonprofit medical facilities. However, even these facilities typically fail to meet U.S. standards. The quality of government medical facilities is unacceptable by U.S. standards; however, the government is committed to resuscitating its health care through systematic funding and revitalization.

For American Journalists

Foreign journalists wishing to visit Nigeria for reportorial assignment are required to submit the following documents to accreditation@fmic.gov.ng

Scams

We receive inquiries every day from people who have been defrauded for hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars by Internet contacts they thought were their friends or loved ones. Internet scams are attempts by con artists to convince you to send them money. In Nigeria, these scams are also referred to as 419 scams.

List of Tax Preparers

The following list of tax preparation professionals have offered their services to persons residing or working in Nigeria. This list is not a complete listing and is provided only as a basic resource.

Child and Family Issues

Intercountry Adoption Births Marriage

Intercountry Adoption

The United States is a party to the Hague Adoption Convention, an international treaty which seeks to ensure that intercountry adoptions are made in the best interests of the child and that safeguards are in place for their protection. All adoptions in another country must take place according to both U.S. and local laws for the adopted child to be eligible to immigrate to the United States. You should work with a U.S. adoption service provider specifically authorized to facilitate intercountry adoption. You can find more information about authorized adoption service providers and the intercountry adoption process at travel.state.gov and are invited to direct questions to Adoption@state.gov.

More Adoption Information

Births

If your child was born outside the United States the child may have acquired U.S. citizenship at birth if the requirements under the Immigration and Nationality Act have been met as of the time of your child’s birth. To determine whether your child acquired U.S. citizenship at birth and to document that, you can apply for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) for your child. You may also choose to just apply for a U.S. passport for your child, although one benefit of a CRBA is that, unlike the U.S. passport, it does not expire and may be used as proof of acquisition of U.S. citizenship at birth. A full validity, unexpired U.S. passport is also proof of U.S. citizenship.

View More CRBA Information

Marriage

U.S. embassy and consulate personnel cannot perform marriages. Depending on the local law, civil or religious officials generally perform marriages. If your marriage overseas was performed in accordance with local law, it is valid in the country where it took place. Whether your marriage is recognized elsewhere depends on the laws of that place.

If you get married abroad and need to know if your marriage will be recognized in the United States and what documentation may be needed, contact the office of the Attorney General of your state of residence in the United States.

Learn More