How to Apply for a Canada Visa in Nigeria
Canada is a North American country that offers many opportunities in many fields.
This is why you will find many people from Nigeria and all over the world wanting to go to Canada.
If you are in Nigeria and thinking of getting a Canadian visa, you have come to the right place.
In the sections below, you will know how to process a Canada visa from Nigeria.
Table of Contents
Canada Visa Options for Nigerians
There are generally two major categories of Canadian visas for Nigerians:
- Visitor Visa – to legally stay in Canada for a limited amount of time
- Permanent Resident Visa – to legally live in Canada for an unlimited amount of time
There are several Canadian visa programs available for each of these two major visa categories.
Visitor Visa to Canada
You can apply for a Canadian Visitor Visa in Nigeria, also known as a Temporary Resident Visa, if you would like to visit Canada for a limited amount of time in order to:
- Vacation in Canada as a tourist
- Visit family or friends in Canada
- Conduct Business in Canada as a business visitor, but not work in Canada
- Study in Canada (a Study Permit is also required)
- Work in Canada as a temporary foreign worker (a Work Permit is also required)
- Transit through a Canadian airport on the way to another destination
You can generally get a Canada Visitor Visa in Nigeria for up to six months, however, this Temporary Resident Visa could be valid for less time or for more time as necessary.
The holder of a Canadian Visitor Visa must leave Canada before their visa expires, however, it may be possible to get an extension of the Visitor Visa while it is still valid or to receive a different type of Canadian visa and/or legal residency.
Permanent Resident Visa to Canada
You can apply for a Canadian Permanent Resident Visa in Nigeria if your goal is to immigrate to Canada to live and work for an unlimited amount of time as a permanent resident and, perhaps, even become a Canadian citizen.
Over 400,000 people become Canadian permanent residents each year and the majority of them are skilled foreign workers (“economic immigrants”) and their family members.
Examples of Canadian immigration programs for permanent residency include the:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program
- Federal Skilled Trades Program
- Canadian Experience Class Program
- Provincial Nominee Program
- Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program
- Family Sponsorship Program
Thousands of foreign nationals also immigrate to Canada through Family Sponsorship and as refugees, asylum-seekers or for other humanitarian reasons.
Nigeria is one of the top countries of origin year after year for people who immigrate to Canada as new permanent residents.
If you receive a Permanent Resident Visa to Canada in Nigeria through one of several Canadian immigration programs, you can enjoy many benefits such as:
- Living in Canada for an unlimited amount of time
- Working in Canada legally
- Studying in Canada at world-class educational institutions
- Receiving free or subsidized public healthcare in Canada
- Opportunities to buy a home and start a business in Canada
- Enjoying equality and freedom in a multicultural country
- Traveling to and from Canada
- Sponsoring eligible family members for a Canadian visa
- Having access to beautiful beaches, forests, mountains, lakes, etc.
- The option to become a Canadian citizen after living in Canada 3 years
Requirements for a Canada Visa in Nigeria
The requirements to receive a Canada visa in Nigeria will depend on which type of Canadian visa or permit you are applying for.
Visitor Visa to Canada
The requirements to apply for a Canadian Visitor Visa in Nigeria will depend on your reason for visiting Canada (for example, tourism, visit family/friends, business, study abroad, work temporarily, etc.).
General requirements for visitors to get a Canada Visa in Nigeria usually include:
- Holding a valid passport
- Not having a criminal record or being a security threat
- Being in good health
- Providing your biometric details (digital photo and fingerprints)
- Paying the governmental fee(s)
- Convincing the Canadian immigration official that you have ties in Nigeria (such as family, employment, a home, etc.) and that you will return to Nigeria when your visit is over.
In addition to satisfying the general requirements for a Visitor Visa to Canada, Nigerians will also need to meet the specific criteria related to the reason that they will be traveling to Canada.
For example, if you will be an international student in Canada, you will need to receive a Letter of Acceptance to enroll full-time in a designated Canadian educational institution (such as a university) and then apply for a Study Permit, and if approved for the Study Permit to study abroad in Canada, you will automatically be issued a Visitor Visa to enter and live in Canada as a temporary legal resident.
Similarly, if you are approved for a Canadian Work Permit, you will also be issued a Visitor Visa to Canada so you can enter and live in the country as a legal temporary resident.
A foreign business person who wants to apply for a Canadian Visitor Visa in Nigeria (for example, to attend a trade conference or negotiate a contract in Canada, etc.) will need to satisfy the general Visitor Visa criteria and provide certain documents (as relevant) such as:
- Letter of Invitation from the host business in Canada
- Letter of Support from your company
- Letter of Recognition from the Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA)
- 24-hour contact information for the Canadian business hosting you
- Proof of Funds to support yourself in Canada and pay for your trip home
- Service Agreement or other documents related to your visit in Canada
Please note that this is a general overview and there may be other criteria for a Visitor Visa to Canada.
Permanent Resident Visa to Canada
If you want to apply for a Permanent Resident Visa to Canada in Nigeria, you will need to satisfy the eligibility requirements for the specific Canadian immigration program that you are applying for as well as the general criteria for immigration to Canada.
Here are examples of eligibility requirements for some top Canadian immigration programs:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program:
- You need 1 year of experience during the past 10 years in an eligible occupation
- Hundreds of NOC (2021) TEER Category 0, 1, 2 and 3 occupations are eligible
- 67 out of 100 points are needed for 6 selection factors
- Six factors are: age, English/French, education, experience, job offer, adaptability
- You need at least CLB 7 on an approved English or French language evaluation exam
- Educational Credential Assessment is required if your education is not from Canada
- Federal Skilled Trades Program:
- You need 2 years of experience during the past 5 years in an eligible skilled trade
- A Certificate of Qualification OR valid job offer in Canada for at least 1 year is required
- English language evaluation scores of at least CLB 5 for listening and speaking and CLB 4 for writing and reading OR French language scores of at least NCLC 5 for listening and speaking and NCLC 4 for writing and reading are required on an approved test.
- Canadian Experience Class Program:
- You need 1 year of skilled work experience in Canada during the past 3 years
- Hundreds of NOC (2021) TEER Category 0, 1, 2 and 3 occupations are eligible
- At least CLB 7 English/French is needed for TEER 0 and TEER 1 occupations
- At least CLB 5 English/French is needed for TEER 2 and TEER 3 occupations
- Provincial Nominee Program:
- 11 of Canada’s 13 provinces and territories have a Provincial Nominee Program
- Each province or territory that participates in the PNP creates its own criteria
- Quebec does not have a PNP, but does have its own Regular Skilled Worker Program
- Criteria generally include an eligible job, experience, education, and English/French
- The first step of the process usually involves applying to a particular PNP
- If a PNP nomination is issued, the second step is to apply for Canadian immigration
- The Canadian immigration agency makes the final decision on permanent residency
- After moving to Canada from Nigeria, you will live in the nominating province/territory
- Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program:
- Canadian immigration program for foreign workers who want to live in Quebec
- 50 out of 103 points required if single/59 out of 120 points needed with spouse/partner
- Points given for education, French/English, age, experience, Quebec job offer, family in Quebec, previously living in Quebec, traits of spouse/partner, children, and finances
- Having good French skills is important, because French is the main language in Quebec
- Process starts by filing Expression of Interest with Quebec’s Arrima online portal
- Once you get a Certificat de sélection du Québec, you apply for Canadian immigration
- The Canadian immigration agency makes the final decision on permanent residency
- After moving to Canada from Nigeria, you will live and work in Quebec
- Family Sponsorship Program:
- Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor family for immigration
- The Canadian sponsor must be at least 18 years of age
- The Canadian sponsor must also be able to support the family member(s) in Canada
- Family members who are sponsored must also meet the eligibility requirements
- Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor their:
- Spouse or common-law partner who is at least 18 years of age
- Dependent children who are under 22 and without a spouse or partner
- Parents or grandparents
- Orphaned brother or sister under 18 and without a spouse or partner
- Orphaned nephew or niece under 18 and without a spouse or partner
- Orphaned grandchild under 18 and without a spouse or partner
- Family members who are approved will become Canadian permanent residents
Conclusion
As you have seen, there are many ways for you to receive a Canadian visa in Nigeria, whether to visit for a limited amount of time as a temporary resident or to live in Canada for an unlimited amount of time as a permanent resident.
If you would like to move to Canada from Nigeria, but you are not sure which Canadian visa program is right for you, that’s okay!
Since 2012, Canadian Visa Expert has been working with authorized immigration consultants who can provide you with an Eligibility Evaluation and guide you through each step of the application process if you qualify.
Just think – if you start the process today, meet all of the eligibility requirements, complete your application correctly and finish the procedure successfully, you and your family could be among the thousands of Nigerians moving to Canada as permanent residents!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Obtaining a Canadian Visa in Nigeria
How long does it take for a Canada Visa to be approved in Nigeria?
This is a common question for most Nigerians seeking a Canadian visa. The amount of time required for a Canadian visa to be approved in Nigeria depends on which type of visa you are applying for (for example, a Visitor Visa or Permanent Resident Visa for skilled foreign workers); when you apply (for example, whether there is a backlog of applications waiting to be processed by the Canadian immigration agency); or other factors. It can take about 6-7 months to get approved for a Visitor Visa to Canada from Nigeria, while it could take around 8-18 months to receive a Canadian Permanent Resident Visa as a skilled foreign worker.
How much does it cost to get a Canada visa in Nigeria?
The cost to get a Canadian visa in Nigeria depends on which type of visa you are applying for. For example, the application fee for a Canadian Visitor Visa in Nigeria is $100 CAD or about 33,516 Nigerian Nairas (NGN); a Study Permit is $150 CAD (around 50,280 NGN); the application fee for a Work Permit is $155 CAD (about 51,969 NGN); the application fee for a Temporary Resident Permit is $200 CAD (around 67,036 NGN); and the application fee for a Canadian Permanent Resident Visa for a skilled foreign worker is $850 CAD (about 284,905 NGN) plus there is a Right of Permanent Residence Fee of $515 CAD (around 172,658 NGN) and a Permanent Resident Card fee of $50 CAD (about 16,764 NGN). If you are required to pay the Biometrics fee for your digital photo and fingerprints, that will cost $85 CAD, which is approximately 28,495 Nigerian Nairas. Please note that the exchange rate was as of January 10, 2023, there could be other costs involved, and the amounts are subject to change.
If I want to visit Canada, can I get an eTA or do I need a Visitor Visa?
Whether you can enter Canada with an electronic travel authorization (eTA) or require a Visitor Visa depends on which country you are from (your country of citizenship). Nigerians do not qualify for an eTA, so they will need to obtain a Visitor Visa to Canada.
How many Nigerians live in Canada?
There are more than 51,800 individuals identifying as Nigerians living in Canada, according to Census data, with about 50% residing in the province of Ontario (particularly in the Toronto area). There are also many Nigerians living in Canada’s provinces of british Columbia, Quebec, Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
