Basic Travel Requirements for Nigerians visiting
Canada
Travelers are required to fulfill the following requirements in order to
apply for a Canadian Visa.
- Original passport [current and previous if applicable]. The passport will need to be valid for at least six months beyond your date of return and have at least two blank pages.
- Two coloured photographs that meet the general visa photo requirements.
- Financial statements (three months’ bank statements, payslips, proof of investments etc.)
- Employment proof and payslips.
- Income tax returns.
- Hotel bookings or accommodation covering the whole duration of the intended stay.
- Flight reservation of return or round ticket.
- NOC for government employees.
- Retirement letter and pension-related documents.
- Marriage certificate, if married.
Canada Visa for Nigerians
Facts about Canada
Canada is a country in the northern part of North America. It stretches from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west; to the north lies the Arctic Ocean. It also covers 9.98 million square kilometers (3.85 million square mile area making it the second-largest country by total area. Ottawa is Canada’s capital city while its largest metropolitan cities are Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. Canada is a parliamentary and constitutional democracy, the Elizabeth ll serves as its queen while a prime minister is the chair of the Cabinet and head of government.
The Canadian economy is the tenth-largest in the world. It has a mixed economy system. Canada is a net exporter of energy having 13th percent of the global oil reserve which makes it the third-largest share after Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.
Types of Canada Visa
| Types of Visa | Processing Time | Duration of Stay |
|---|---|---|
| Visitor Visa | 2 – 20 weeks | 6 months |
| Business visa | 2 – 20 weeks | 6 months |
| Work visa | 2 – 20 weeks | 6 – 12 months |
| Student visa | 2 – 20 weeks | Variable |
General Requirements for Canada Visa
- Original passport [current and previous if applicable]. The passport will need to be valid for at least six months beyond your date of return and have at least two blank pages.
- Two coloured photographs that meet the general visa photo requirements.
- Financial statements (three months’ bank statements, payslips, proof of investments etc.)
- Employment proof and payslips.
- Income tax returns.
- Hotel bookings or accommodation covering the whole duration of the intended stay.
- Flight reservation of return or round ticket.
- NOC for government employees.
- Retirement letter and pension-related documents.
- Marriage certificate, if married.
Canada Visitor Visa Eligibility &
Requirements
- This visa allows applicants to visit Canada for the purpose of tourism and leisure.
- A Canada tourist visa is also known as Canada visitor visa or Canadian Temporary Resident Visa (TVR).
- The Canada tourist visa is granted for a maximum period of six months.
- Canada tourist visas are of two types: single entry visa and multiple entry visas.
- Both the visas are valid for a fixed period and cannot be used after they expire.
- A single entry visa allows the visa holder to enter Canada just once.
- After the visa holder leaves Canada, except for travelling to the United States and St. Pierre and Miquelon, he or she will need a new visa to enter Canada again.
- If the tourist is travelling to the United States (including its territories and possessions) or St. Pierre and Miquelon, he or she will not need a new visitor visa to return to Canada.
- A multiple entry visa allows a visitor to come and go from Canada for six months at a time without having to reapply each time.
- The multiple entry visa can be valid for up to 10 years, or one month before the visa holder’s passport expires, whichever happens earlier.
Canada Business Visa Eligibility &
Requirements
- This is a type of tourist visa issued to those with the intention of doing business in Canada.
- Business visitors do not need work permits but they must demonstrate that they are only visiting Canada for one of the following reasons: to seek out ways to grow their business, to invest or to advance their business relationships.
- If you are working for a Canadian company, you are not considered a business visitor and might need to obtain a work permit.
- The Canadian government differentiates between business visitors and business people. Business people work in Canada under a free trade agreement.
- As a business visitor, you are only allowed to stay in Canada for less than six months; otherwise, you need to obtain a work permit.
- You are also not allowed to enter the Canadian labor market as a business visitor.
- Your main source of income and profits and place of business must not be in Canada.
- You must prove that you have enough money for your stay and return home and you plan to leave Canada at the end of your visit.
Canada Work Visa Eligibility &
Requirements
- In order to work in Canada on a temporary basis, foreigners will require a work permit.
- An offer of employment from a Canadian employer is usually required before the worker may be granted a Temporary Work Permit by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).
- Depending on the foreign worker’s country of citizenship, a Temporary Resident Visa(TRV) may also be needed in order to enter Canada.
- Before a Temporary Work Permit can be issued, the Canadian employer who wishes to hire a temporary foreign worker may need to apply for and be granted a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) by ESDC.
- The ESDC will grant a positive LMIA if it is satisfied that no Canadian citizen or permanent resident is available to do the job.
- Work Permits may be issued by Canadian immigration officials without the LMIA requirement in a limited number of situations.
- Once the LMIA is granted, the Canadian employer can provide a temporary job offer to the foreign worker.
- A Temporary Work Permit may be issued for a period of time ranging from a few days to a few years.
- In most cases, the process of applying for a Work Permit is twofold. First, the Canadian employer must receive government permission to hire outside Canada. Once this permission has been granted, the designated employee must apply for and receive his or her Work Permit.
Canada Student Visa Eligibility &
Requirements
- In order to study in Canada, you will need to obtain a Canadian study permit that serves as a Canadian student visa for the duration of your stay.
- Once you have a Canadian study permit, you can apply to renew it from within Canada if you decide to continue your studies.
- For full-time students registered at an accredited higher education institution, a study permit also allows you to work part-time on campus.
- You may also be able to work off-campus, work as a co-op or intern as part of your program, stay in Canada as a permanent resident or find work after you graduate.
- You can apply for a Canadian study permit either online or through a paper application, which can be obtained from the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) website.
- Paper applications typically take about twice as long, and it is always recommended to check the processing times well in advance.
- Applicants from Europe, the Middle East or Africa may need to provide biometrics (photograph and fingerprints) during visa application.
- Some applicants may also need to get a medical exam and/or police check before submitting their application.
- You will not be able to get a study permit if you have a criminal record – you may be asked to provide a Police Clearance Certificate as proof.
- Unless you are from the US or St. Pierre and Miquelon, you will need to prove you have a valid passport which allows you to return to your country of origin after your course is complete.
- Two passport-sized pictures are also required, with your name and date of birth written on the back.
- You will also need to make sure you have enough money to pay for transportation to return home.
Canada Visa Fees
Visitor Visa
150.00 (USD)
Business visa
150.00 (USD)
Work visa
150.00 (USD)
Student visa
150.00 (USD)
Canada Visa Application Centres & Embassies in
Nigeria
Abuja
Address: 4 Anifowoshe Street, Victoria Island, Lagos – Nigeria
Website: www.canadainternational.gc.ca/nigeria/
Email: lagos@international.gc.ca
Tel: (+234) (1) 271-5650