How to travel to Canada from Nigeria

How to travel to Canada from Nigeria: Traveling is a necessity for exposure and growth, but growing depends on the place or places you’ve traveled or you’re traveling to. It’s no longer new as news that one of the countries with high brain drain is Nigeria as a result of high emigration.

On the other hand, Canada is fast becoming the country which has one of the highest rates of immigration. With the right information and proper guidance, you can easily relocate or travel to Canada without having to break any law or risking your life either for greener pasture or just exposure.

Have you ever thought of leaving Nigeria for Canada? But you don’t know how to travel to Canada from Nigeria, then hold your peace, your perfect answer and solution is here. Mind you, these processes aren’t done in a day, perhaps you might have never traveled outside Nigeria nor have you ever considered it, but due to some necessities or as a result of want of change of domicile you have considered Canada your best option, relocating is an age-long practice and it’s part of the human nature, as you May have noticed, people don’t just relocate, there’s always a motive behind their movement or relocation. So, hold your breath and let’s see what you need and will do to get this dream of yours of traveling to Canada to become a reality.

First, I will be starting with those of us who desire to travel from Nigeria to Canada but have no visa at hand or you’re yet to start your visa processing. Below are stated procedures as gotten from Canadian embassy website as updated 31 July 2018:

Effective 31 July 2018, you may need to give your fingerprints and photos (biometrics) at a Visa Application Centre when you apply for a visitor visa, study or work permit, or permanent residence if you are a national of a country or territory in Europe, the Middle East or Africa, or if you are a national of a country that is already biometrics required. Visit Canada.gc.ca/biometrics for more information.

Scheduling an appointment for Biometric Enrolment is optional – walk-in clients are always welcome to submit their biometrics without a prior appointment. Note however that a planned visit with a preferred time slot via an appointment at the Visa Application Centre guarantees prompt service, thus eliminating longer waiting time resulting in inconvenience. You can schedule an appointment at the nearest Visa Application Centre, either through the VAC website or by calling the call center at +2348150199900.

• However, permanent residence applicants will need to give biometrics with each application.
• If you have applied for a temporary resident visa, study or work permit in the past and are unsure if the biometrics have been provided, Please refer to the IRCC website (gc.ca/biometrics), and “Find out if your biometrics are still valid”
• Refer to the IRCC website for a list of visa-required countries for temporary residents visit Canada immigration requirements
• For the purposes of biometric collection, nationality is based on the nationality you have declared in question number 6 (*Citizenship) on the IRCC application form.
• Applicants who have submitted an application online to IRCC must present a Biometric Instruction Letter to enroll their biometrics. To find out more about biometrics visit theIRCC website
• Applicants applying in person at a VAC do not need to present a Biometric Instruction Letter.
• Nationals from Europe, Africa, and the Middle East and those who are already biometrics required from Asia and the Americas only need to provide biometrics once every 10 years for temporary resident visa, study or work permit applications. However, these permanent resident applicants will need to give biometrics regardless of whether they gave biometrics in the past.

Step 1: Read complete information on the visa/permit requirements on the IRCC website and download the appropriate application forms and checklist relevant to the purpose of your visit. Please refer to the Prepare Your Application page to obtain details on visas/permits.

Find out if you need to give your biometrics.

Step 2: Fill out the application form and other relevant documents electronically and print Forms (including the barcoded sheets) are to be printed on a white, bond quality, non-glossy paper, using a laser printer. If you are unable to provide all the supporting documents as mentioned in the official IRCC document checklist, you are required to fill out and sign the waiver form and attach it with your application form.

Failure to provide a completed and signed waiver form may result in additional delays or refusal of your application for a visa, permit or travel document.

Step 3: Read the attached privacy policy, fill out the VFS consent form and attach it with your application form.

IMPORTANT: If a completed and signed VFS consent form is not included with the application, we will NOT be able to assist you, and your application will be returned to you.

Step 4 : Pay visa fees and biometric fee, if required, as per instructions in the Canadian Visa Office website.

Please note that when submitting the application via the CVAC, in person or by mail, visa fees must be paid in addition to CVAC (VFS Global) service charge.

Step 5: Visit your local Canada Visa Application Centre (CVAC), make sure you bring your passport, photographs, completed forms and all supporting documents and photocopies as per checklist and IRCC fee and payment instructions. Applicable service charges will be levied. Please ensure you bring an accepted method of payment.

Important Note: If you need to give your biometrics, the CVAC will collect your biometrics at the same time you submit your application. DO NOT submit your application by mail to this CVAC.

Step 6 : Once you are at CVAC, pay the service charges, hand your complete application and obtain a receipt. This receipt contains a unique tracking number which you will need to track the progress of your application online.

Important Note: If you need to provide biometrics, your $85 CAD biometric fee covers the CVAC service charge for application handling.

Note: SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION IN-PERSON

To put you through the estimated fees you may be charged is a drawn up analysis of the Canadian visa fee and other requirements.

Canadian Visa Fees

The visa fees for a Visitor Visa may vary depending on if you pay online or in person at a visa application center. They should be paid in naira and are subject to change whenever the embassy deems it fit.
Estimated fees when paying online and applying in person:

• Processing fee – about ₦28,000 (about $77)
• Biometrics (per person) – about ₦24,000 (about $66)

Estimated fees when applying through the VFS Global Visa Application Centre:

• Processing fee – about ₦28,000 (about $77)
• Biometrics (per person) – about ₦24,000 (about $66)
• Service charge – about ₦17,000 (about $47)

Canadian Visa Requirements

• Completed Visitor Visa (IMM 5257) and Family Information (IMM 5645) forms.
• An original and copy of your Nigerian passport. 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 colour photographs that meet the visa photo requirements.
• Proof of application processing fee and, if applicable, biometric fee.
• Proof of sufficient funds for the duration of the trip (i.e. three months bank statements, pay slips, proof of investments, etc.).
• If you are not paying for the trip you will need a letter from the person or institution sponsoring your trip and additional documents (i.e. a copy of their passport and a bank statement proving they have sufficient funds).
• Proof of ties to Nigeria (i.e. employment letter, proof of businesses or assets, etc.).
• Copy of provisional flight booking and travel itinerary (i.e. accommodation reservations).
• You may need to provide a medical history or proof of good health.
• Previous passports showing travel history.
• Additional documents to support your application (i.e. marriage certificates, invitation letters, etc.).
• A self-addressed return courier envelope.
• Minors (under 18) traveling alone will need a letter of authorization signed by both parents or legal guardians. For minors traveling with one parent, a letter of authorization from the non-accompanying parent or legal guardian is required.
• If you are visiting family or traveling for business you will need an invitation letter detailing the nature of the visit, length of stay, details of the host person or business, etc.

NOTE: Paper photographs are not required if you need to supply biometrics.

Once you’re done with this step, then you’ve automatically joined the next group of persons I will be giving the available option of traveling from Nigeria to Canada. These measures or ways I will be discussing with you are much safer ways of emigrating from Nigeria into Canada without being on the run for immigration law violation when you’ve finally landed Canada.

First on the list is traveling to Canada through

1. The Fast Track Worker Program

The Canadian government has recently offered Nigerians the opportunity of entering Canada under the fast track skilled workers program. The federal skilled or fast track skilled workers program is an immigration program established by the Canadian government to welcome foreigners into Canada as permanent residents. Applicants who work in certain professions may be able to enter Canada under this program. There are requirements for selecting applicants and once you meet up with the needed requirement and you score above 67 points, you can rest assured of qualifying and moving into Canada through this program. Applicants who use this program can expect their application to be processed in six to twelve months that is relatively fast compared to many other programs.

2. Study in Canada

One of if not the best way of migrating into Canada from Nigeria and getting a stay or even citizenship is through studies, which can either come as a scholarship or any other method. Getting a stay is quite easy and stress-free when you travel to Canada as an international student.

Some of the ways international students can or are allowed to apply for residency once they are done with studies are:

• Getting to work up to 20 hours a week during the academic session and during the break, you work full-time
• Getting a study program of your choice then use your admission letter to secure a visa
• Getting your post-graduate work permit after graduation
• Getting residency through Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

3. Relative Visas

If you have a family member or a relative over there in a Canada, then I guess at least 30% of your processing stress is gone as it’s an added advantage as you can apply to live in Canada with their support.

Canada has stringent criteria that must be met by both the immigrant and the supporting relatives. However, here is good news for Nigerians who plan to marry Canadian citizens or who have children living in Canada will often greatly increase the chances of success.

Moving to Canada is an attractive idea for many Nigerians, but it is not always easy to accomplish. The application process can be confusing especially for applicants who do not speak English fluently. With the right immigration attorney, however, this process will be easier and more efficient. An immigration lawyer can guide the applicant toward the right visas, and they can ensure that everything is filled out correctly the first time so that migrating from Nigeria to Canada will be as easy as possible.

Take the steps today towards achieving that dream and process those documents today, sooner or later it will work out. These above-listed steps and ways of traveling to Canada from Nigeria are the best ways to get into Canada without any complications nor problems.

Don’t take any illegal steps or way as the end result is always shameful deportation of individuals who go through illegal migration through their borders. And fortunately for you, you finally get into Canada, please don’t outstay your stipulated visa time neither should you get involved in anything that can put a stain to the Nigerian image as it will make it more difficult for those who applying next.

You can read DETAILED CONTENT from a friend of ours who just RELOCATED TO CANADA FROM NIGERIA  and also check out Travelguidea for all Travel guide and travel relocation information.