Canada is arguably one of the most popular travel destinations in the world. It is a beautiful country blessed with an enormous landscape, high educational standards, and receptive citizens, among others. This is why thousands of people all over the world including Nigerians seek to move to Canada and start a life there.
However, before you can travel to Canada, you need to get a Canadian visa. Fortunately, all you need to get one is the right information and you’d be able to navigate the whole visa process on your own. In this article, we would be unveiling how to apply for a Canadian visa from Nigeria among other relevant information.
About Canadian Visa
Nigerians who seek to travel to Canada need to get a Canadian visa for various purposes. A Canadian visa is one of the keys that openthe door to Canada for you. It is like a sticker or stamp on your passport which allows you to travel to Canada for a period of time.
However, it is possible to still be denied access to the country even with a visa. This could happen if you are dishonest. Hence, the officials at the border could send you back to Nigeria if you fail to answer their questions correctly.
Canadian Visa Types
As we have noted above there are different Canadian visas for different purposes and the one you would get depends on what you want to do in Canada. Hence, the type of Canadian visas are:
A. The Canadian Temporary Resident Visa
The Canadian Temporary Resident Visa is also known as a visitor visa. This type of visa, as its name suggests, permits entry into Canada for a limited time that is often determined by the Canadian Consulate or the Border Services Officers (BSO). You would need to submit an online or paper application through the visa application centre in Nigeria to obtain this visa. There are two types of temporary visas: single entry and multiple entries.
Single-entry visas only allow you to enter Canada once; after you leave the country, further access is prohibited. As long as your multiple-entry visa is still in effect, you are free to enter and exit the country as often as you choose.
The types of Canadian Temporary Resident Visa include:
1. Canadian Tourist Visa
As the name suggests, this visa allows Nigerians to visit Canada for tourism.
2. Diplomatic and Official Visa
This Canadian visa allows officials and diplomats from other countries of the world to visit Canada for official duties.
3. Canadian Super Visa
If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada and you have parents or grandparents who wish to visit you for a prolonged stay, then this visa is suitable for them.
4. Courtesy Visa
This is similar to the Diplomatic and Official visa but it is for people who could not get the visa but are still accepted because of their ranks.
5. Visa to Give Birth
This is given to pregnant people who wish to reside in the countrytemporarily and give birth to their babies making their child a Canadian citizen.
6. Canada Business Visa
If you or a group of people are seeking to travel to Canada for business, then this is the best visa for you.
7. Temporary Work Visa
This visa is for those who have gotten an employment offer to work in the country for up to 6 months.
8. Canadian Student Visa
This visa is usually referred to as a study permit and is given to those who want to pursue their education in Canada after they have received an admission offer from a university in Canada. Bear in mind that schooling in Canada for less than 6 months would require a Temporary Resident Visa(TRV) but longer periods would require a student visa or permit.
9. Organs Donor Visa
This is given to persons who want to travel to Canada to donate an organ to a Canadian citizen or permanent resident in Canada.
10. Canada Felicitation Visa
This is usually given to citizens with dual nationalities who do notpossess a Canadian passport.
B. Permanent Residence Visa
This visa is for individuals who want to settle and work permanently in Canada. There are different types of permanent resident visas and they include:
1. Immigrant Investor Program
Nigerians who desire to make investments in the Canadian economycan take this visa. However, it is important to have a net worth of CAD800,000 and invest a minimum of CAD 400,000 which the Canadian government would return in 5 years, without any interest.
2. Startup Visa Program
This is also for persons that want to contribute to the Canadian economy. If this is what you want, then your net worth must be at least CAD 300,000 and you must choose to own and manage one-third of the Canadian business to be eligible for this visa.
3. Self-Employed Persons Visa
Anyone who seeks to begin their own business upon arrival in Canada needs this visa. You must be able to exhibit your skills and knowledge in your desired field and provide proof of how you wantto fund the business.
4. Family Sponsorship Program
This permits spouses and dependents of Canadian permanent residents or citizens to permanently move to Canada.
5. Express Entry Program Visas
This is made up of three types of visas that relate to the Canadian economy and consist of the Canadian Skilled Worker Visa, Canadian Skilled Trades Visa and Canadian Experience Class Visa.
6. Provincial Nomination Programs (PNP)
Anyone who is a semi-skilled or low-skilled worker and can impactthe Canadian economy positively is qualified for this visa under the Provincial Nominee Program.
Canadian Visa Requirements
1. A Valid International Passport
Any Nigerian who wants to apply for a visa to Canada must have an international passport. It is pertinent to have a passport that is valid for the entire duration of your expected stay in Canada.Additionally, you could be required to show photocopies of the information page from your international passport, which includes your name, picture, date of birth, place of birth, passport number, and other crucial information.
2. Visa Fee Receipt
Before requesting a Canadian visa, you must pay the visa fees and any additional fees. This is because your visa application will require you to present the receipts. Visa fees for Canadian visas come in two different forms:
• Biometric charges
• Application processing fees.
Bear in mind that the amount that should be paid varies and depends on the kind of visa you want to get.
3. Passport Photographs
If you choose to submit your application offline, you must provide two passport-sized photos that meet the Canadian visa requirements.You must obtain a digital copy of the photos for an online application; this shouldn’t be more than 4MB. A neutral expression must be maintained, the photo must be 35mm by 45mm, the background must be plain, and unless your religion forbids it, you must not wear a head covering. The image must also be recent, meaning it cannot be older than six months.
4. Proof of Sufficient Funds
You would need to provide evidence of your financial stability in order to apply for a visa to Canada. You would have to demonstrate that you would have enough money to pay for both your expenses and the expenses of any family members you bring. Your bank statements, a letter from your company confirming your annual salary, a document confirming the income of your host or a family member, your plan to be financially supported to cover your expenses while you are there, etc. might all be used as evidence.
5. Proof of Return Trip
To convince the officials that you would be returning to Nigeria as soon as your visa expired, you might need to attach proof. This could be done by providing evidence of your employment, property ownership in Nigeria, family members in Nigeria, etc.
6. Identity Documents
An ID document must be attached so that your identity can be properly verified by the authorities. You may present your national identification card, voter’s card, driver’s license, birth certificate, etc.
7. Proof of Good Character
Canada despises criminal activity and welcomes people who uphold the law and don’t pose a threat to the nation. You would have to provide documentation demonstrating your moral character and lack of criminal history. You can achieve this by producing a Police Character Certificate.
8. Proof of Good Health
You would have to provide proof of Good health and fitness to remain in Canada. An official medical certificate from a reputed hospital can be used to demonstrate this. Copies of your medical report or certificate must be sent with your application.
Canadian Visa Application Guide
1. Determine Visa Type Eligibility
To save time, the Canadian government has simplified the procedure for visa eligibility. The government has developed a number of evaluations that test a candidate’s eligibility based on responses to an online questionnaire. You will be required to fill out a questionnaire based on the type of visa you desire.
Afterwards, the system will let you know if you meet the requirements to apply or not. Additionally, it will include guidelines and recommendations that you should adhere to in order to fulfil all the requirements. Upon completion of the evaluation, you would then receive your results.
2. Create your Online Account
When a visa category is open to you, you will get instructions, which may be delivered to the email address you previously provided. You can apply in person or online for your desired visa, however, online applications are more common. You must create an online account in order to apply for the visa online. There are two ways to open an internet account:
• You can make use of the information from your online bank.
• You can create a government of Canada login (GCKey).
3. Get your Documents Ready
You may start your visa application after creating your account and logging in. Make sure you use the reference code provided to you to apply for the visa for which you are qualified. You would see the documents you would require for the visa application as soon as you entered the reference code. Before submitting your application, make sure all of your paperwork is submitted accurately. Be aware that false or incorrect information could result in your visa being refused.
4. Pay the Required Visa Fees
The system would take you directly to a payment page after you have properly submitted your documents online. Depending on the kind of visa you have, you would need to pay the relevant fees here. You could then submit your application after that.
You only need to bring those documents to the Canadian visa application centre in Nigeria if you submit your application in person. If you apply online, it could take some time before you can view the application in your account.
5. Wait for the Processing of your Visa
Depending on the type of visa you qualify for, the Canadian Embassy or visa application centre will then require two or more weeks to process your application. They may also request more documents from you and they’d take your biometric data (such as a photo and your fingerprints). Even though you submitted your application online, you will still need to appear in person if the visa application centre demands your biometrics and arranges an interview. Remember that your account will receive notifications, so you should check it frequently.
6. Submit your Passport and other Fees
As soon as you learn that your visa application has been approved, submit your passport together with any additional processing fees to the visa application centre. The staff at the embassy or visa application centre will receive your passport together with the processing fees, stamp it with the visa, and send it back to you.
Conclusion
Canada is one of the best countries in the world and you are sure to enjoy your stay there. However, before you can successfully travel to Canada for whatever reason, you need to obtain a visa. If you have been seeking how to go about the Canadian visa application process, then we know that you have found this post useful.