Getting a Canada Visa is very important if you are thinking of traveling to Canada or returning to enjoy the life in Toronto for christmas, perhaps you want to study in Montréal and other great universities scattered around Canada.
With this Canada Visa application Online guide, you will earn how to get any type of Canada visa to ease your entry even if it is the very popular tourist visa application process, the whole step has been made very easy for you.
Nigerian passport holders do require a tourist visa to visit Canada. Visa applications need to be submitted online through the IRCC online application system or through the VFS Global Canadian Visa Application Centre in Lagos or Abuja.
How to Get Canadian Visa
We recommend checking your eligibility before beginning the application process and submitting your application in advance of flight departure. Then, once you have your visa, all you need to do is plan your trip, book your tickets, and pack your bags!
Canada is a country in the North American continent located right above the United States and is known as a highly developed country. The demand of people to travel to Canada has been steadily increasing the last few years, but most people wonder how they can get to Canada.
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| Canada Visa Application Online, Fees, Requirements in Nigeria |
What is a Canada Visa?
A Canada visa is a stamp on your passport which allows you to enter the country of Canada. It is a permission for you to travel to the country and legally be able to stay either temporarily or permanently.
Getting a visa to Canada means that the Canadian Consulate or Embassy in your home country decided that you are eligible and fulfill the requirements for entry. However, once you are at the Canadian border and customs, it is up to the officers at the border to evaluate whether you are fit to enter.
If you answer the Canadian Border Services Officer (BSO) questions honestly and correctly, they will allow you to enter. Otherwise, if they suspect that you are not eligible to enter, they can deny you and ask you to go back to your home country even if you have a Canada visa.
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- Canada Visa Application in Nigeria
Who Needs a Canadian Visa?
People from countries that do not have a Canada visa application exemption or Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) agreement with Canada will need a visa to enter the country. More specifically, people from around 148 countries need a visa to visit, work, or immigrate to Canada.
To find out more about whether you need a visa for Canada, please visit the article on who needs a Canada Visa?
What are the Canadian Visa Categories?
There are two general categories of the Canada Visa. These are:
- Temporary Canada Visas
- Permanent Canada Visas
Temporary visas allow the holder to stay in Canada for a limited amount of time for purposes of tourism, visit to family, studying, or working. Permanent visas allow the holder to move to Canada permanently to work and be on a path to a Canadian citizenship.
Types of Canada Visas
There are several types of visas for Canada: Visitor Visa (Temporary Resident Visa), Student Visa, and Work Visa.
Temporary Canada Visas
The temporary Canada visas allow the person to stay in Canada for a specific period of time which is determined by the Canadian Consulate or the Border Services Officers (BSO). This time is usually up to 6 months. However, the temporary visa can be single entry or multiple entry visa.
Single entry visa allows the person to only enter Canada once, stay for 6 months and then return to their home country. A multiple entry visa allows the person to enter Canada multiple times until their visa expires and stay temporarily.
There are four types of Canadian Temporary Visas:
Temporary Resident Visas
The Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) and has the following sub types based on the purpose of visit to Canada
- Tourist Visa
- Super Visa
- Diplomatic and Official Visa
- Courtesy Visa
- Facilitation Visa
- Business Persons and Business Delegations Visa
- Persons wishing to enter Canada for the purpose of giving birth
- Intending Organ Donors Visa
Other Temporary Canada Visas
- Student Visa
- Temporary Foreign Workers
- Temporary Resident Permit
- Working Holiday Visa
Permanent Canada Visas
The permanent Canada visas are visas which allow the holder to permanently settle in the country. These are otherwise known as immigrant visas and can be of different types, as follows.
Express Entry Visas
The Canada Express Entry Program is an electronic immigration program designed by the Government of Canada. It allows people from all over the world to apply for immigration to Canada based on their specific skills. The following are part of this program:
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- Provincial Nomination Programs (PNP)
- Canadian Experience Class
Business Immigrant Visa
- Immigrant Investor Program
- Entrepreneur Program
- Self-employed Persons Program
Other Canada Permanent Visas
- Quebec-Selected Skilled Worker Program (QSWP)
- Family-Sponsorship Program
- Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP)
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 centre. They should be paid in naira and are subject to change whenever the embassy deems it fit. But generally, there are two types of fees: an application processing fee and a biometric fee.
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
Listed below are the requirements for Canadian Visa:
- 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, payslips, 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) travelling alone will need a letter of authorisation signed by both parents or legal guardians. For minors travelling with one parent, a letter of authorization from the non-accompanying parent or legal guardian is required.
- If you are visiting family or travelling 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.
Information on Canadian Visa Application
A Canadian visa is a stamp on the passport and has a distinct look. It usually does not include a picture, but includes the following information:
- The place the visa was issued;
- Date of issuance and expiration;
- Number of entries allowed;
- Document number;
- Visa category;
- Visa type;
- The visa holder’s last and first name;
- Passport number.
NOTE: Paper photographs are not required if you need to supply biometrics.
Canadian Embassy in Nigeria
The visa process can take some time, so using a visa application center is recommended if you have the option.
| Address: | 4 Anifowoshe Street,Victoria Island, Lagos |
| Telephone: | (234) 1 271 5650 |
| Hours: | Monday to Thursday 7:30 AM – 4 PMFriday 7:30 AM – 1 PM |
Canadian Visa Application Centre in Abuja
| Address: | Silverbird Entertainment Centre, Plot 1161, Memorial Drive,Central Business District, Abuja |
| Telephone: | (234) 815 019 9900 |
| Hours: | Monday to Friday 8 AM – 3 PM |
Canadian Visa Application Centre in Lagos
| Address: | Manor Hall, Plot 110, Admiral Ayinla Way,Third Roundabout, Lekki Phase I – Lagos |
| Telephone: | (234) 815 019 9900 |
| Hours: | Monday to Friday 8 AM – 3 PM |
How to Apply for Canada Visa Application Online
Whether you are applying online through the IRCC online application system or in-person through a visa application centre you will need to follow these steps:
How to apply for a Canadian visa online?
To apply online you will need to have access to a scanner to create digital copies of your documents and a credit card to pay the processing and biometric fees.
Online applications can be done through the IRCC website.
- Download the Document Checklist, Visitor Visa (IMM 5257), and Family Information (IMM 5645) forms.
- Fill out the application forms and gather all your supporting documents (as listed above).
- If applicable, complete the VFS consent form (Canada Visa application form PDF Download) When using a third-party provider such as VFS Global you will need to submit a consent form along with your application or your application will be returned to you.
- Pay the visa fees.
- Submit your application to your local Visa Application Centre. Be sure to bring along all the documents stated in the document checklist and an accepted form of payment (cash is recommended).
- Pay the service charge and obtain a receipt with a unique tracking number which you can use to track the progress of your application online.
Canadian Visa Application Form PDF
You can download the Canada visa application form PDF using the links outlined below:
Canada Visa Application Form Free Download PDF
- Download the Document Checklist, Visitor Visa (IMM 5257), and Family Information (IMM 5645) forms.
- Fill out the application forms and gather all your supporting documents (as listed above).
- If applicable, complete the VFS consent form (Canada Visa application form PDF Download) When using a third-party provider such as VFS Global you will need to submit a consent form along with your application or your application will be returned to you.
Note: If you are unable to provide all the supporting documents, you will need to complete a waiver form and attach it to your application, or you risk being denied your visa.
You can also apply online for the Canada visa but first you need to check all the document checklist to ensure that you meet the requirements.
- Detailed document checklist for Visitor Visa.
- Documents may vary if you are applying through VFS Global.