Canada Visa Requirements for Nigeria | Full List of Documents to Apply in 2023

Short on time? Here is the summary of the comprehensive list of Canada visa requirements for Nigeria, which also includes the necessary documents to apply in Nigeria:

• Passport photograph.
• Nigerian/International passport.
• Explanation of the purpose of your trip.
• Letter of invitation.
• Hotel reservation.
• Proof of funds.
• Proof of ties to your home country (Nigeria).

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It is important to note that a Canada visitor visa is also known as a Canada Tourist Visa or Temporary Resident Visa (TRV).

Below is the detailed list of supporting documents required to apply in Nigeria for a Canada Visitor Visa:

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PASSPORT PHOTOGRAPH

• Two (2) recent passport photographs for each Canada visa applicant, taken within the last 6 months.

• For online applications, only one (1) passport photograph is required as you will scan your photograph and upload it to your online visa application account.

• Photo Specification: The passport photograph to be used for a Canada visa should be a coloured (not black and white) photograph and taken against a plain white or light-coloured background. The frame size of the photograph must be at least 35mm x 45mm.

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NIGERIAN/INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT

A Nigerian cannot apply for a Canada visa without a travel document, which in this case is the visa applicant’s passport.

Most Nigerians refer to a travel passport as an ‘international passport’, so we will use that wording here, to prevent any confusion for our Nigerian readers.

• For online application, you are required to upload scanned copies of your Nigerian passport bio-data page and pages of all visas/stamps in the past 10 years.

If you have visas/stamps on any of your previous expired Nigerian passports, then that is required too.

• For a paper application, you will submit your original Nigerian passport along with a set of photocopy of all pages that has visas/stamps in the past 10 years.

If you have visas/stamps on any of your previous expired Nigerian passports, you will want to submit that too.

PRO TIPS:

• Your Nigerian/International passport must have a minimum of 2 blank visa pages and a minimum of 6 months’ validity.

• It is important to note that Canadian visas are usually not issued for longer than the validity of your Nigerian/international passport. So, if your Nigerian passport will be expiring soon and you hope to be issued a visa with a longer duration, you may want to renew your Nigerian passport first before applying for the Canada visitor visa.

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EXPLANATION OF THE PURPOSE OF YOUR TRIP

• Details of your itinerary indicating length of stay in Canada, the destination in Canada (city/province), and your contacts in Canada.

• You may be required to provide a provisional airline booking, under certain circumstances.

READ ALSO: Chances of Getting Canada Tourist Visa after Refusal

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LETTER OF INVITATION

As part of your Canada visa application, you are expected to provide an invitation letter from the person or business you will visit in Canada.

The letter of invitation for your Canada visitor visa should state your visit dates, the duration of your stay in Canada, the purpose of your visit to Canada, your host’s contact information, and whether you will be staying with your host at his/her residence or not.

If your host in Canada is an individual, information related to their Canadian immigration status should be included in the Invitation Letter. Examples include their:

• Canada permanent resident landing document, such as their Confirmation of Permanent Residence (CoPR),

• Citizenship Certificate or Canadian passport bio-data page,

• Study permit or work permit, or

• Permanent Resident (PR) card.

PRO TIP: We have discovered that those who include a Letter of Invitation with their Canada Tourist Visa application, have a higher visa success rate compared to those who do not.

We have a Sample “Letter of Invitation Template” in our Free eResource Centre and eBook {Coming Soon}, which you can provide to the person inviting you to use as a guide to writing a letter of invitation for you. This is important to ensure that your host is not missing out on any vital information required by Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

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HOTEL RESERVATION

You may be required to provide hotel booking confirmation, depending on your circumstances. For instance:

• If you will not be staying with your host at his/her residence, proof of alternate accommodation arrangements such as a hotel reservation, Airbnb booking, or similar accommodation arrangement is required as part of your Canada visitor/tourist visa application.

• If you are embarking on a business trip, you are expected to provide a hotel reservation that covers the duration of your trip.

• If your intended trip is to attend a Seminar, Trade Show, Conference, or any similar event. An invitation from the event organizers, event registration, and hotel confirmation are required.

Do you need assistance in arranging accommodation (hotel reservation/Airbnb) in Canada? Contact Us.

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FOR BUSINESS-RELATED TRAVEL

The following is required for a business trip to Canada:

• A letter from your current employer indicating the purpose of your travel,

• Your itinerary within Canada and who will cover the cost of your travel,

• A letter from the Canadian business confirming travel duration (visit dates) and the nature of your business.

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PROOF OF FUNDS

• If you are self-funded, you must submit evidence of sufficient funds to cover your travel and expenses while in Canada.

Evidence includes a certified (stamped/signed) bank statement with 3 months’ history including 1 month prior to or the same month as your application submission, or a fixed deposit investment letter/advice (in your name or business name).

• If you are (partially or fully) funded by someone else, such as your spouse or parents: The person must provide a letter confirming that he/she will financially support you, along with their 3 months certified (signed/stamped) bank statement.

If you are being provided with a business/corporate bank statement, then a statement for the past 6 months will be required.

We have a Sample “Letter of Financial Support Template” in our eResource Centre and EBook {Coming Soon}. You can provide this sample to the person funding your trip so that they can use it to write a letter of financial support for you. This ensures they are not missing out any vital information required by IRCC.

• If you are funded by your host in Canada: Your host must provide financial documents such as recent bank statements for a savings account, short-term or long-term deposits that show their name, account balance, and the date the account was opened.

If your host is employed as an employee in an organization, he/she is to provide a letter of introduction from their Canadian employer. If your host is self-employed, he/she is to provide proof of business.

Also, your host must state in your invitation letter that he/she is funding your Canada trip.

PRO TIPS:

* If you are being funded by someone else, depending on your age and personal circumstances, it may be a good idea to also provide your own bank statement, in order to increase your chances of visa approval.

As an example, it will be odd that a 45 years old male is not able to fund his trip to Canada. This could be a signal to the Canada visa officer that the visa applicant does not have significant financial ties to their home country (Nigeria) and thus there’s a high chance they’ll not leave Canada after their visit, thereby resulting in a possible Canada visa refusal.

** It is important that the historical account balances of the bank statement you provide are consistent. Recent lump-sum bank deposits could result in a visa refusal, as the visa officer may think the money was borrowed just to apply for the visa.

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PIN FOR LATER!

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PROOF OF TIES TO YOUR HOME COUNTRY (NIGERIA):

• Proof of Business, if you are self-employed: Provide

– Business registration (plus tax clearance certificates, if available),
– trade certificates/license (if applicable), and
– financial documents (business bank account statement for the past 6 months).

• Proof of employment:

– A letter from your current employer and payslips (last 3 months). The employment letter must be dated within 2 months of the visa application and it should include your occupation, job description, position, salary, allowances, years of employment, and authorized leave dates.

* Proof of employment letter is expected to be written on your employer’s letterhead and signed by an authorized person in the organization.

– Any other documents that serve as proof of employment, such as employment identity card, etc.

• Proof of current studies, if you are a student: an official document confirming registration as a student at an academic institution.

The Canadian Visa Officer may confirm the authenticity of your proof of business, your employment letter and your proof of current studies. So, it is important that the documents you provide as authentic.

• If you are married, your marriage certificate. If applicable, provide birth certificates for each family member whether or not they are requesting a visa.

If you are not travelling to Canada with your spouse or children, this helps establish the fact that you will return back to Nigeria after your visa to Canada.

• Children must each have their own passports. They must also have a school leave letter, if applicable.

• Other additional documents that will help establish home ties, such as:

– landed property documents,
– a certified (signed/stamped) statement from your stockbroker showing the current market value of your shares,
– proof of financial assets,
– statement from your pension managers showing the current value of your Retirement Savings Account (RSA),
– and any other similar documents.

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WHAT NEXT?

• Want to apply for a Canadian Visitor Visa (Temporary Resident Visa – TRV) on your own without using an agent? Check out our step-by-step guide -> Canada Visitor Visa: 4 Simple Steps on How to Apply in Nigeria

• Not up for the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) approach? Contact Us for personalized one-on-one assistance.

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RECOMMENDED SOLUTIONS

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LET’S CHAT!

• Did you include any extra document to your Canada visa application, which we did not state here? Leave a comment below to get the discussion going.

• Is there any document stated above that you need clarification on? Ask us by commenting below.