Canada Visitor Visa for Nigerians

Want to Visit Canada?

A temporary resident can be a visitor, a student, or a worker. If you are looking to apply for a Visitor Visa to Canada, we can help determine your eligibility and guide you through the visa application process to ensure the highest chances of visa approval.

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Overview of the Visitor Visa Application Process

A Visitor Visa is also called a Temporary Resident Visa. It is issued to most visitors wanting to visit Canada. There are two types of Visitor Visas:

• A Single Entry Visa – permits visitors to enter the country for one time only. These are granted for up to 6 months.
• A Multiple Entry Visa – allows visitors to enter Canada and remain for the period the visa is valid. This also permits visitors to leave the country as often as they want. A Multiple Entry Visa is granted for up to 10 years.

Most applicants are granted the Multiple Entry Visa unless they have unique circumstances which permit them only to be issued with a Single Entry Visa.

Nigerian nationals who fulfil the eligibility requirements can apply and be considered for a Visitor Visa in Canada.

Eligibility Requirements for a Visitor Visa in Canada

To be eligible for a Tourist/Visitor Visa in Canada, you must meet the following requirements:

• Have a valid passport or travel document.
• Demonstrate that you are in good health.
• Have no criminal or immigration-related convictions.
• Demonstrate to the immigration officer that you visit Canada and return to your home country after your visa expires. For this, you must prove that you have a job, home, financial assets or family in your home country.
• Have enough financial means for the duration of your stay. The exact amount will depend on the duration of your stay and the place where you will stay.
• You may need a medical exam unless you have completed one in the last 5 years, you’re already in Canada on a Visitor Visa, and your previous medical exam shows low risk or no risk to public health or safety.
• You may also be required to provide a letter of invitation from someone in Canada.

Please note that if the applicant is under 18, they must travel with the right documents and meet the same requirements as adults.

Documentation for a Canada Tourist Visa

Overview

When providing supporting documentation for a Tourist Visa, the reason for your visit is the key to determining which documents you must provide. This part of the visa application process is essential for you to be considered for a visa.

For most Visitor Visas, applicants must submit the following basic documents:

• A Valid passport – the expiration date should be no less than 6 months
• Two recent (not older than 90 days) passport photographs that meet the Canadian Visa photo requirements
• Proof that you will have enough funds to cover your living expenses while you stay in Canada
• Documents that demonstrate your ties to your home country
• An affidavit or an invitation letter from someone in Canada
• Proof of all the required medical exams
• Photocopy of your return ticket and travel itinerary
• Any additional documents requested by your local visa centre

Additional Documentation for Minor Applicants

If the applicant is a child under 18, the border services are likely to ask for additional documents, such as:

• A parent’s passport
• A copy of their birth certificate, and
• A letter of authorisation, in English or French, signed by both parents or by a legal guardian. It should include the following:
  • The parents’ (or guardian’s) address and telephone number
  • The name, address and telephone number of the adult who the child will stay with while in Canada
  • If the child is travelling with a parent, they will need to show the address and telephone number of the parent who is not travelling, and
  • A photocopy of that parent’s passport or national identity card

If you are still determining what documents you should submit along with your visa application, talk to one of IAS’s lawyers to evaluate your circumstances and help you decide what you should provide to prove your eligibility. IAS can improve your visa approval chances so you can travel to Canada worry-free.

To learn more about our services and how we can help, contact IAS by calling +2342013438882 in Nigeria or +44 (0) 3316300929. Or talk to one of our advisers online.

How much bank balance do I need for a Visitor Visa Canada?

You need at least 1,230 CAD every month for your stay in Canada.

To prove that you meet this requirement, and can cover the the expenses for the duration of your stay, you must provide the following:

• Bank statements showing the transactions from the past 3 months and the average balance for the last 6 months
• Additional documentation that might be relevant to your application, for example: employment letter, pay slips, proof of pension, etc.
• If someone else is paying for your trip instead of you, you must provide documents that show how your stay will be funded, these can be documents such as bank statements from your parent’s bank account etc. The person funding your trip must also sign a letter stating how they are related to you. The letter should include a photocopy of that person’s passport or other identification document with a photo.

Visitor Visa: How to Apply?

Overview

To apply, you must ensure that you have access to a scanner or camera to make copies of your supporting documents that you will be asked to upload for your online application. You will need your credit card in hand to pay the visa processing fee at the end of your application.

You will then have to create an online account by accessing the Immigration and Citizenship service at the Government of Canada website. You must fill out an online application and upload all of the documentation required. Once you complete the application, you will pay the fee and submit it for processing.

You can only apply on paper if:

• You have a disability preventing you from applying online
• You’re travelling with an identity or travel document that was issued to a refugee, a stateless person or a non-citizen.

How to Apply on Paper?

To apply on paper, you must have internet access to download and read the Instruction Guide IMM 5256. You will be able to access this through the Government of Canada website. You will have to select the country you are from. This will prepare all of the forms required for your application package. You will then have to complete the forms and print them out.

Please note that for your records, you should photocopy all forms and documents that you submit.

You should put the documents and forms into a large envelope and submit your application by bringing it to the Visa Application Centre that serves your area. There are two Visa Application Centres in Nigeria, one in Abuja and one in Lagos.

What Happens After I Submit My Visa Application?

Once your application is submitted, you can track your visa application process using the tracking number provided on the receipt.

Biometrics Required for Canada Visitor Visa

One of the key steps in the visa application process is providing biometric information (fingerprints and photos). You will give your biometric information after you submit your application. You should provide your biometrics at the nearest Canadian Visa Application Centre.

Please note that the Canadian Government resumed biometrics collection for all permanent residence applicants if you apply on or after the 14th of June, 2023. If you have taken biometric information in the last 10 years, you still need to give new biometrics for your Visitor Visa.

Giving your biometrics confirms your identity and ensures that you are who you claim you are. This helps to prevent identity theft and spot those who pose a risk to a country’s security.

How is Your Visa Application Processed?

The completed visa application will be assessed to ensure you have included all required documents. If there are any issues with your application, it will be returned to you without processing. If it is approved, you will be asked to send your passport to get your visa approved.

Scheduling and Attending Your Visa Interview

Overview

While your visa application is being processed, you may need to attend an interview with Canadian officials in your country. The purpose of this is to ensure that you are eligible to be considered for this visa and to give you a chance to provide any extra information to help determine your eligibility.

If you are required to attend a visa interview, the Canadian Embassy or Consulate will contact you via email or in writing, letting you know why you need to participate in an interview and when you should book it. A visa interview is not a standard procedure in the Canadian visa application process.

However, if you are requested to schedule an interview, you can prepare in advance by gathering all the required documentation and ensuring that you can answer questions that you might be asked during your interview.

Common Questions Asked During a Visa Interview

Most visa interviewers ask questions about your background and the purpose of your travel. The most common questions that you might be asked during a visa interview include:

• Why do you want to travel to Canada?
• When do you plan to return to your home country?
• Do you have any relatives in Canada?
• What are you planning to do during your stay in Canada?
• Do you have adequate financial means to support yourself?
• What is your source of income?
• Are you married?
• Do you have children?
• Have you ever visited Canada before?

Processing Times and Fees for Canada Tourist Visa

The cost of the Canada Tourist Visa includes:

• Visa processing fee – $CAN 100 per person
• Biometric fee – $CAN 85
• Medical exams fee depends on what exams you need and the cost of medical exams in your home country

The processing times for Temporary Residence (Visitor/Tourist Visa) vary based on where you’re applying from.

If you’re applying from Nigeria, you can expect your application to be processed within 764 days. However, this time frame is not guaranteed, and your application may be delayed or returned to you if it still needs to be completed or requires additional supporting documents. Additionally, if you are requested to schedule and attend a visa interview, this will likely affect your visa’s processing time.

Entering Canada With a Visitor Visa

Once you enter Canada on a Visitor Visa, your identity will be checked to ensure you are the same person who was approved for the visa. Your fingerprints will be checked automatically at the airport and compared against the information you provided when you submitted your application. In some cases, visitors may need to do a secondary inspection, and a border services officer will check their fingerprints.

What to Expect at the Border?

Once you pass the identity check and health assessment and demonstrate with all the required documents that you meet the entry requirements, the border services officer will let you know how long you can stay in Canada, and they might stamp your passport.

How Can IAS Help?

The Canada Tourist Visa is a popular travel route for many Nigerian nationals visiting Canada. At IAS, we understand that the Visitor Visa application can be long and complicated.

IAS immigration lawyers offer professional and reliable help to ensure that your application satisfies the required eligibility criteria and is completed to the highest standard to maximise the chances of visa approval and avoid delays.

To learn more about IAS and our services, call +2342013438882 in Nigeria or +44 (0) 3316300929. To chat with one of our advisers, contact IAS online.