Canada PR From Nigeria

Canada is a very popular choice for many Nigerians looking to move abroad from Nigeria. Perhaps you are looking to follow a dream career path, obtain an excellent education for yourself or your family, or are simply on the search for an improved quality of life.

Canada is a very pro-immigration nation that offers world-renowned schools and education programmes, has lots of exciting job opportunities, offers universal healthcare, has a thriving economy, and ranks as one of the top 10 safest countries in the world.

Canada offers a great entry programme for immigrants looking to move abroad and gain permanent residency in Canada, whether it be through the Express Entry system or through economic immigration.

Page Contents

• Should I Move to Canada from Nigeria?
• Do I Need to Take a Language Test to Become a Permanent Resident in Canada?
• Express Entry
• Canadian Experience Class
• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
• Federal Skills Trades Program (FSTP)
• Provincial Nominee Program
• Family Sponsorship
• How Do I Apply for the Family Sponsorship Immigration Route?
• Economic Immigration: Nigerian Start-Ups and Business Options for Immigration to Canada
• How Much Does it Cost to Apply for Permanent Residency In Canada From Nigeria?
• What Documents Do I Need?
• How Long Does it Take to Apply for Permanent Residency in Canada?
• How Can Total Law Help?
• Frequently Asked Questions

In order to apply for permanent residence in Canada, you will need to prove that you have sufficient language skills in either English or French.

IELTS and CELPIP are the most popular English tests that are accepted by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and by educational institutions across the country.

You must take the General Training option for IELTS, or the CELPIP-General test for CELPIP.

You must achieve at least a 6.0 in your results for IELTS, and a minimum of 4 in CELPIP, though this depends on which immigration route you are applying for.

The French options accepted by the CIC and Canadian education institutions are TEF Canada and TCF Canada.

You must take the test within two years of applying for Canadian residency, and must have the results sent directly to you so that you can include them in your application.

Canadian Experience Class is an Express Entry route only available to those who have already gained at least one year of skilled work experience, or a total of 1560 working hours, in Canada within the last three years. This may look like:

• Having had a full-time job for at least 30 hours a week for 12 months
• Having had a part-time job of around 20 hours per week for 24 months
• Having worked under temporary residence status, gaining the relevant work experience.

Many Nigerian nationals choose the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) as their route for immigration to Canada. The FSWP allows you to apply for permanent residence if you have a specific work experience background that is eligible for the programme.

In order to apply for Canadian permanent residence, you must be able to meet the following criteria:

• Evidence that you have the financial means to support yourself and your family (if applicable) in Canada
• 12 continuous months of full time paid work experience within the past 10 years in a skilled occupation that is listed under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) TEER category 0, 1, 2, or 3. Examples of jobs that fall under this category include:
• • Financial Advisors
  • Laboratory Technicians
  • Dental Assistants
  • Office Managers

• A Canadian educational credential (certificate, diploma, or degree) or a credential from a foreign country with an Education Credential Assessment report.
• An IELTS or CELPIP test that confirms your English or French language abilities (reading, writing, speaking, listening) meets a grade 7 in the Canadian Language Benchmark.
• A minimum of 67 points on the IRCC’s immigration selection factors.

The Federal Skills Trades Program is another Express Entry immigration route that allows access to permanent residency in Canada. To be eligible for this programme, you must:

• Have at least 2 years of full-time or 4 years of part-time work experience in one of the listed skilled trades. You must have gained this experience within five years of applying. Please note unpaid or volunteer experience doesn’t count.
• Meet proficient language levels in English or French
• Meet the requirements for a specific job listed in the FSTP, or have a relevant certificate or qualification to prove your experience or abilities in the field, or
• Receive an offer from a Canadian company of full-time work for at least one year or a qualification issued by a Canadian governmental authority.

Examples of jobs that are available through the FSTP are:

• Transportation Officers or Controllers
• Occupations in industries surrounding natural resources, agriculture and related fields (supervisors, operators, controllers)
• Occupations in industries surrounding processing, manufacturing and utilities (supervisors, operators, controllers)
• Cooks, butchers, bakers, or chefs
• Occupations related to aircraft assembling

You must prove that your experience meets the description of the NOC, or your application will be refused.

The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is the other major option for Nigerian immigration candidates.

The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is a desirable route for many Nigerian nationals for immigration to Canada and for gaining permanent resident status.

There are a total of 10 provinces in Canada, and most offer the Provincial Nominee Program. As the second largest country in the world, each province has a unique landscape, territory, and demographic, and therefore each has individual skilled worker requirements to add to their workforce and local economies.

In order to be eligible as a provincial nominee, you must contact the province you are interested in applying to and find out whether you meet the minimum requirements of its nomination program. The 10 provinces that offer PNPs are:

• Alberta
• British Columbia
• Manitoba
• New Brunswick
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• Northwest Territories
• Nova Scotia
• Ontario
• Prince Edward Island
• Saskatchewan
• Yukon.

If you have a relative or spouse that lives in Canada, you may be able to apply for Canadian permanent residence through family sponsorship. In order to sponsor you, the family member in Canada must be above 18 years old and should either:

• Be a Canadian citizen, or
• Be a Canadian Permanent Resident.

In order to move from Nigeria to Canada through the family sponsorship immigration route, your family member must prove that they have sufficient financial stability so that they can support you. You should not require social assistance, and financial means to pay for accommodation, food and clothing must be proven.

Applying for permanent residency through family sponsorship can be a particularly complicated process, as there are two people involved in the application process and, therefore, more room for errors or misunderstandings with the application. Perhaps your connection to the relative is complicated, and you are unsure if you are fully eligible for sponsorship through your relative.

Total Law is here to help. Contact us online today or call us on +44 (0)333 305 9375 for expert advice and support with your application.

There are two different application processes that must be completed by both you and your sponsor. Once both applications have been completed, they must be submitted together.

As of 23 September 2022, all applications must be filled in online, unless you have particular mitigating circumstances, such as a disability that requires accommodations.

Below is a list of the forms that your sponsor is required to fill out and submit:

• Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking (IMM 1344) (this must be signed by both parties)
• Financial Evaluation (IMM 1283)
• Medical Condition Statement (IMM 0133)
• Forms for allowing an immigration representative to access the application
• Separation Declaration for Minors Travelling to Canada (IMM 5604) – if applicable
• Statutory Declaration of Common-law Union (IMM 5409) – if applicable.
• Below is a list of the forms you are required to fill out and submit:
• Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008)
• Schedule A – Background/Declaration (IMM 5669)
• Additional Family Information (IMM 5406).

Please note that if you are under the age of 18 you will be required to have a guardian fill these forms out for you.

Each application process will require different documentation, however In general, you should have valid copies of the following documents:

• A valid passport or travel identity card
• A recent passport-quality photograph
• The relevant application forms
• Medical exams
• Proof of funds
• Birth certificate or adoption certificate if you are applying with a dependent under 18
• Representative form if you have hired an immigration lawyer
• Marriage certificate or proof of common law relationship if applicable
• Divorce certificate if applicable
• Death certificate if you are widowed
• A criminal record check.

In general, applications for permanent residency in Canada usually take up to six months of processing time. However, this could take longer depending on your particular circumstances.

If you are required to make alterations to your application, or you are required to attend an interview to clarify your circumstances, the application process could take longer. It is therefore important to make sure you leave plenty of time between submitting your application and the time you plan to relocate to Canada.