Express Entry Canada from Nigeria

Each year, Canada welcomes immigrants from 175 countries, making it arguably the most receptive nation in the world. This is partially due to the hospitable approach of the Canadian people.

Canada is a popular destination for Nigerians due to the economic opportunities it provides in sectors typically sought after by Nigerian professionals, such as the oil and gas industry, information and communication technology (ICT), health, and other scientific and engineering-related disciplines.

Additionally, Canada offers numerous benefits, including political stability, a highly developed healthcare system, a prospering economy, and an internationally renowned education system.

Page Contents

• Why immigrate from Nigeria to Canada?
• How can you immigrate from Nigeria to Canada?
• Express Entry
• The Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)
• Federal Skilled Trades
• Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
• Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
• Canada’s Start-Up Visa Program
• Other Federal Economic Programs
• Student Immigration Form
• Family Sponsorship
• How much does it cost to immigrate to Canada from Nigeria?
• Do I need the IELTS to immigrate to Canada from Nigeria?
• Quebec Immigrant Investor Program
• Can I Transition From Temporary To Permanent Residence?
• How Can Total Law Help?
• Frequently Asked Questions

For many Nigerians, emigrating to Canada offers an abundance of opportunities that are unavailable in their native country. Canada is a leading destination for Nigerian immigrants due to its political stability, flourishing economy, and internationally acclaimed educational institutions.

There are several ways to immigrate from Nigeria to Canada:

• Express Entry
• Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
• Canada’s Start-Up Visa Program
• Other Federal Economic Programs
• Student Immigration
• Family Sponsorship

Express Entry is the quickest and most popular entry point for newcomers to Canada. Express Entry arranges and processes applications from individuals seeking permanent residence in Canada.

Ideal candidates have a university or college degree, specialised work experience, and a moderate command of English and/or French. Therefore, Nigerian professionals typically perform well in the Express Entry category.

Candidates who meet the requirements of the following programs are also qualified to submit an application for consideration under the Express Entry program are the federal skilled worker, federal skilled trader, and Canadian experience class.

The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program is appropriate for candidates seeking permanent immigration to Canada who have recent Canadian work experience. CEC is also one of the quickest routes to Canadian permanent residence, with processing times as short as three to four months.

Canadian Experience Class requirements

In order for your 12-months of Canadian work experience to count towards your CEC application, the following conditions must be met:

• Be obtained in Canada within the 36 months preceding the date the electronic Application for Permanent Residence (eAPR) is submitted.
• Your job duties in Canada correspond to NOC Code Skill Levels 0 through 3.
• Be legally acquired, paid employment experience in Canada.

A candidate cannot count employment experience acquired while studying full-time in Canada.

In addition to the requirement for Canadian experience, CEC has several other eligibility requirements that must be met in order to submit:

• Language: Obtain a CLB level 7 on a certified English or French language exam for positions requiring NOC skill level 0 or A.
• Obtain a CLB 5 for NOC B positions.
• Intent to reside outside of the province of Quebec.

Provincial Nominee Programs, or PNPs, are the immigration programs administered by each of Canada’s thirteen provinces and territories. As the provinces have varying populations and economic growth, their immigration programs are different and tailored to meet their economic and demographic requirements.

PNPs are popular choices because they can be the quickest route to permanent residence in Canada.

You will receive an extra 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points if you are nominated through a PNP that is aligned with Express Entry. This essentially guarantees that you will receive an invitation to register (ITA) for permanent residence in the subsequent Express Entry draw.

How to apply for a Provincial Nominee Program in Canada

• Find the PNP that best suits you: Determine where you wish to immigrate by consulting the list of provinces and territories Check the eligibility requirements for each PNP to determine if you qualify.
• Apply for your preferred PNP: Apply directly to the province or territory of your choice.
• Earn a Provincial Nomination certificate: If your application is approved, the province or territory will recommend you for permanent residence in Canada.
• Submit your permanent residency application: Apply to the federal government of Canada for permanent residency. If your selected PNP is compatible with Express Entry, you can complete the process online. If not, you are required to submit a paper application.

If you are a businessperson with an innovative business concept, you may qualify to immigrate to Canada from Nigeria under the start-up visa program.

Canada seeks creative entrepreneurs who are interested in launching businesses that will boost the economy and create employment opportunities for Canadians.

After establishing their business, Canadian permanent residence will be granted to qualified candidates who have entered the country on a work permit.

You may be qualified to apply for permanent residence via another federal economic program if you have an employment offer in a high-demand occupation or in the rural or Atlantic region of Canada. The Canadian government offers a variety of economic pilot programs to address labour or demographic disparities in specific regions or industries across the country.

If you have an offer of employment in Canada, please contact us to discuss your immigration options. Call us on +44 (0)333 305 9375.

Applicants have the option of submitting their study permit application for Canada either online or in person at a visa application center located in Nigeria.

Students need to submit an application for a study visa as soon as they have received notification of acceptance from a college or university in Canada. It is possible that obtaining a study visa may take as long as three months.

Before traveling to Canada, it is usually necessary to submit an application for a study authorization. In some circumstances, an application for a study visa may be submitted from inside Canada. You may be allowed to submit an application at the Canadian border crossing if certain conditions are met.

Family reunification is the top priority for Canadian immigration. Canada provides a variety of immigration programs that permit Canadians to sponsor their family members for immigration.

To sponsor a family member as a legal resident under the family class, the sponsor must meet the following requirements.

• Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident at least 18 years old.
• Permanently reside in Canada, if they are Canadian residents. Citizens of Canada are able to sponsor a family member even if they reside abroad. However, when the sponsored family member turns into a permanent resident of Canada, he or she must reside in Canada.
• Have sufficient financial resources to sustain the sponsored individual for the required duration.
• In addition, the sponsor must meet additional requirements, such as not receiving social security benefits (except for disability-related assistance), meeting financial obligations, including timely support for sponsored family members, having a clear criminal record, etc.

Costs associated with immigration to Canada from Nigeria are approximately $2,300 CAD for one applicant and $4,500 CAD for a couple. This quantity will also vary based on the program for which you enrol.

This total doesn’t include the settlement funds that the majority of candidates must demonstrate in order to qualify for Canadian immigration; this quantity varies based on family size and begins at approximately $13,000 CAD for a single applicant.

You can work or study in Canada without completing the IELTS if you’re holding a work visa or have been sponsored by your family or employer. Language proficiency is a requirement for permanent residency applications.

All potential Express Entry immigrants must demonstrate proficiency in English or French (or both for bonus points). This includes fluent English and French speakers regardless of their origin or educational background. Express Entry is a level competitive field, and every point counts as candidates compete for the all-important Invitation to Apply (ITA).

In order to have a possibility of being accepted into the Express Entry pool of candidates, Federal Skilled Worker candidates must submit language test results equivalent to or higher than Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7. IELTS scores of 6.0 in speaking, writing, reading, and listening equal to a CLB score of 7.

If you are applying under the Canadian Experience Class for a NOC 0 or A occupation, you will need a minimum IELTS score of 6.0. If your occupation lies under NOC B, you can enter the pool with a score of 5.0 in speaking, writing, and hearing, and a score of 4.0 in reading.

Federal Skilled Trades candidates may enter the applicant pool with IELTS scores of 4.0 in speaking and writing, 4.5 in listening, and 3.5 in reading, which are all equivalent to a CLB level 4.

The passive nature of the Quebec Immigrant Investor Program means that participants do not need to establish or actively control a business in the province.

Rather, the program requires a $1.2 million investment in a specified (government-backed) investment. Applicants must intend to settle in the French-speaking Canadian province of Quebec.

Successful applicants receive a certificate of selection from Quebec for immigration to Canada, which allows them to obtain permanent residence in Canada following health and criminality screenings by federal immigration authorities.

Candidates must have the following qualifications:

• $2 Million in personal net worth legally acquired;
• Two years of applicable management or business expertise within the previous five years;
• Investments of $1.2 million in a passive government-guaranteed investment with no interest for a period of five years.
• Intention to relocate in the Canadian province of Quebec.

In most instances, it will not be possible to transition directly from a visitor visa to permanent resident status. Generally, the only method to convert a visitor visa to permanent residency in Canada is to qualify as a refugee or have a partner/spouse with Canadian citizenship.

It is however possible to convert a visitor visa into a work visa. If you obtained a position in Canada and fulfilled the procedures for obtaining a work permit, this would be feasible.

The Temporary Resident to Permanent Resident road, also known as the TR to PR Pathway, is a road to permanent residency that is only available for a short period and is open to qualified temporary residents and members of their families.

You could be eligible to submit an application for permanent residence in Canada if you have previous work experience in Canada in an important profession, the health or health services industry, or if you just graduated from a post-secondary institution in Canada.

To be eligible, graduates and employees must be physically present in Canada at the time of their application, be proficient in one of Canada’s official languages, and fulfil the basic standards for admittance to the country. In accordance with this Public Policy, there are a total of six distinct streams, each of which has its own set of prerequisites.

• Workers in Canada: Stream A (healthcare) [Workers in Canada]
• Employees Currently Working in Canada: Stream B (Non-Healthcare Essential Positions)
• International Graduates
• French-speaking Workers in Canada: Stream A (healthcare) [Workers in Canada]
• French-speaking Workers in Canada: Stream B (non-healthcare essential, essential workers)
• French-speaking Graduates from Other Countries