Canada Visitor Visa from Nigeria

Nigerian passport holders need a visitor visa (TRV) to visit Canada for tourism, family visits, or short business trips. Start with the official Canada visitor overview. The exact steps and documents depend on the answers you give in the online questionnaire.

IRCC's visitor visa information page lists the basic requirements every visitor must meet. You must:

1. have a valid passport
2. be in good health
3. have no criminal or immigration-related convictions
4. show ties to your home country, such as a job, home, financial assets, or family
5. convince the officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your visit
6. have enough money for your stay

IRCC says you need a scanner or camera to create electronic copies of your documents, and a valid credit card to pay online. Paper applications are accepted only in specific situations listed in IRCC's paper guide. Most Nigerian applicants therefore apply online.

1. Answer the questionnaire. On the IRCC visitor-visa application page, your answers generate a personalized document checklist.
2. Create your IRCC account and complete the forms. These usually include the visitor visa application form IMM 5257.
3. Upload your documents exactly as the checklist names them.
4. Pay the fees. IRCC says the biometrics fee is paid when you submit the application, together with the processing fee. The live amounts appear at checkout, so do not rely on an old naira or Canadian-dollar figure.
5. Wait for your biometric instruction letter (BIL) if biometrics are required.
6. Give biometrics at a visa application centre within the deadline on the letter.
7. Watch your account for requests for more documents, a passport request, or a decision.

IRCC notes that a complete application avoids delays. If an officer needs more information, IRCC will contact you through your account.

According to IRCC, most applicants aged 14 to 79 need to give fingerprints and a photo. In general you only need to do this once every 10 years. IRCC's how to give biometrics page sets out the rules:

1. You must give biometrics within 30 days of the date on your biometric instruction letter.
2. Bring the BIL for your current application, not a letter from an earlier one, along with your passport.
3. If you gave biometrics before, check whether they are still valid before paying again.

In Nigeria, Canada's visa application centres are run by IRCC's contractor, VFS Global. At the time of checking they are in Lagos and Abuja (VFS Global Canada, Nigeria). Confirm the current locations with IRCC's "where to give your biometrics" tool before you book.

Your personalized checklist always takes priority. IRCC's core requirements are proof of identity, purpose, funds, and ties. Here is how those usually apply to common situations:

1. Employed — What IRCC is looking for: A job to return to; Typical supporting evidence: Employment letter confirming your role and approved leave, recent payslips
2. Self-employed or business owner — What IRCC is looking for: A business that ties you to Nigeria; Typical supporting evidence: Business registration, business bank statements
3. Student — What IRCC is looking for: Studies to return to; Typical supporting evidence: Letter from your school confirming enrolment and the break period
4. Retired — What IRCC is looking for: Stable income and home ties; Typical supporting evidence: Pension statements, property or family ties
5. Visiting family or friends — What IRCC is looking for: A clear purpose and host; Typical supporting evidence: Invitation letter from your host in Canada
6. Children under 18 — What IRCC is looking for: Parental consent and identity; Typical supporting evidence: Birth certificate, consent letter where one parent or neither parent travels

For everyone, IRCC's list covers a valid passport, photos that meet the current specifications, proof of funds, and details of the purpose of your trip.

Invitation letters. IRCC's letter of invitation page says the letter should include your full name, date of birth, address, and phone number, and your relationship to the host. It should also give the purpose and length of your visit, where you will stay and how you will pay for the trip, and when you plan to leave. The host adds their own details and immigration status in Canada. IRCC says a letter of invitation does not guarantee a visa.

Minors. IRCC says children under 18 must travel with the right documents. For a child travelling alone or with only one parent, IRCC recommends a consent letter from the parent(s) not travelling.

IRCC does not publish one Nigeria-specific fee. Check the live IRCC fee information and the amount shown at checkout before you pay.

IRCC also does not publish a single fixed processing time for Nigeria. Use the official processing-time tool on the day you apply, because its estimate changes. The time you wait for a biometrics appointment in Lagos or Abuja is separate from IRCC's processing estimate.

IRCC does not publish a simple approval or refusal percentage for Nigerian visitor-visa applicants. Be wary of anyone quoting "success rates".

1. Incomplete applications. Missing documents cause delays. Upload everything on your checklist.
2. Using an old biometric letter. Only the BIL for your current application is valid.
3. Missing the biometrics deadline. It is counted from the date on the letter.
4. Paying fraudsters. IRCC's fraud and scams page warns against people who promise guaranteed visas or ask for payment outside official channels. Government fees are paid to the Government of Canada.
5. Submitting false documents. Fake bank statements, letters, or bookings are treated as misrepresentation. This can lead to refusal and a ban on applying.

If approved, IRCC asks you to submit your passport so the visa can be placed in it. Follow the passport request instructions in your account and at the VAC. Check the visa details (name, passport number, validity) as soon as you get your passport back.

At the airport and border, IRCC says you must travel with the documents issued to you, because airline staff and border officers check them. A Canada Border Services Agency officer confirms your identity and admissibility, stamps your passport, and tells you how long you can stay. IRCC says visitors can normally stay up to six months. Carry copies of your funds, invitation, and accommodation evidence.

If refused, IRCC sends a letter explaining why. Read the reasons carefully before deciding whether to reapply with stronger evidence.