Nigeria was the fourth country of origin for immigrants to Canada in 2019, with a total of 12,600 Nigerians who became permanent residents that year alone. As a permanent resident of Canada, you can live and work anywhere in the country and enjoy access to free health and social care, as well as an excellent quality of life filled with more amenities. and employment opportunities.
So how do you migrate to Canada from Nigeria? The first step is to decide where you want to live in Canada and then find a visa program that is right for you. Here are the five most popular ways to come to Canada from Nigeria!
How Canadian Immigration Works
Canada has over 100 visa and immigration options available and some of these programs are points-based and select the highest-rated applicants for permanent residence in Canada while others are employer-driven, which means you have to get a job in Canada as the main requirement. In addition, Nigerians with training and work experience in Canada are eligible for even more immigration programs.
Why are Nigerians so successful in moving to Canada? Well, it can have a lot to do with your fluency in English, your hardworking nature, and your graduate studies. Find out if you can immigrate to Canada and which program you qualify for with our comprehensive assessment.
5 Ways to Move to Canada from Nigeria
1. Get an Invitation to Apply (ITA) through Express Entry
The Express Entry system is the primary route of immigration for skilled Nigerian workers who wish to live and work in Canada. The goal is to obtain an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence through Express Entry which operates on a points grid known as the Comprehensive Classification System (CRS).Advertisements
How Can You Get an ITA?
Applicants for Express Entry are graded based on criteria such as their age, years of work experience, language proficiency, and level of education, among other criteria. The highest-rated applicants receive the ITA in the bi-weekly Express Entry raffle rounds. There are a few other things you can do to improve your score, like getting a job offer in Canada or earning a provincial nomination that equals 600 CRS points! Learn more about it below.
How Long Does it Take to Process Express Entry Applications?
Express Entry is one of the fastest ways to immigrate to Canada from Nigeria with application processing times of just six months.
2. Achieve a Provincial Nomination (PN)
Where do you want to live in Canada? Canada is extremely large and has 13 provinces and territories, 11 of which administer their own provincial immigration programs. There are approximately 80 programs among the participating provinces! Canada aims to welcome between 64,000 and 81,500 immigrants through Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)
If you get a provincial appointment, you can apply for permanent residence in Canada from Nigeria and settle in the province that appointed you.
How Does the Provincial Nominee Program Work?
PCPs are designed based on the economic needs of the province or territory. For example, the New Brunswick Provincial Nomination Program (PNBNP) welcomes qualified and intermediate foreign workers with a particular emphasis on truckers and Francophones. It is worth noting that some PNPs require applicants to have valid work experience, education, or employment offers in their jurisdiction.
You can apply directly to a PNP or you can send an expression of interest to the province looking for someone with your skills through your Express Entry profile.
3. Study in Canada to Qualify for a Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP)
Studying in Canada on a student visa does not lead directly to permanent residence, but it is an effective stepping stone that can greatly improve your chances of success upon graduation. As mentioned above, obtaining a Canadian qualification such as a certificate, diploma or degree counts in your favor as it trumps foreign credentials in your immigration application.
To top it off, if you are studying an eligible program that lasts longer than eight months in Canada, you may be eligible for a graduate work permit that allows you to stay and work anywhere in the country to gain experience. work after your studies. Canadian work experience and education are the ideal formulae for obtaining permanent residence in Canada from Nigeria.
Looking for an affordable way to study in Canada? Speak to our student advisors for inexpensive short courses that are also PGWP approved.
4. Work in Canada as a Farmworker or Caregiver
Canada has a constant demand for agricultural workers and caregivers and welcomes foreign workers in these occupations to work in Canada through special work permit programs. Canada is the second-largest country in the world with an equally large agricultural sector employing approximately 2.3 million people, the majority of whom are seasonal foreign agricultural workers. On the other hand, Canada has an aging population that is in need of care and assistance.
The good news is that your working time in Canada can lead to a permanent future in the Far North. If you have worked in the country in a qualifying agricultural or caregiver position, you can apply to immigrate to Canada from Nigeria through the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot Program and the Home Care Provider Pilot Program. All you need is about one to two years of Canadian work experience and a permanent job offer from your employer.
5. Obtain a Job Offer from a Designated Employer in Atlantic Canada
The Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIP) is an employer-led program that you can apply to relocate to Canada from Nigeria and settle in any of the Atlantic Provinces which includes; New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. The main requirement is to obtain a job offer from a designated employer in one of the provinces. Find below the list of designated employers:
List of Designated Employers
How Much Does it Cost to Immigrate to Canada from Nigeria?
The federal processing fee for permanent residents is $ 1,325. You may also need settlement funds if you do not have a reserved position in Canada. You need approximately $ 12,960 as a single applicant and can add an additional $ 3,492 per dependent family member, even if they are not moving to Canada with you.