Japa: What moving to Canada will cost you as a Nigerian

With Nigeria’s economy dragging itself to the mud, no thanks to some governmental policies and inactions, the alternative move for a few privileged Nigerians is to skip town for greener pastures, with Canada emerging as the go-to route for the immigrant society.

Nigerians aspiring to journey to Canada are urged to grasp the intricacies of the visa application process, along with its associated costs, given the dynamic nature of the Canadian Dollar to Nigerian Naira exchange rate.

The visa application procedure encompasses diverse categories such as student visas, work permits, visitor visas, and permanent residency, each delineated by its own fee structure.

Steps to Visa Application:

1. Visa Type Determination: Prospective travelers are advised to discern the appropriate visa category aligned with their travel intentions, spanning tourism, education, or employment.
2. Document Compilation: Crucial documents, including a valid passport, application forms, financial statements, and specific paperwork relevant to the chosen visa category, must be collated meticulously. Guidance from the Canadian embassy or consulate in Nigeria aids in ensuring completeness.
3. Online Application: Applicants embark on the visa application journey by completing the requisite forms online through the official Canadian government visa application portal, with meticulous attention to detail to preempt processing delays.
4. Fee Settlement: Visa application fees, varying contingent on the visa classification, are remitted online using credit cards or other stipulated payment modes endorsed by the embassy. A generated receipt serves as evidence of payment for future reference.
5. Visa Appointment Scheduling: Following fee payment, applicants proceed to book an appointment at the Visa Application Center (VAC) in Nigeria for the acquisition of biometric data.
6. Biometric Enrollment: On the appointed day, applicants undergo biometric data submission at the designated VAC. Punctuality and preparedness, inclusive of carrying all requisite documents and payment receipts, are emphasized.

Visa Fees:

Securing a Canadian visa from Nigeria incurs costs ranging from CAD 150 to CAD 500 (approximately N170,000 to N563,000), contingent on the visa type sought.

In Nigeria, payment for visa application fees, particularly for paper submissions, is facilitated through card transactions or cash payments in Naira at designated VFS centers situated in Port Harcourt, Lagos, or Abuja. The precise Naira equivalent is subject to the prevailing Canadian Dollar to Naira exchange rate at the time of application.