How to Immigrate to Canada from Nigeria: based on stats, many Nigerians are willing to immigrate to Canada from Nigeria once they have the opportunity. Are you one of them? If Yes! Then you don’t have to worry because you are on the right track to successful immigration.
We explain the necessary steps Nigerians need to take to immigrate to Canada from Nigeria in this article.
In 2019, about 12,600 Nigerians became permanent residents in Canada, making Nigeria the fourth leading country source of immigrants migrating to Canada 2019. Having a permanent resident in Canada comes with different benefits. One of them is that; you can live and work anywhere within the country and benefit from the free health care and other available social services. Moreover, there are other fascinating benefits you can get from a Permanent Residency. They include improved lifestyles, better amenities, and job opportunities.
Now the big question is, “How do you immigrate to Canada from Nigeria?” Just like we always advise all our clients, the first step is to decide where you want to stay in Canada. Then, find the right program that fits your personality. We always advise our clients to look into both scenarios at once because they depend on each other.
Canada has a lot of immigration programs already in place to help immigrants migrate to Canada. We understand that you might be wondering why they created so many programs. Well! The truth is that. These immigration programs have different requirements and demands. Some of them are point-based by design, while the rest are employment-based. You are required to carefully go through them and decide the best fit for your personality.
The Below list explains the top three ways you can immigrate to Canada from Nigeria.
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Three (3) Ways to Immigrate to Canada from Nigeria
Qualify for an Invitation to Apply Via Express Entry System
Express Entry (EE) is a Canadian online immigration application system that allows people to submit a profile and be qualified as skilled immigrants. As a Nigerian candidate, you will have to be among the highest-ranking to get an invitation to apply for permanent residence.
The express entry program is the most preferred and used immigration route by foreign migrants, including Nigerians. Express Entry organizes and processes applications for Nigerians who wish to immigrate to Canada from Nigeria and acquire Canadian permanent residence later.
This online program enables you as a foreign, skilled worker from Nigeria, to become a Canadian permanent resident through three federal immigration pathways:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program
- Federal Skilled Trades Program
- Canadian Experience Class
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Requirements for Express Entry
- As a Nigerian, you must have at least one year of working experience in your skilled occupation.
- You must be proficient in either English or French language.
- Possess the relevant post-secondary education that must be equivalent to that of Canada.
Note: the above list is just the minimum requirement needed to apply for the express entry program. Meeting this doesn’t qualify you for an automatic invitation, but it does provide you with an edge over others that do not meet with it.
Also, there are lots of candidates applying for this same program through express entry. So those candidates with better profiles will be selected first over candidates that meet the minimum requirements.
How to immigrate to Canada from Nigeria with the Express Entry system
After meeting the minimum express entry requirements, you will have to create an online profile that will require the below information.
- Your passport documents
- Certificate of qualification in a trade occupation issued by a Canadian province
- Proof of work Language test results
- Education credential assessment report
- Experience
- Provincial Nomination
Moreover, each candidate will have Sixty (6)0 days grace period to complete his profile. If more than one candidate has the same lowest score, the cut-off mark will depend on the date and time they submitted their Express Entry profiles.
After sorting the most preferred candidates, they will be in a pool known as the express entry pool, where they will be issued a comprehensive ranking system score which will determine their ranking in the express entry program.
After completing this step, you will get an invitation provided you score high and meet with the cut-off mark. Receiving the ITA means that you have the opportunity to apply for Canadian permanent residency.
Immigrate to Canada from Nigeria: Provincial Nomination
The Provincial Nominee Program comprises different Canadian immigration programs operated by the Government of Canada in partnership with individual provinces, each of which has its requirements and ‘streams’.
This program is for workers who:
- Have the skills, education, and work experience to contribute to the economy of a specific province or territory
- Want to live in that province, and
- Want to become permanent residents of Canada
Each province and territory have its immigration programs that target specific groups and their requirements. For example, in a program stream, provinces and territories may target:
Via Studying in Canada Through post-graduate work permit
The post-graduate work permit is for international students that must have graduated from a designated learning institution in or outside the Canadian environment.
With the help of PGWP, you can secure a work visa which is the openwork visa to work for any employer in Canada, depending on the length of your study program in Canada.
This visa does not guarantee direct application for permanent residence, but it will give you an advantage when seeking Canadian permanent residence. Even studying in Canada will favor you when applying for your Canadian visa to live in Canada.
Requirements for a Post Graduate work permit program
- Must be above 18years of age.
- Be a graduate from a post-secondary school in any Canadian province.
- Will have completed a study program at a Designated Institution in Canada
- Must have studied in Canada as a full-time student for a minimum of 8 months
- Must have a valid study permit when applying for a work permit
- You will be required to send the application for a work permit within ninety days of your graduation.
With the help of PGWP, you can apply for permanent residence through the Canadian Experience Class as you already have work experience of at least one year in Canada, especially if your study program was for three years. That is why we strongly recommend that you go for a lengthy study program of at least three years to gather enough Canadian work experience.
Some other unpopular ways you can immigrate to Canada from Nigeria are:
- Applying the job of a caregiver or farm worker
- Getting a job offer from Atlantic Canada
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