Nigerians are increasingly opting to make Canada their new residence. In 2022, Canadian permanent residence was granted to over 20,000 Nigerians. If you're Nigerian and interested in settling in Canada, you can find information about immigration options on this page.
Why should Nigerians immigrate to Canada?
Nigerians find Canada appealing due to its abundant economic opportunities across sectors like oil and gas, information and communication technology (ICT), health, and engineering and various science fields.
Canada provides several advantages, including political stability, a strong economy, an advanced healthcare system, and globally recognized education.
Currently, about 70,000 Canadians of Nigerian descent live in Canada, and this number continues to increase yearly. The majority of Nigerians immigrate to Canada as skilled workers under the economic class. With Canada consistently raising its immigration levels, the Nigerian diaspora in Canada is expected to further expand from its current size.
How to Immigrate from Nigeria to Canada?
Nigerians are well-suited to qualify for Canada's immigration programs due to factors like high English proficiency, education level, and work experience.
Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
If you're a Nigerian seeking immigration from overseas, the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) could be your top choice. It allows candidates with work experience and no ties to Canada or a job offer to apply for permanent residence.
This program aims at skilled workers who can leverage their language skills,education, foreign work experience, and other human capital factors to establish themselves economically in Canada. Specifically, candidates must meet these minimum requirements:
- Must possess a minimum of one year of uninterrupted full-time or equivalent paid employment within the last decade in a skilled occupation categorized under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) TEER category 0, 1, 2, or 3.
- Show proficiency in language skills comparable to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 in either English or French, covering all aspects including reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
- Possess either a Canadian educational qualification (certificate, diploma, or degree) or a foreign credential accompanied by an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report.
FSWP applicants need to score at least 67 points on IRCC’s six immigration selection factors and show sufficient funds to settle in Canada for themselves and their family.
If You Qualify for the FSWP:
- The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) is among three programs overseen within the Express Entry application system by the Canadian government.
- After confirming your eligibility for the FSWP, you have the opportunity to upload your Express Entry profile on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website.
- Upon submission of their Express Entry profiles, Nigerian applicants are assigned a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, which considers factors like work experience,education,age and language proficiency.
- IRCC issues invitations to apply for permanent residence to the highest-scoring candidates in the pool every two weeks. Additionally, IRCC aims for a 6-month processing service standard under Express Entry.
The goal is to admit over 110,000 permanent residents through Express Entry each year. These factors collectively make Express Entry one of the most appealing options and the quickest route for economy class candidates to gain permanent residence in Canada.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
- The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is another significant pathway for Nigerian immigration candidates.
- Canada, being a federal country with 10 provinces and three territories, delegates the administration of the PNP to the majority of these regions. This program enables each province and territory, considering its unique population and economic conditions, to devise immigration routes tailored to its specific needs.
- Through the PNP, provinces and territories possess the authority to nominate skilled worker candidates for immigration to their respective regions.
Nigerian candidates may qualify to apply for Canadian immigration directly through a PNP if they meet the specified eligibility criteria. Alternatively, they can enter the Express Entry pool and potentially be invited by a province to apply for nomination, with the province selecting candidates from the federal pool. Being nominated through an Express Entry-linked stream entitles them to an additional 600 CRS points. Consequently, this significantly boosts their chances of receiving an invitation to apply for permanent residence (ITA) in a subsequent Express Entry draw.
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