Without a question, working in Canada is one of the world’s most gratifying experiences. Over 200,000 people travel to Canada each year to look for jobs and join the workforce. An important portion of these folks is from Nigeria. You must acquire a work permit if you are a Nigerian looking to work in Canada. A work permit is a type of official document that certifies someone has been given permission to work in Canada.

The fundamental procedures to follow in order to obtain a Canadian work permit or visa from Nigeria are listed below.

Step 1: Ascertain your eligibility to work in Canada.

The most crucial phase of your visa application is this one. If you begin the application process only to discover that you are ineligible, it would be a complete waste of time and money. Before any Nigerian can work in Canada, a number of requirements must be satisfied. These consist of:

• Evidence demonstrating your intention to leave the country once your work visa expires. After your brief business trip to Canada, you must have a legitimate cause to return to Nigeria. Your family, your possessions (such as homes and enterprises), or anything else that can reassure the Canadian immigration official that you will be returning to Nigeria could be this.
• Evidence that you are a law-abiding citizen is required, which means you must have no history of criminal conduct, either domestically or abroad. It could be necessary for you to present a police clearance certificate.
• You must also demonstrate that you do not intend to work for or are not currently employed by an employer who is ineligible or who has disregarded a requirement for working in Canada. For instance, you cannot work for a company that:
  • regularly and consistently do striptease
  • engages in or pursues a career as an erotic dancer
  • perform escorting services or send pornographic texts

• You need to be in perfect health. The majority of people with HIV/AIDS are more likely to have their visa request denied. Most often, a medical exam will be necessary.
• Possessing the necessary documentation and standards before tendering
• Having enough money on hand to make sure your stay in Canada goes smoothly. You must persuade the
• Canadian immigration official that you are capable of taking care of yourself while you are there. You must
• present evidence of your financial resources in the form of a bank statement for your account showing activity for at least three prior months.

Your eligibility could be in jeopardy if:

• You present a persona that makes it possible for others to perceive you as a risk to their safety (mind your choice of word and behavior at the embassy)
• You committed or contributed to a breach of a person’s rights.
• You were previously found guilty of a crime
• You are in serious financial problems, indebted, or bankrupt.
• You’re traveling with a family member or someone who can’t enter Canada.
• You lie on your application form or during the interview.

Step 2: Gather the application’s required paperwork.

upon the determination of your eligibility. Getting the application’s required documentation is the next step. You must be certain of the sort of work permit you are asking for in order to determine the documents you require. You can apply for one of two fundamental types of work permits:

• Open work permits are the kind of work permits that are not specific to a job. It enables you to work for any Canadian employer as long as they satisfy the qualifying criteria and conditions (they do not offer striptease, escort services, or erotic messages). Other circumstances that could make you qualified for an open work permit are as follows:
  1. Having submitted a request for permanent residency in Canada
  2. If a permanent resident applicant’s family member. Keep in mind that you must be a dependent relative.
  3. You already possess a permit for temporary residence.
  4. You are a young worker in Canada taking part in some unique programs.
  5. If you are a refugee or have a connection to one.
  6. If you are an international student or the spouse of a Canadian employee.
• Employer-specific work permit: As the name suggests, this type of work permit enables you to work only in accordance with the conditions laid out in your work permit. They consist of:
  1. the requirement that you may only work for the particular employer whose name is listed on your work permit.
  2. The location of your work and the time frame specified within
• If you are applying for an Employer-specific work permit to Canada, you will need certain documents:
  • A copy of your employer’s Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) – the LMIA is a document which is issued by the Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) for employers to fill giving them permission to hire temporary workers from outside Canada. If your employer in Canada was required to complete a Labour Market Impact Assessment, you need to get ready a copy of the LMIA and the employment contract for your application.
  • In the case where your employer does not require a LMIA, the documents you will need to provide are:
    • Offer of employment number: this is usually received by your employer at the point of submitting the offer of employment letter via the Employer Portal
    • Employment contract: you also need to provide the employment contract to apply for an employer-specific work permit.

  If you are applying for an Open work permit, however, you are not required to provide the above documents, materials, or information from an employer alongside your application.

• You may also need a Temporary Resident Visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization is known as TRV and eTA respectively for you to be able to work in Canada. Usually, you are not required to apply for these separately or pay extra fees. The documents will be issued to you by the immigration officer alongside the documents you are required to get for your work permit
• You also need a valid international passport ( it is preferable that this is not older than six months )
• Two copies of your pictures and those of your family members (if they are accompanying you). Note that these pictures must meet the Canadian photograph specifications for a Visa application. However, if you are carrying out biometrics information, you may not need hard copies of the photographs. Check for visa photographs specifications here
• Documents to show your proof of Canadian employment: apart from the LMIA and job offer letter or employment number, you also need other proofs of job eligibility such as an educational certificate, a Curriculum vitae or resume showing previous work experience, or a valid Canadian Provincial Certificate.
• If your work location is in Quebec, you will need to provide a certificate of acceptance to Quebec which is called Certificat d’acceptation du Quebec (CAQ).
• If you will be accompanied by a family member, you will be required to provide proof of your relationship such as a marriage or birth certificate as the case may be.
• If you are not a Nigerian but you are applying from Nigeria, you may need to get your re-entry permit before you proceed with your work visa application to Canada.

Step 3. Download and fill out the necessary application forms

Usually, Nigerians applying for visas to Canada are expected to apply on paper, therefore you are expected to fill out your application form electronically and print it out for submission. The following forms are necessary to be downloaded for any Nigerian applying to work in Canada:

• Application for Work Permit Made Outside of Canada Form
• Family Information Form: a required form must be filled by the applicant and each accompanying family member as long as they are 18 years or above.
• Use of a Representative Form ( if you are using a representative)
• Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union Form ( if you are in a common-law union)
• Document Checklist
• Authority to Release Personal Information to Designated Individuals Form

It is strongly advised that you download, study and follow the instruction guide provided to fill out these forms carefully. This will give you all the information you require to successfully complete your application forms without errors. Download the Instruction Guide here.

After you have successfully downloaded and filled out your application forms. You should print them on white, bond quality, non-glossy paper by making use of a laser printer. This includes all forms and barcoded sheets.

If you have people traveling with you such as family members, they must also download, fill and sign their forms as appropriate. In the case where there is an applicant under 18 years, then the forms should be signed by the parent or guardian.

NOTE:

1. After accurately filling out your forms, you must click on the validate button located at the top or bottom of your form. This will bring out a barcode page with a signature line which you should also print and sign as required.
2. Ensure you always place the barcode page at the top of your whole application package for submission.
3. If you have more than one package to submit, print separate barcode pages for each of them and place them at the top of each.

Step 4. Pay your Application fees

After you have filled out the appropriate forms and arranged them as required, the next step is to pay your fees.

• The Work permit application processing fees: Currently, this cost CAN$155 per person and includes extensions.
• Group work permit fees: if you are traveling as a group for example performing artists, the fee is CAN$465 for a group of 3 or more.
• Open work permit holder fees: this is currently CAN$100 per person. If you are applying for an open work permit, you are required to pay this fee alongside your work permit fee.

Note that the visa application fee is non-refundable. If your application is eventually rejected, your funds will not be returned to you.

• Biometric fees: Nigerians between the ages of 14 and 79 are required to give their biometrics (fingerprints and photograph) when applying for a Canadian Work Permit therefore you will have to pay the biometrics fees, which costs $CAN85 (about N24, 642.35.00) per person.
• Biometrics fees for the family are CAN$170 while for a group (of 3 or more) costs CAN$255 and includes the service charge.

You can check for more information on visa fees here.

Method of payment

There are two Canada Visa Application Centres (CVAC) you can visit in Nigeria to pay the required fees;

Lagos center:

Canada Visa Application Centre (CVAC), Lagos
Manor Hall, Plot 110, Admiral Ayinla Way,
Opposite Treasure Garden Estate,
Third Roundabout, Lekki Phase I – Lagos

Abuja center:

Canada Visa Application Centre (CVAC), Abuja
Silverbird Entertainment Centre.
Plot 1161, Memorial Drive, 2nd Floor,
Central Business District, Abuja

Note that these fees are to be paid at the cash counter of the CVAC and only cash is accepted. Therefore ensure you go along with enough funds.

It is very important that you collect your receipts after payment of fees. Do not leave without evidence of payment.

Step 5. Submit your Application documents

Now after making the necessary payments. You may submit your application documents and the receipts/proof of payment of all fees paid. These include visa fees, service charges, and biometric fees. It is important to note that they will demand your biometrics at the visa application center so ensure that it is completed. This will be done at the CVAC. Also, be sure that your Document Checklist Form is well-filled and included in your application package for submission.

The Canada Visa Application Centers are open for application submission between the hours of 08.00 am and 03.00 pm and are open from Mondays to Fridays (excluding declared holidays). Important: For any issues with the submission of your application, you can call their helpline desk at +2348150199900 or reach their e-mail at info.cannig@vfshelpline.com

After submitting your documents, processing will follow and your application will be reviewed by an immigration officer. Sometimes, the officer might decide that an interview is required and you will be contacted through a letter stating the date, time, and venue of the interview.

If your application is approved, you will be sent a letter of introduction confirming that your work permit application has been approved otherwise, an explanation will be sent on why it is refused.

If you need to re-apply, you will have to take note of the explanations and pay your fees again.

Tips to improve the processing of your work visa application:

• Be sure to send all required documents and information
• Ensure that your application package is complete with your barcode page at the top of each application package
• Make sure you include your current contact information such as e-mail address, telephone number, mailing address, and fax.
• do not omit signatures in your forms

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