Canada visa requirements for Nigerian citizens
Nigerian citizens need a visa for Canada and must apply for it before the trip at a consulate or embassy.
- Minimum passport validity
- No minimum: it just has to be valid
Last verified: 10 September 2026
How this visa is processed
Canada Visa Application Centres (VFS Global) in Lagos (Victoria Island) and Abuja (Central Business District)
Nigerian nationals need a temporary resident visa for Canada (tourism, business, family visit). The application is filed online on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website, with payment of the processing fee. What is specific to this corridor: Canada has no visa section serving the public in Nigeria; biometrics (fingerprints and photo, mandatory, with an CAD 85 fee) are captured at one of the two Visa Application Centres run by VFS Global, in Lagos (Victoria Island) and Abuja (Central Business District). After submitting the application, IRCC issues a "biometric instruction letter" (BIL) used to book the appointment at the centre; book it as soon as it arrives, because slots fill quickly. The centre also receives the passport for the visa sticker once approved. The biometrics appointment itself is free; the centre charges a separate service fee.
Official application site →Application details verified on 10 September 2026. Sources: canada.ca / IRCC (online temporary resident visa application; mandatory biometrics and CAD 85 fee; biometric instruction letter) and visa.vfsglobal.com/nga/en/can (Canada Visa Application Centres in Lagos and Abuja: addresses, services and service fee). Checked 10 September 2026.
Verified practical details
You'll need to apply for a visa at a consulate or embassy before travelling. Here are the practical details we've verified:
Required documents
- A valid passport
- A temporary resident visa or an eTA, depending on your nationality
- A copy of your air ticket and travel itinerary, showing when you plan to return
How much money you need to show
Canada sets no figure. For the visitor visa it asks for enough money for your stay, and how much depends on how long you stay and whether you will be in a hotel or with friends or relatives.
Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), eligibility for a visitor visa. Checked on 1 November 2026.
Health insurance
Not mandatory for this destination.
When travel insurance is mandatory → Travel insurance policies ↓Transit rules
As a rule, passing through a Canadian airport in transit calls for the same document as entering: a temporary resident visa or an eTA, depending on your nationality. The exception is two specific programmes, Transit Without Visa (TWOV) and the China Transit Program (CTP), which let certain nationals transit through Canada to or from the United States without a Canadian transit visa, provided they meet each programme's requirements.
More Canada rules
They don't depend on your passport, so they are on the Canada page:
Official portal: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship.html. Destination data verified on 10 August 2026. Sources: canada.ca/.../eta.html, cbsa-asfc.gc.ca (customs and exemptions) (checked 10 August 2026).
Travel insurance for Canada
It isn't listed as mandatory for this entry, but without insurance, medical care during the trip can get expensive.
See IATI's international site →IATI sells its policies according to the country you live in. Where do you live?
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Things to see and do in Canada
Tours, skip-the-line tickets and day trips, most with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
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This pair in context
In the other direction, citizens of Canada need an electronic visa to enter Nigeria. See the Canada → Nigeria page.
All 16 passports from Western Africa that VisaRadar tracks need a visa to enter Canada. Same result as Nigeria: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Gambia, Ghana and Guinea.
A passport from Nigeria ranks 179 of 199 in the VisaRadar passport ranking and reaches 41 of 198 destinations without applying for a visa in advance.
Counts from the same requirements matrix behind this page's verdict, using the UN M49 subregions.
Frequently asked questions
Do Nigerian citizens need a visa for Canada?
Yes. You must apply for the visa in advance at the relevant consulate or embassy.
What minimum passport validity is required?
There is no minimum number of months: the passport just has to be valid.
What currency is used in Canada?
Canadian Dollar (CAD).
Can I apply for the Canadian visa at an embassy in Nigeria?
The application is filed online with IRCC. There is no public visa section in Nigeria: the VFS Global Visa Application Centres in Lagos and Abuja handle biometrics and receive the passport.
Is biometrics mandatory and how much does it cost?
Yes, it is mandatory for Nigerian nationals. The biometrics fee is CAD 85, paid to IRCC; the centre appointment is free, but VFS charges a separate service fee.
When should I book the centre appointment?
As soon as IRCC sends you the biometric instruction letter (BIL) after you submit the application. Slots in Lagos and Abuja fill quickly, so don't delay.
How much money do Nigerian passport holders need to enter Canada?
Canada sets no figure. For the visitor visa it asks for enough money for your stay, and how much depends on how long you stay and whether you will be in a hotel or with friends or relatives.
Related pages
See Canada requirements for other passports →
Informational only. Always verify requirements with the official embassy or consulate before you travel.