Immigration to Canada from Nigeria
Since January 2015, Canada has completely swapped the “first-come, first-served” immigration system to the Express Entry system. This is an online system that manages applications for skilled worker immigration and is designed to streamline the intake process.
Navigating this system can be challenging, with applicants needing to submit an online Expression of Interest (EOI) after ensuring they meet the eligibility criteria for their chosen immigration program. Given the complexities of the process, many of the 20,000+ Nigerians who relocated to Canada in 2024 took the help of the best Canada immigration consultants in Nigeria.
To ensure a fair and efficient selection process, the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) is used to evaluate candidates. Immigration consultants in Canada can assist Nigerian applicants in increasing their chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency. Upon receiving an ITA, candidates must complete their application and pay any necessary processing fees within 60 days to avoid delays.
How the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) Works
The CRS assigns scores to candidates based on their profile information. Immigration consultants in Canada can help eligible candidates optimize their CRS scores. The key factors considered in the CRS include:
Factors considered include:
- Age
- Education
- Language proficiency (in English or French)
- Canadian work experience
- Spouse or common-law partner’s language proficiency, education, and Canadian work experience (if applicable)
- Validated job offer
- Provincial government nomination for permanent residence
- Sibling in Canada
- Skill transferability based on combinations of language skills, education, and work experience
A provincial nomination can significantly boost a candidate’s CRS score, potentially guaranteeing an ITA. If you wish to relocate to the Greater Toronto Area, consider a reputable and certified immigration consultant in Mississauga who specializes in job vacancies in Canada for Nigerians for personalized guidance and insights into in-demand skills.
Additionally, understanding the Canada visa fee in Nigeria is essential for financial planning during the application process.
For those relocating to Canada from Nigeria, the general processing time for permanent residency applications is six months, per the federal government’s guidelines.
Federal Skilled Worker Immigration
The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) ranks applicants who wish to permanently settle in Canada under the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program through the Express Entry system. Candidates in this category do not need to have Canadian work experience to be considered for Express Entry.
FSW candidates must ensure they meet the minimum qualifying criteria, including experience, education, age, and proficiency in either English or French, to be considered for the program.
Eligible candidates submit an online Expression of Interest (EOI) profile to the Express Entry pool. For candidates relocating to Canada from Nigeria, this is the first critical step in the immigration process.
Candidates are then ranked using the CRS, a points-based system that assesses the qualifying factors. Invitations to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence will be sent to the highest-ranking applicants once they are in the FSW pool.