How to Move From Nigeria to Canada in 2026

To move from Nigeria to Canada, you apply through the same programs as everyone: Express Entry, a Provincial Nominee Program, study then work, or family sponsorship. No program is Nigeria-specific. Federal Skilled Worker applicants need a language test, an ECA and proof of funds of CAD $15,263 for one person. A provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points.

Compare the routes in the Pathway Explorer

Last verified: November 2026

600
CRS points a provincial nomination adds for Express Entry candidates
697 to 805
Cut-offs of the 2026 rounds for nominated candidates, through October 26, 2026
CAD $15,263
Federal Skilled Worker proof of funds for one person
CAD $1,590
IRCC fees for a single adult through Express Entry, with the RPRF

The settlement funds table was updated July 7, 2025. The Proof of Funds for Express Entry guide has the full table by family size.

Which programs can Nigerians use to move to Canada?

There is no separate Nigeria-specific economic program. You compete in the same pool as candidates worldwide, and the right program depends on your work history, education, language ability, and goals. An officer makes the final decision in every case.

Express Entry is the federal system that manages applications for three economic programs. You create an online profile, the system gives you a CRS score based on factors like age, education, language, and work experience, and IRCC invites the highest-ranked candidates in rounds held throughout the year. Because the cut-off score changes from draw to draw, there is no fixed number that guarantees an invitation. The Express Entry guide explains how the system and draws work.

Federal Skilled Worker Program: The Express Entry program that counts skilled work experience gained in Canada or abroad, which suits many applicants from Nigeria. You generally need at least one year of continuous skilled work experience, CLB 7 in all four abilities, an education credential, the minimum points on the FSW selection grid, and proof of funds unless you are exempt.
Family sponsorship: A separate, non-economic route. A Canadian citizen or permanent resident may sponsor a spouse, common-law partner, dependent child, or in some cases a parent or grandparent, though IRCC has paused new parent and grandparent sponsorships.

Where does a provincial nomination fit?

The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) lets individual provinces and territories nominate candidates who fit their local labour needs. For Express Entry candidates, a provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points. In 2026, rounds for nominated candidates cut off between 697 and 805, through the round of October 26, 2026.

Some PNP streams are linked to Express Entry (enhanced) and some are applied for directly (base). Each province sets its own occupation lists and criteria, so the same profile can succeed in one province and not another.

The rule

For Express Entry candidates, a provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points.

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Can you still study first, now that the Nigeria Student Express has ended?

Get a study permit
You need a letter of acceptance from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI), proof you can cover tuition and living costs, and, for most applicants, a Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL). Without a required PAL, the application is returned, with the processing fee refunded.
Apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit
After graduating from an eligible program, many students apply for a PGWP, an open work permit that lets you work for almost any employer. PGWP applications made on or after November 1, 2024 must meet a minimum language level (CLB/NCLC 7 for university programs and CLB/NCLC 5 for college and other non-university programs). If the study permit was applied for on or after November 1, 2024, a program other than a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree must be in an eligible field of study.
Apply for permanent residence
After gaining skilled Canadian work experience on a PGWP, graduates often apply through the Canadian Experience Class within Express Entry or through a PNP stream for graduates. Each step has its own eligibility rules and no step guarantees the next.

What does it cost, and how much money must you show?

For a single adult applying for permanent residence through Express Entry, the IRCC processing fee is CAD $990 and the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) is CAD $600, for a combined CAD $1,590. Fees increased on April 30, 2026. An accompanying spouse or partner pays the same amounts, and an accompanying dependent child is CAD $270.

Family sponsorship has its own fee structure. Sponsoring a spouse or partner is CAD $660 for sponsorship and processing, plus the CAD $600 right of permanent residence fee, CAD $1,260 in total.

Proof of funds is separate from fees. A single Federal Skilled Worker or Federal Skilled Trades applicant must show CAD $15,263, and the amount rises with family size ($19,001 for two people and $28,362 for a family of four), with each family member counted even if they are not coming with you. The Canadian Experience Class, and candidates with a valid job offer and authorization to work in Canada, are exempt.

Bank letters must show the average balance for the past 6 months. The test, the ECA, the medical exam and the police certificates are priced by their providers and come on top of IRCC's fees.

What documents do Nigerian applicants need?

Police certificate: A Police Character Certificate from the Nigeria Police Force's Central Criminal Registry, and a police certificate from any other country where you stayed 6 months in a row or longer since age 18 (for Express Entry, within the last 10 years).
Language test: IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General or PTE Core for English, or TEF Canada or TCF Canada for French. Results must be less than 2 years old when you complete your Express Entry profile and when you submit your application.
Educational Credential Assessment (ECA): From a designated organization such as World Education Services (WES), to show how your Nigerian degree compares to a Canadian one.
Work experience: Reference or employment letters proving your work experience under the right National Occupational Classification (NOC) code.
Passport, biometrics and medical exam: A valid Nigerian passport, biometrics (fingerprints and a photo) collected at a designated location, and an immigration medical exam done by an IRCC-approved panel physician.
Translations: A document not in English or French needs a translation and, unless the translator is certified in Canada, the translator's affidavit. You and your family cannot translate your own documents.

IRCC says an incomplete application can take longer to process. Requirements differ by program and by personal history, so the exact list for your application is the one shown in your own IRCC checklist.

Which free tool checks your own case?

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What do people ask?

How can I move from Nigeria to Canada?

You apply through the same programs as applicants from any country, because none is reserved for Nigerians. Skilled workers usually start with Express Entry and the Federal Skilled Worker Program. Others use a Provincial Nominee Program, which adds 600 CRS points, the study-to-PR route, or family sponsorship. Each program has its own rules, and an officer decides every application. The Pathway Explorer lists each program's published criteria.

How much will it cost to relocate from Nigeria to Canada?

A single Express Entry applicant pays CAD $1,590 in IRCC fees: CAD $990 for processing plus the CAD $600 RPRF. On top of fees, a Federal Skilled Worker applicant must show proof of funds of CAD $15,263, which rises with family size. Add a language test, an ECA, biometrics, a medical exam and police certificates. Our Proof of Funds for Express Entry guide has the full table by family size.

Do Nigerians need a visa to travel to Canada?

Yes. Nigeria is a visa-required country, so a Nigerian passport holder needs a Temporary Resident Visa to visit Canada, not an eTA. The visa fee is CAD $100, plus CAD $85 for biometrics. You apply online on form IMM 5257. Our Canada Visitor Visa From Nigeria guide lists the documents and IRCC's current processing time.

Did the Nigeria Student Express program end?

Yes. The Nigeria Student Express (NSE) and the Student Direct Stream (SDS) both ended on November 8, 2024. Eligible applications received before 2:00 p.m. ET that day were processed under those streams. Every new study permit application now goes through the regular study permit stream. Our How to Study in Canada guide explains the regular stream, including the Provincial Attestation Letter most applicants need.

What language test do I need for Express Entry from Nigeria?

For English, you take IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General or PTE Core. For French, you take TEF Canada or TCF Canada. The Federal Skilled Worker Program generally requires at least Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 in all four abilities, which is IELTS 6.0 in each. Results must be less than 2 years old when you complete your profile and when you apply. Our Language Score Converter turns a test result into its CLB level.

Do I need to get my Nigerian degree assessed?

For the Federal Skilled Worker Program, generally yes. You need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) from a designated organization, such as World Education Services (WES), to show how your degree compares to a Canadian one. For Express Entry, the ECA must be less than 5 years old when you complete your profile and when you apply. Our Foreign Credential Recognition guide explains the ECA and professional licensing.

Can I study in Canada and then apply for permanent residence?

Many people do, but it is not automatic. You study at a Designated Learning Institution, graduate from an eligible program, and then a Post-Graduation Work Permit lets you gain Canadian work experience. That experience can support a later application through the Canadian Experience Class or a provincial stream. PGWP rules have tightened. Our Canada Study Permit to PR guide walks through each step.

How long does it take to immigrate to Canada from Nigeria?

There is no fixed timeline. It depends on the program, how complete your application is, and IRCC's current workload. Express Entry permanent residence applications and study permits each have their own published processing times, and they change often. This page does not estimate a time for your case. Our processing times page shows IRCC's current figures by program and country.

Part of:Immigrating permanently

Official sources

This page is based on law and policy published by the Government of Canada.