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What documents do I need to move to Canada as a Nigeria citizen?
Typical pathway: Express Entry
Last verified: August 5, 2026
- Nigerian international passport (machine-readable, valid) (before) — Source: Nigeria Immigration Service (immigration.gov.ng)
Standard Nigerian e-passport issued by the Nigeria Immigration Service. The biographic data page is uploaded in the e-APR, and the passport must remain valid through landing because the permanent resident visa counterfoil is affixed inside it. Renew early if validity is under 12 months. - IRCC-approved language test result (IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General, PTE Core, TEF/TCF Canada) (before) — Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry.html
Test results must be less than two years old on the date the Express Entry profile is submitted and still valid when the e-APR is filed. Nigerian applicants most commonly use IELTS General Training at British Council/IDP centres in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt or Ibadan. Academic IELTS is not accepted for Express Entry. - Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report (before) — Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/documents/education-assessed.html
Issued by an IRCC-designated organization (WES is the route most Nigerian applicants use). Nigerian university transcripts must be sent directly by the institution and WAEC/NECO secondary results are sent directly through the exam board's online verification service — allow several months for Nigerian institutional delays. ECA validity is five years from issue. - Degree certificate, diploma and academic transcripts (before) — Source: IRCC – Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
The underlying credentials themselves, uploaded separately from the ECA report. Include the final degree certificate/statement of result and full academic transcript for each credential claimed for CRS points. - Employer reference letters for each period of skilled work experience (before) — Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/documents/work-experience.html
On company letterhead, signed by someone with authority over your employment, stating job title, detailed duties, employment dates, hours per week, and salary/benefits, and matching the NOC code claimed. One letter per employer. For Nigerian employers that have closed or will not issue letters, substitute contracts, payslips, PAYE/tax records plus a written explanation. - Nigeria Police Character Certificate (Police Clearance Certificate) (before) — Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/updates/2018-police-certificates-2.html
Issued by the Nigeria Police Force Criminal Investigation Department at Force Headquarters, Alagbon Close, Lagos (INTERPOL/CRC route also used). Processing commonly takes 4–12 weeks, so start immediately after the Invitation to Apply. Must generally be issued within six months of e-APR submission; IRCC does not accept certificates mailed directly by the police to IRCC for Express Entry. Some applicants additionally have it authenticated by the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or certified at a Nigerian mission abroad — verify with the official source, practice varies. - Police certificates from every other country of residence (6+ months since age 18, last 10 years) (before) — Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/updates/2018-police-certificates-2.html
Separate from the Nigerian certificate. Required for each country/territory other than Canada where you (and each accompanying family member 18+) lived six or more consecutive months in the past ten years — e.g. UK ACRO, US FBI Identity History Summary, UAE, Saudi Arabia, South Africa. If a certificate is delayed, upload documented proof of the request. - Immigration medical examination (IME) report from an IRCC panel physician (before) — Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/medical-police/medical-exams/requirements-permanent-residents.html
Must be done by a panel physician on IRCC's list (clinics in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Benin City). Results are valid 12 months. An upfront exam before e-APR submission is optional but can shorten processing; the eMedical Information Sheet/IMM 1017 receipt is uploaded as proof. - Biometrics enrolment (ten fingerprints and facial photograph) at a Canada VAC (before) — Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/biometrics/when-to-give-permanent-residence.html
Distinct from the digital photo uploaded in your application. Biometrics must be given in person after receiving the Biometric Instruction Letter — in Nigeria at the VFS Global-operated Canada Visa Application Centre in Lagos or Abuja, by prior appointment. Every permanent residence applicant 14–79 must give biometrics again even if previously enrolled; the CAD 85 fee (CAD 170 per family) is paid with the application. - Digital photograph meeting IRCC specifications (for the application and PR card) (before) — Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/permanent-residents/card/apply.html
A separate uploaded photo file, not the biometric photo captured at the VAC. IRCC reuses the photo attached to your Confirmation of Permanent Residence to produce your first PR card, so it must meet the published size, framing and recency specifications. - Proof of funds — official bank letter plus six months of account statements (before) — Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/documents/proof-funds.html
Required for Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades applicants without a valid Canadian job offer or existing Canadian work authorization; Canadian Experience Class applicants are exempt. The bank letter must be on letterhead with contact details, account numbers, opening dates and balances; IRCC assesses the whole six-month window, not a single snapshot, so unexplained large deposits should be documented. Nigerian applicants commonly hold funds in a USD domiciliary account to avoid naira valuation problems. - Civil status records: birth certificate / attestation of birth, and marriage certificate or divorce decree (before) — Source: National Population Commission of Nigeria / IRCC
Nigerian birth certificate from the National Population Commission (or a sworn declaration of age plus attestation of birth where no NPopC record exists) for you and each dependent child, plus marriage certificate for an accompanying spouse or final divorce/death certificate to establish current marital status. Customary/traditional marriages usually need the registry certificate or a court affidavit — verify with the official source. - Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and permanent resident visa counterfoil (before) — Source: IRCC – Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Issued on approval; the counterfoil is placed in your Nigerian passport at the visa office and both documents carry an expiry date tied to your medical exam. You must travel to Canada before that expiry. Keep the paper/e-COPR — it is your proof of status until the PR card arrives. - CBSA landing examination: COPR, passport and Canadian mailing address (during) — Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/permanent-residents/card/apply.html
At the port of entry a Canada Border Services Agency officer examines your valid passport and COPR and completes your landing. Give the officer a Canadian mailing address so PR card production starts automatically; if you have no address yet you may supply it to IRCC online within 180 days of becoming a permanent resident. - Personal effects accounting document (BSF186) and Goods to Follow list (BSF186A) (during) — Source: Canada Border Services Agency (cbsa-asfc.gc.ca)
Two typed, valued inventories presented to CBSA at first landing — one for goods accompanying you, one for goods being shipped later. Settlers' effects enter duty- and tax-free only if listed at landing, so items still in Nigeria (household goods, vehicle) must appear on the Goods to Follow list. - Currency/monetary instruments declaration for CAD 10,000 or more (during) — Source: Canada Border Services Agency (cbsa-asfc.gc.ca)
Cash, bank drafts, traveller's cheques or money orders totalling CAD 10,000 or more (in any currency combined) must be declared to CBSA on arrival. Undeclared funds can be seized. Carry the bank draft or transfer documentation for your settlement funds. - Social Insurance Number (SIN) (during) — Source: Service Canada (canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/sin.html)
Applied for in person at a Service Canada centre (or online) with your COPR/e-COPR and passport; a permanent SIN is normally issued at the appointment with a confirmation-of-SIN letter. Required to work, be paid legally and receive federal benefits. - Permanent Resident (PR) card (after) — Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/permanent-residents/card/apply.html
Your first PR card is mailed automatically to a Canadian address — no application form is needed — provided you supplied the address and an acceptable photo within 180 days of landing. It must be delivered in Canada and is the document you need, together with your passport, to re-enter Canada on a commercial carrier. - Provincial or territorial health insurance card (after) — Source: Provincial/territorial ministry of health (e.g. ServiceOntario, Alberta Health, Health Insurance BC)
Applied for through the health ministry of your province of residence using your COPR/PR card, photo ID and proof of a local address. Some provinces impose a waiting period before coverage begins (for example Ontario historically applied a three-month wait), so apply immediately on arrival and keep the application receipt. - Provincial driver's licence with Nigerian driving history letter (after) — Source: Provincial driver licensing authority (e.g. ServiceOntario, Alberta Registries, ICBC)
Nigeria has no reciprocal full-exchange agreement with Canadian provinces, so most Nigerian newcomers must complete provincial knowledge and road tests. A letter of driving experience from the Federal Road Safety Corps / state licensing authority, translated and sometimes authenticated, can reduce the graduated-licensing waiting period and insurance premiums — requirements differ by province, verify with the provincial licensing body. - Canada Revenue Agency tax records for your first filing year (after) — Source: Canada Revenue Agency (canada.ca/en/revenue-agency)
As a newcomer you file a first Canadian tax return for the year you landed, using your date of entry as your residency start date. Keep your T4 slips, COPR (date of landing) and records of foreign income and assets; filing is what unlocks GST/HST credit, Canada Child Benefit and later proof-of-residency evidence for citizenship. - Residency-day evidence for maintaining PR status and future citizenship (after) — Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/new-immigrants/pr-card/understand-pr-status.html
Retain boarding passes, passport entry/exit stamps, lease agreements, employment records and bank statements. Permanent residents must be physically present in Canada at least 730 days in every rolling five-year period to keep status, and 1,095 days in five years to apply for citizenship — this evidence is what proves it if questioned at a port of entry or on PR card renewal.
Not legal advice. Based on cached research — verify with official sources before making decisions.