There are currently around 42,000 Canadians of Nigerian heritage living in the country, and this number is rising.

Nigerians are the fourth-largest source of immigration to Canada.

More than 15,000 Nigerians received permanent resident status in Canada in 2021.

Nigerian professionals are attracted to Canada due to the wealth of economic opportunities and industries it provides, including the health industry, the information and communication technology sector, the oil and gas sector, and other fields relating to science and engineering. Therefore, it is not unexpected to hear that the majority of Nigerians migrate to Canada as skilled employees.

Nigerians typically qualify well for Canadian immigration programs because of factors like their high level of English fluency, educational attainment, and professional experience. The Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Provincial Nominee Program are two well-liked routes for Nigerians to immigrate to Canada.

Program for Federally Skilled Workers

If you are a prospective immigrant from Nigeria who lives abroad, the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) can be an excellent choice for you. Candidates without a link to Canada or a job offer who have work experience are eligible to apply for permanent residence under the FSWP.

Candidates must be able to establish themselves in Canada using their overseas work experience, education, language abilities, and other human capital elements in order to be eligible for the FSWP.

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Candidates must in particular fulfil the following requirements:

  • Continuous full-time work experience or equivalent paid work experience in a skilful occupation classified under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill level 0, A, or B over the past 10 years;
  • The ability to read, write, listen, and speak at a level equivalent to the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 in English or French;
  • The educational credential of a Canadian (certificate, diploma, or degree) or a foreign credential and the Education Credential Assessment (ECA).
  • Earn at least 67 points across all six of the IRCC's criteria for immigration.
  • Demonstrate that you have the resources to live comfortably in Canada for yourself and your family.

The FSWP is one of three programs run by the Canadian government's application management system, Express Entry. You can upload your Express Entry Profile to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada's (IRCC) website as soon as you are aware that you are qualified for the FSWP.

A Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score will subsequently be assigned to candidates based on a variety of criteria, including age, education, work experience, language proficiency, and more. The top scorers in the pool receive invitations to submit applications for permanent residency every two weeks.

The goal is to accept 110,000 permanent residents through Express Entry by the year 2024. As a result, Express Entry might be the most desirable and efficient way for candidates from lower socioeconomic classes to get permanent residency in Canada.

Program for Provincial Nominees

Another fantastic alternative for people seeking immigration from Nigeria is the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). The PNP, which is administered by most of Canada's provinces and territories, enables each one to create its own immigration policies based on its own economic and demographic requirements. Provinces and territories can nominate skilled worker immigrants for their respective jurisdictions through the PNP.

Candidates for immigration from Nigeria could be able to apply to immigrate to Canada directly through a PNP if they match the requirements. Express Entry applicants can apply and get an ITA for nomination by a province, which will select them from the Express Entry pool. They will gain an additional 600 CRS points if they are nominated through Express Entry, making it almost certain that they will be invited to apply for permanent residence in a future Express Entry draw.

Also read:

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