Japa is a word that’s now more popular in Nigeria than ever before. It means immigrating from the country in search of a better life abroad. One of the best countries to migrate to from Nigeria is Canada.
The choice of Canada is obvious. The beautiful country offers political stability, security, a thriving economy, better health care, and much more.
Are you a Nigerian wanting to japa to Canada? The good news is that the dream can be a reality. Nigeria is one of the main contributors of Canadian immigrants, with over 15,000 Nigerians immigrating to Canada in 2021 alone.
Here we’ll show you how these 15,000+ people achieved their Canadian dream. Let’s get started by looking at the various programs available.
Nigeria to Canada Immigration Programs
There are several different immigration programs developed by the Canadian government that Nigerians can use for their Canada relocation.
Some of these programs have been very successful in making that dream come true, while others have been less successful. The programs that have proved very successful are:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program
- Federal Skilled Trades Program
- Provincial Nominee Program
- Agri-food Pilot Program
- Caregiver Programs
- Study Permits
- Family Sponsorship
1. Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Program
This FSW is one of the Express Entry programs, and is a pathway to Canadian permanent residency (the equivalent of a U.S. green card). It’s a brilliant program for those relocating to Canada from Nigeria
If you are a skilled worker in Nigeria who will be able to contribute to the Canadian economy, the Federal Skilled Workers Program is an excellent way to japa (immigrate) to Canada. Skilled work experience means you’ve held a:
- Managerial job
- Professional job (doctor, dentist, architect, etc)
- Technical job (electrician, plumber, etc)
After applying for the skilled worker program, you will be entered into the Express Entry pool. Candidates in the pool are ranked using CRS (comprehensive ranking system) scores. If you’re looking at how to get permanent residency in Canada then you need to know that those with the highest scores are invited to apply.
Thus, improving your CRS score increases your chances of receiving the ITA (invitation to apply) and having a successful visa application to Canada. The CRS score is calculated using your age, language skills, education, work experience, and Canadian connections.
So, you can improve your CRS score by addressing any of these elements as follows. Read more about applying to the Federal Skilled Workers Program right here.
Age – Being 20 – 29 years of age gets you the highest age score, and the older you are, the fewer age-points you get.
Language Skills – You need to be proficient in one or both of the two official languages of Canada (English and French).
Education – You may need to get a higher degree because the higher your degree, the more points your education fetches you.
Work Experience – You need at least one year of work experience.
Canadian Connection – You may need to arrange Canadian employment, as this will gain you plenty of points. Having a relative in Canada also greatly improves your chances.
2. Federal Skilled Trades (FST) Programs
If you’re looking at how to apply for Canada Express Entry from Nigeria then you’ll be happy to know this is another one of its programs opening the door to permanent residency.
Unlike the Federal Skilled Worker Program which is for skilled workers with a college degree, there is no educational requirement for the Federal Skilled Trades program. It makes it a great option for those wondering how to immigrate to Canada without a formal degree.
It’s no secret that there are lots of skilled workers in Nigeria who were not given the opportunity of higher education. With this program, these people can still legally immigrate from Nigeria to Canada.
Examples of jobs you should have held to immigrate via the Federal Skilled Trade Program include:
- Industrial, electrical, and construction trades
- Maintenance and equipment operation trades
- Chefs and cooks
Being an Express Entry Program, FSTP applicants are also entered into a pool and ranked using the comprehensive ranking system (CRS). Note that, while education is not required for FSTP, having a secondary or post-secondary education increases your CRS score. Check out if you could be eligible here.
3. Provincial Nominee Program
The provincial nominee program has opened the door to Canadian permanent residency for many Nigerians. It’s another great way to migrate to Canada from Nigeria.
Canada has 13 jurisdictions (10 provinces and 3 territories), and 11 of these jurisdictions operate their own immigration programs in conjunction with Express Entry. That is, you can apply for Express Entry through the Provincial Nomination Program.
Since provinces tailor their programs to their economic needs, getting a provincial nomination means that the province specifically identifies you as an important resource.
If you want to increase your chances of getting an ITA by some 50%, use the Provincial Nomination Program. Note that the applications are processed via Express Entry, so candidates are ranked using CRS scores.
Interestingly, provincial nomination gives you additional 600 points, and this all but guarantees an invitation. Learn more about the process right here.
4. Agri-food Pilot Program
This program is developed to fill labor needs in Canada’s large agri-food sector. This is good news for Nigerians because there are many in the country who work in this sector.
The Agri-food Pilot program opens the door to Canadian permanent residency to you if you are in the following industries.
- Meat product manufacturing (retail and industrial butchers, food processing laborers, etc)
- Farming (general farm workers, harvesting laborers, farm supervisors, etc)
- Animal production excluding aquaculture (cattle ranching, pig farming, sheep and goat farming, poultry and egg production, etc)
To apply for the program, you must have at least a secondary school education, one-year work experience, and proficiency in English or French. If you’re looking at how to get a job in Canada from Nigeria and have one of these skills, you’ll have a great chance.
5. Caregiver Programs
Immigration to Canada from Nigeria is also possible with the caregiver program. Canada has a huge population in need of care and assistance. So, if you are a caregiver, you can immigrate from Nigeria to Canada via one of three caregiver programs.
Live-in caregiver program – If you have at least one year of experience caring for a child, an elderly person, or a person with a disability, your Canadian dream can be possible through this program.
Home child care provider – If you’ve cared for children under 18 even in your own home, this caregiver program is a pathway to permanent residency for you.
Home support worker program – If you have experience as a housekeeper, this is a good program with which to japa to Canada.
6. Study Permits
You can also immigrate from Nigeria to Canada via a study permit. The study permits are only valid for the duration of the studies but is still a great solution for those looking at how to relocate to Canada from Nigeria.
However, studying in Canada gives you a Canadian degree which weighs more than foreign degrees when applying to a permanent residency program. It’s the perfect solution for those who want to work and study in Canada from Nigeria.
Also, after your studies, you can apply for a Post Graduate Work Permit which allows you to work in Canada. This gives you Canadian work experience that weighs heavily when applying for a permanent residency program.
7. Family Sponsorship
If you have family in Canada, migrating to Canada from Nigeria could be easier than you thought. This is because family reunification is important to the Canadian government. So, there are programs for permanent residents in Canada to sponsor their family members in Nigeria to the Great White North.
The sponsor needs to be:
- At least 18 years
- Be living in the country when the sponsored family member arrives
- Must be able to provide financial support to the sponsored family member if needed
Final Thoughts
If you are a Nigerian, then you probably know what japa means. More than ever before, Nigerians want to immigrate to Canada from Nigeria for a better life. To give you plenty of hope, many thousands legally immigrate from Nigeria to Canada every year through various programs.
It’s best to look at the programs above and see which one is most suitable for you. You can then use it to pursue your dreams and hopefully build a beautiful new life in Canada.
