It is now quite easy for you to apply and get a Canada Work Permit from Nigeria. All you need is to follow the guidelines outlined in this post. Without question, working in Canada is among the world’s most rewarding experiences. Over 200,000 people go to Canada annually to look for work and join the workforce. A large chunk of these people are from Nigeria.
You must get a work permit if you are a Nigerian looking to work in Canada. A work permit is a type of document that certifies a person has been given permission to work in Canada.

How To Apply For Canada Work Permit In Nigeria?

How to obtain a Canadian work permit or visa from Nigeria

The basic steps you need to take in order to obtain a Canadian work permit or visa from Nigeria are listed below.

1: Find a job in Canada

Before you may submit an application for a work visa, you must have a legitimate job offer from Canada. Nigerians may be able to find employment in Canada because of the need for skilled workers due to the aging population. Currently, every 1 in 4 Canadian is retiring, leaving a lot of employment openings that firms can only fill with the help of foreign employees.

NOTE: Depending on the kind of Canadian work visa you are eligible for, the kind of employment offer you receive in Canada will vary. For instance, if you have a job offer as a farmworker, you can apply through the Agriculture Worker Stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program to get an employer-specific work permit.

The best part is that you will be able to seek for permanent residency for you and your family in Canada after two years of work experience there!

Top 15 Jobs in Canada in 2023
OccupationAverage Annual Salary in CAD (Source: Neuvoo)
1.Administrative assistant$43, 875
2.Customer service representative$34, 125
3.Sales associate$37, 050
4.Driver$44, 234
5.Accounts payable and receivable clerk$34, 750
6.Registered nurse$80, 126
7.Project manager$90, 675
8.General labourer$31, 919
9.Welder$43, 875
10.Electric engineer$74, 997
11.Software developer$85, 600
12.Merchandiser$31, 346
13.Accountant$58, 500
14.HR manager$78, 975
15.Financial advisor$77, 739

Can I work in Canada without a job offer?

Yes, you might be eligible to apply for a Canadian work visa without having a job offer under extremely precise conditions. For instance, if you study in Canada and earn a Canadian degree, you might be eligible to apply for a Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) without having to wait for a job offer. This will let you to continue working and gaining essential job experience in Canada, which may pave the way for a long-term stay.

2: Get a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)

It’s likely that when you apply for a Canadian work visa from Nigeria, your Canadian employment offer will need to be accompanied by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) in order for it to be accepted. This is due to the fact that an LMIA is often required by the vast majority of work permit programs that let foreigners temporarily reside and work in Canada.

What is an LMIA?

An LMIA is a form that Canadian firms must complete when they need to engage foreign workers because they are unable to fill the post locally. Therefore, the only Canadian employer who can provide you an LMIA is the one who wants to hire you. You must supply a copy of the LMIA document.

Who wouldn’t need an LMIA?

In order to be eligible for a work visa under the International Mobility Program (IMP), temporary foreign workers from Nigeria do not need LMIA papers. You might be eligible for an LMIA-exempt work visa under the IMP, for instance, if you were transferred by your employer. Healthcare workers and other professions that are crucial to Canada’s economy are excluded from this requirement.

3: Submit your Canadian work visa application from Nigeria

Gather any additional necessary documentation and submit your work permit visa application to the Canadian Embassy for processing once you have a legitimate employment offer and your LMIA.

Applying for your work visa through one of two outstanding Canadian immigration pilot programs created especially for expatriate farm workers and caregivers is an innovative way to work in Canada from Nigeria. Finding a job won’t be too tough because there is a consistent need for workers in these fields. You and your family will be able to permanently emigrate to Canada thanks to your professional experience there!

How it works: You apply for a permanent residence permit at the same time as your work visa. Your application for permanent residence will be processed once you have put in the necessary number of hours of employment in Canada.

How much does a work visa for Canada cost?

You must cover the application processing fees when submitting your TWV application. You will be given a work permit and a visa to enter Canada when you first apply. Your family members could be able to travel to Canada with you.

Canadian Work Visa Application Fees
Visa TypeCost
Work permit$155 per person
Work permit extension$155 per person
Open work permit$100 per person

Live and Work in Canada as a Permanent Resident

In certain cases, it is simpler to apply for a work and immigration program in Canada than it is to try to obtain a work visa from Nigeria. This is particularly true if there isn’t much demand for your line of work and you can’t get a job offer backed by an LMIA. The next-best choice is to submit an application through the Express Entry immigration program, which doesn’t need a legitimate work offer.

Enter the Express Entry Draw from Nigeria

Through the well-known Express Entry system created for qualified international workers, you can apply for Canadian permanent residency from Nigeria. The Express Entry method chooses qualified applicants for permanent residency from a pool of applicants online. It’s suitably called Express Entry because the system processes applications for permanent residency in a record time of six months.

The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), a points-based mechanism, is used to rank applicants in the Express Entry pool. Each candidate receives a score based on the eligibility requirements, which may include their age, level of job experience, education, qualifications of their wives, etc. In biweekly lotteries, the top-scoring applicants are given Invitations to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency. Once you have an ITA, you can apply to become a permanent resident of Canada.

Who falls under the category of skilled foreign worker? Learn more below.

Skilled Work Experience for Express Entry
Skill level/typeExample jobs
Skill type 0Management jobs; human resource managers, etc
Skill level AProfessional jobs; accountants, marketing professionals, etc
Skill level BTechnical jobs and skilled trades: plumber, event planners, etc

What if I am a Nigerian citizen supported by an LMIA and am unable to get job in Canada?

The next best alternative is to apply through an immigration program to work and live in Canada rather than attempting to obtain a Canadian work visa from Nigeria if for whatever reason you are unable to find employment in Canada sponsored by an LMIA.

Your best option in this situation is to apply for Canadian Permanent Resident (PR) using the Express Entry Immigration System, which doesn’t require a legitimate employment offer.

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