Getting a UK or Canada visa from Nigeria
You can apply for a UK or Canadian visa from Nigeria without leaving the country, and without a job offer in either case. Canada's Express Entry does not require one. The UK's Skilled Worker visa does require a sponsoring employer, which is the single biggest difference between the two routes for Nigerian applicants.
Which route fits you
Canada: Express Entry. No job offer needed. You are scored on age, education, language and work history, and the highest scores get invited to apply. Nigeria was a top-five source country for Canada's economic immigration in 2024, with 15,440 people admitted (IRCC Annual Report 2025). This is a well-trodden path.
Canada: Provincial Nominee Programs. A province nominates you, which adds 600 points and effectively guarantees an invitation. Worth checking if your Express Entry score is mid-range.
UK: Skilled Worker. You need a licensed employer to sponsor you first. Then the salary rule applies: you must be paid whichever is higher, the general threshold or the going rate for your specific job. Care worker recruitment from overseas has closed since July 2025; agents still selling UK care jobs from Nigeria cannot honour that route.
UK: Health and Care Worker. Lower fees and no health surcharge. Nigerian nationals are among the largest groups using it.
→ Work out your Canadian points: it takes about two minutes and tells you where you stand before you spend anything.
What it costs from Nigeria
Fees are set in Canadian dollars and pounds. The naira figures below use the HMRC customs rate for September 2026 and are approximate; your bank's rate will be worse.
| Official | Approx. NGN | |
|---|---|---|
| Canada PR, single adult (processing + right of permanent residence fee) | $1,590 (IRCC, effective April 30, 2026) | ≈ ₦1,547,000 |
| Canada biometrics | $85 (IRCC, effective July 2, 2026) | ≈ ₦83,000 |
| UK Skilled Worker, up to 3 years | £819 (UK Home Office, effective April 8, 2026) | ≈ ₦1,499,000 |
| UK health surcharge | £1,035 (UK Home Office, effective February 6, 2024) per year | ≈ ₦1,894,000 per year |
| UK Skilled Worker, 3 years all in | £3,924 (UK Home Office, effective April 8, 2026) | ≈ ₦7,183,000 |
The health surcharge is what most people miss. Over three years it costs more than the visa itself, and it is paid upfront.
What is different for Nigeria
You are not exempt from proving your English. This is the most common and most expensive misunderstanding. The UK exempts nationals of 18 majority-English-speaking countries, and Nigeria is not one of them (Appendix English Language). Guyana is on the list, which is probably where the confusion starts. You will need an approved test, or a degree that was taught in English. Canada exempts nobody at all.
Your police certificate can be done by post. The Central Criminal Registry at the Force CID Annex, Alagbon Close, Ikoyi, Lagos issues it. You can attend in person, but you do not have to: from abroad you can post a copy of your passport photo page, certified fingerprints, an international money order payable to the Nigerian Police Force CID, and a prepaid return courier envelope (IRCC Nigeria). Nigerian embassies abroad can also certify it for a fee. This is genuinely easier than it is for several neighbouring countries.
A TB test is required for UK stays over six months. Six approved clinics: IOM and four private clinics across Lagos, plus IOM Abuja and IOM Benin City (approved clinic list). No other clinic's certificate is accepted.
Biometrics. Canada: VFS Global in Lagos and Abuja. UK: Abuja, two centres in Lagos, plus premium centres in Enugu, Port Harcourt and Kano.
Your degree needs assessing for Canada. Your university sends transcripts directly to the assessing body; you cannot send them yourself. WAEC results are verified with a scratch card PIN at waecdirect.org. Note that Nigeria has two examining bodies, WAEC and NECO, and you will need results from whichever you sat.
The UK Ancestry visa almost certainly does not apply. It needs a grandparent born in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man. A grandparent born in Nigeria before independence does not qualify; there is no colonial-birth provision in the rule (Appendix UK Ancestry).
Related routes and guides
Also see
What to do next
Common questions
- Do I need a job offer to move to Canada from Nigeria?
No. Express Entry does not require one. Until 2 November 2026 a job offer adds no points; from 3 November 2026 an offer in one of Canada's high-wage occupations adds 50 to 100 points, and 12 months of Canadian work in one can add up to 70.
- Do I need IELTS if English is my first language?
Yes, for both countries. Canada exempts nobody. The UK's exemption list does not include Nigeria. A degree taught in English can replace the test for the UK, but it needs to be confirmed by an approved assessment provider.
- How much money do I need to show for Canada?
It depends on family size and is set by IRCC. A single applicant needs a specific amount held in an account you can prove you control; borrowed money and property equity do not count. Check the current figure.
- Can I get my police certificate while I am abroad?
Yes. Nigeria allows a postal application, which not every country does.
- Which is cheaper, Canada or the UK?
Canadian permanent residence for a single adult is roughly ₦1.5m in government fees. A three-year UK Skilled Worker visa is roughly ₦7.2m, because of the health surcharge. But the UK gives you a job on arrival and Canada does not.
- How long does Canadian PR take from Nigeria?
Processing times are published by IRCC and change monthly. You also need to allow time before applying for your language test, your credential assessment and your police certificate.
Rules last checked on September 14, 2026.