CANADIAN HIGH COMMISSION IN NIGERIA

Canadian High Commissioner in Nigeria, Chris Cooter

High commission of Canada in Nigeria has its headquarter office at number 15 rue Bobo street, Maitama, Abuja.

Christopher Cooter is the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria. He was named High Commissioner of Canada to Nigeria and Canada’s Permanent Observer to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in September 2010. He joined the Department of External Affairs in 1990 after working in Vancouver as a lawyer in private practice and for the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development as a lands officer. He has since served abroad in Nairobi, New Delhi and Brussels, where he was deputy permanent representative of the Canadian Joint Delegation to the North Atlantic Council.

Visa Application

A travel to Canada can be for a visit, temporary work, to study, or as a refugee.

For a short visit immigrants need to meet certain entry requirements. In some cases, if one plans to stay in Canada for a certain period of time, Temporary Resident Visa is required.

A work permit is required for most temporary jobs in Canada. Though , for some positions and business people it is not necessary.

There is also a study visa for students wishing to visit Canada to continue their study.

Refugees and people needing protection in or outside Canada who fear returning to their home country are allowed to stay in Canada. Groups or individuals can sponsor refugees from abroad who are qualified to come to Canada.

Application for temporary resident visa takes up to 15 working days, thus it is recommended applications are done a minimum of one month prior to the departure date.

Study permit is processed three months; thus, applications should be submitted at least three months prior to their acceptance start date, but not more than six months prior to the start date.

Temporary work permit takes up to three months by courier. Worker applications is advised to be submitted at least three months prior to the start date.

Fees

Processing fees must be paid when new application is been submitted.

Temporary Resident Visa: 

Individual - single entry $75  or 10,500 Naira

Individual - multiple entry $150 or 21,100 Naira

Family Rate - maximum $400 or 56,200 Naira

Work Permit (fee includes temporary resident visa, if required) $150 or 21,100 Naira

Work permit for a group of 3-14 entertainers $450 or 63,200 Naira

Study Permit (fee includes temporary resident visa, if required) $125 or 17,550 Naira

Transit Visa (for less than 48 hours in Canada) is free.

Other application fees are,

Travel Document for Permanent Residents $50 or 7,050 Naira

Temporary Resident Permit $200 or 28,100 Naira

Authorization to Return to Canada $400 or 56,200 Naira

Replacement or Certification of a Document $30.00 or 4,200 Naira

Operation Hours

The Embassy operates Monday to Thursday between 8 a.m to 4.30 pm, and 8 a.m to 1.30 pm on Fridays. Offices remain closed for popular Nigerian and Canadian public holidays.

Nigeria-Canada relations

Canada enjoys strong bilateral relations with Nigeria, one of two strategic partners for Canada in sub-Saharan Africa. Efforts are underway to significantly deepen Canada’s engagement with Nigeria.

Canada welcomes Nigeria’s leadership in African and global affairs, most notably through its important contribution to peace operations.

Recent high-level visits have served to enhance the bilateral relationship. President Goodluck E. Jonathan travelled to Canada in June 2010 to attend the G8 Summit. While in Canada, President Jonathan met bilaterally with Prime Minister Stephen Harper and gave a keynote address to the Canadian Council on Africa.  Mr. Deepak Obhrai, the Parliamentary Secretary to Canada’s Minister of

Foreign Affairs, attended Nigeria’s Golden Jubilee of Independence celebrations in Abuja on October 1st as the Prime Minister of Canada’s special representative.

Building peace and security in Africa and globally

Canada and Nigeria cooperate closely on peace and security issues, especially in Africa and through the United Nations. In 2005 Nigeria became a major troop contributor to the African Union’s Mission in Sudan with three battalions. From 2005 to 2009, Canada provided 105 Armoured Personnel Carriers to assist peacekeeping operations in Darfur, of which 45 were used by Nigerian forces.

Nigeria benefits from several of Canada’s peacekeeping capacity-building programs as well as an active military training cooperation program.

A growing Trade relationship

At over $700 million in trade for 2009, Canada's commercial relationship with Nigeria is among Canada’s top three in sub-Saharan Africa. Trade has grown by 40 percent since 2007. Oil and gas, information and communications technology, education, and infrastructure are key sectors for trade and investment. Collaboration between Canada and Nigeria in infrastructure centres on all forms of energy including hydroelectricity, solar as well as the distribution of energy to the population. Mining services and technology as well as transport offer high potential. Other sectors, including manufacturing and services are developing thanks to a special impetus from members of the Nigerian Diaspora in Canada.

Canada’s Trade Office, based at the Deputy High Commission in Lagos, supports the efforts of Canadian companies who have selected Nigeria as a target market for their products, services and technologies. The Trade Office also helps local contacts interested in sourcing from Canada or partnering with Canadians by matching their needs with the appropriate Canadian companies or counterpart organizations.

Promoting democracy and good governance in Nigeria

 Democratic values, human rights and good governance are pillars of Canada-Nigeria bilateral relations. Canada continues its long-standing tradition of supporting Nigerian efforts to build a society based on respect for democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

Canada and Nigeria are also working to promote these values internationally, including at the United Nations and during Nigeria’s chair of the UN Human Rights Commission (2009-2010).

 Canada is supporting the “Democratic Governance for Development (DGD)” project, a UNDP-led multi-donor initiative to help strengthen electoral processes in Nigeria. This program also includes contributions from DFID and the EU. Canada also provided support to the 2003 and

2007 elections.

 In October 2010, a former Prime Minister of Canada, the Right Honourable Joe Clark co-chaired a National Democratic Institute (NDI) pre-electoral assessment mission to Nigeria. This was not Mr. Clark’s first visit to Nigeria – he also served on the NDI observer mission to Nigeria’s April 2007 general elections.

 In September 2010, the High Commission of Canada sponsored a visit by Canadian Ron Gould, a leading international expert on the organization and management of elections, to provide technical assistance to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Attahiru Jega. Mr. Gould previously served on INEC’s International Advisory Board from 2006 to 2008. Canada and Nigeria are both federations and work together in the 9-nation Forum of Federations.

Expanding people-to-people ties

Over 30,000 Canadians of Nigerian origin live in Canada. The diaspora is highly educated and active in promoting trade and strong political relations.

Over 350 Nigerian lawyers attended the International Bar Association Conference, which was held in Vancouver, Canada in October 2010.

About 800 Nigerians attended the Rotary International Conference that took place in Montreal, Canada in June 2010.