How to Submit Passport for Canada Visa in Nigeria

Canada has increasingly become a beautiful place to visit; not just for the beauty of the country but for the fact that the country allows people from all walks of life who intend to ply their trade are greatly welcome.

Of course, students who want to explore further in their academic pursuit are allowed to study in Canada, so far one meet the needed requirement.

Processing a Canadian passport is one thing and submitting it to the right authority for the visa is another. Many individuals have missed out on their trip to Canada just because they are ignorant of the right place to submit a passport for a Canada Visa in Nigeria.

Canadian visa varies in the same way the requirement varies. However, one must submit a valid visa before getting one’s visa can be stamped on his/her passport.

Nevertheless, this work will go on to expose individuals who intend to travel to Canada and how to submit a passport for a Canada visa in Nigeria.

Where to submit passport for Canada visa stamping in Nigeria

Individuals who have been demanded to submit their passports for visa stamping, need to send them to the Canadian Visa Office in Abuja and Lagos. 

The address of the Canadian Visa Office in Abuja:

• 15 Bobo Street, Maitama, Abuja, Nigeria
• City: F.C.T. Abuja
• Email: Abuja@international.gc.ca
• Fax: (011 234 9) 413-9932
• Phone: (011 234 9) 413 99 10
• Website: http://www.nigeria.gc.ca

The address for the Canadian Visa Office in Lagos:

• Manor Hall, Plot 110, Admiral Ayinla Way, Opposite Treasure Garden Estate, Third Roundabout, Lekki Phase I,  Lagos, Nigeria.

Ways to Submit Passport Visa for Stamping

Below are five good ways to submit passports for visa stamping:

1.  Submit in person at the Visa Application Center (VAC)

For persons applying for a Canadian visa in Nigeria, the best way to submit your passport for the visa is to do it in person at the Visa Application Center (VAC).

This means going to the Visa Application Center (VAC) near you and submitting your passport and other required documents to the staff there for visa stamping.

The  Visa Application Center (VAC) is a facility that sees to visa application-related issues and applications on behalf of the Canadian government in Nigeria.

You can go to the Visa Application Center (VAC) and do the submission of your passport by yourself.

Follow These two steps in submitting a passport at the Visa Application Center (VAC):

• Locate Visa Application Center (VAC) Near You: The Canadian government has given authority to several Visa Application Centers (VACs) in Nigeria to take care of visa applications. You can visit the VAC Website (https://visa.vfsglobal.com/nga/en/can) to inquire about the location nearest to you.
• Book an appointment: After identifying the Visa Application Center (VAC) close to your place, you need to set up an appointment to submit your passport.

Process of Booking an Appointment for Passport Submission for Canada Visa

Setting up an appointment for passport submission for a Canada visa in Nigeria requires one to follow the following steps:

• Go to the official Website of the Canadian visa application center in Nigeria at (https://www.vfsglobal.ca/canada/nigeria).
• Create an account on the website. But if you already have one you do not have the need for it.
• Log in to your account and select the option to book an appointment.
• Zap into the visa category you choose to apply for, which would be “Passport Submission Only” for a Canada visa.
• Select the visa application center you desire to submit your passport. In Nigeria, there are two centers: one located in Lagos and the other in Abuja.
• Select the date and time slot that you are convenient with from the available options.
• Confirm the appointment details and pay your required sum.
• Print the appointment confirmation slips and take the copies with you to the visa application center on your appointment date.
• Garner every needed document: Be sure before your appointment that you have all the required documents intact for your visa application, including your passport, photographs, and backup documents.
• Attending your Appointment is very important: be sure you are present at your appointment, and be prompt in arriving at the Visa Application Centers (VAC) with all the required documents. The Visa Application VAC staff will verify your documents, take your biometric data (including fingerprints and photographs), and accept your passport.
• Check your Email for Notification: After submitting your passport, you will get an email notification approving your passport has been forwarded to the Canadian High Commission in Lagos. Again, you will get an email notification when your passport is available for collection.
• Pickup Passport: When your passport is done and dusted, you can pick it up from the Canadian High Commission in Lagos in person. However, you will need to go along with your passport collection slip and a means of identification (such as a national ID card or driver’s license) with you.

2. Through Mail

You can send your passport to the Visa Application Center (VAC) for visa stamping through mail. However, you will be required to pay for a Package Transmission Service Charge and submit a VFS Global Consent Form.

This of course can save you the traffic hitches one experiences when journeying through the road. Failure to send the Package Transmission Service Charge and VFS Consent Form with your application attached to it, your application will be seen as incomplete and will not be attended to until you do what is required of you.

Therefore you are mandated to submit the Package Transmission Service Charge within the space of ten working days. Failure to pay the amount your package is sent back to you.

3. Through the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)

For individuals applying for work permits or study permits type of visa, one may be able to submit his/her passport directly to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

One must complete the instructions given in the application and pay any required fees.

However, this alternative is not available for all types of visas. Hence, in submitting your passport, be sure that all needed documents are complete and intact and that you have followed thoroughly the instructions given by the Canadian government.

4. Submit Online

One whose visa application was done online may be eligible to submit his/her passport online as well. To begin this, the following should be done

• Create Account: In completing the application and paying the required fee, one needs to create an account right on the Canadian government’s website. This will grant you access to submit your passport online.
• Upload Documents: Upon completion of the account creation, you can go on to upload your passport and any backup documents needed for the Canadian visa application. Be sure to follow carefully the laydown guidelines for uploading documents provided by the website.
• Be Patient for the Processing: After the submission of the passport online, you will have to patiently wait for it to be processed by the Canadian government. However, be sure you check the status of your application online often using your account.
• Submit Passport on request: The Canadian government may demand that you submit your passport yourself at a Canadian Visa Application Center (VAC). After this is completed, you will need to follow the guidelines given by the government.

5.  Submit Through a Courier Service

Persons who cannot submit their passport in person can submit their passport through a courier service.

The Visa Application Center (VAC) partners with courier service providers to collect and deliver passports to the Canadian High Commission in Lagos or Abuja.

This however can save you time and cost by eliminating the need to travel to a Canadian visa application center in person. 

This is the process to follow:

• Complete visa application:  First, finish the process of the visa application. This can be completed online or in person at a Canadian Visa Application Center (VAC) in Nigeria.
• Pay the visa fee: You must also pay the visa fee before submitting your passport. You can pay online or in person at a designated bank.
• Choose a courier service: Once you have completed your application and paid the fee, you can choose a courier service to submit your passport. Several courier services offer this service in Nigeria, including DHL, FedEx, and UPS. You can contact these services to inquire about their specific requirements and fees.
• Provide your passport and supporting documents: When you have chosen a courier service, you need to provide your passport and any supporting documents required for your Canadian visa application. Make sure to follow the courier service’s guidelines for packaging and sending your documents.
• Track your application: After submitting your passport through the courier service, you can track your application online using the unique tracking number provided by the courier service. This will allow you to know when your passport has been received and when it is being processed.

The Period it takes to get a Passport Stamped in Nigeria

The period of time it takes to get Canada visa stamping in Nigeria can differ based on the type of visa one is applying for and the volume of applications being processed by the visa office.

However, the period can linger from a few weeks to many months for one’s visa to be stamped or to get a decision on your visa application.

Although the Canadian Visa Application Center  (VAC) in Nigeria gives an estimated period of time on its website, which can give you a clue on how long it may take to process your application.

As of April 2023, the estimated period of time it takes to process Canada visas in Nigerian is as follows:

1. Visitor visa: About 14 days or more
2. Study permit: About 45 days or more
3. Work permit: About 40 days or more
4. Express Entry: About 9 months or more

For quick processing of Visa stamping, it is advised one should submit his/her visa application earlier than the intended travel date to allow for enough time for processing.

Conclusion Submit Passport for Canada Visa

Submission of a passport for Canadian visa stamping is a very crucial thing that one has to be aware of the routine to follow lest will end up making gross mistakes that could cost one traveling to Canada.

However, to do this in-person one needs to book an appointment at the Canadian Visa Application Center (VAC) in either Lagos or Abuja and provide all the needed documents, including your passport and supporting documents, at your appointment.

The processing time for a Canada visa differs from the type of travel application one intends.

Hence, one must submit an application in advance of your intended travel date.

By adhering to following the steps explained here and staying up-to-date on any updates or changes on the official website, you can be guarantee a smooth and successful passport submission process for your Canada visa application in Nigeria.