Business visa · from Nigeria
Canada business visa from Nigeria
Business travel to Canada is made on a temporary resident visa — the same document as a visitor visa — used for meetings, conferences, trade fairs and negotiations. It does not permit entering the Canadian labour market. The application is distinguished by the invitation from the Canadian host and by evidence of the business you run or work for at home.
Typical processing
8–14 weeks (highly variable)
Government fee, estimated
CAD 100 (single/multiple entry); CAD 85 biometrics
Paid to the mission, not to us
How this differs from a visitor application
Canada looks closely at whether the visit is genuinely temporary, and a business traveller is usually well placed to show that: a company, staff, customers and obligations that require you back. The weakness is the opposite one — a business that cannot be verified makes the stated purpose harder to believe than an ordinary tourist itinerary would have been.
What this application needs in addition
On top of the standard documents for Canada, which are listed in full on the destination page.
- ✓Invitation letter from the Canadian company or event organiser, with dates and purpose
- ✓Your company's CAC registration, tax filings and trading evidence
- ✓A letter from your company confirming your role and who is paying for the trip
- ✓Conference or trade fair registration, where applicable
- ✓Company and personal bank statements
- ✓Evidence of what requires your return — staff, contracts, ongoing operations
Where these applications go wrong
These are the failures our desk sees most often on this route. None of them is about the applicant being unqualified — they are all preparation.
Purpose and profile do not match
An invitation to an industry event that has no relationship to what your company actually does is a visible inconsistency.
Thin travel history with a long stay requested
A first international trip requesting an extended business stay attracts more scrutiny. Asking for what the trip actually needs is stronger than asking for the maximum.
Not sure how strong your file is?
The free assessment takes about a minute and tells you what a consulate is likely to take issue with — and what would fix it — before you pay a government fee.
Questions people ask
Do I need a work permit for business meetings?
Attending meetings, conferences and negotiations as a business visitor generally does not require one. Performing work in the Canadian labour market does, and the line between them is worth getting advice on before you travel.
Can I apply if I was refused before?
Yes, and the refusal must be declared. The new application has to answer what the refusal letter actually said rather than simply resubmitting.
Travelling to Canada for another reason?
This page is first-time guidance, not a legal source. The embassy, consulate or immigration authority for your destination is the only authority on its own requirements, and they can change without notice. Fees shown are what the government charges and are estimates — they are paid by you to the mission, and Rayonner's processing fee is separate and quoted before you commit. No agency, including this one, decides or can guarantee the outcome of a visa application.