The federal government of Nigeria has formally raised concerns with Canada over persistent delays in processing visa applications for Nigerian citizens, including students, stating that the issue is straining bilateral relations and must be resolved urgently.
The concerns were presented on Monday during a meeting between the Ministry of Interior's Permanent Secretary, Magdalene Ajani, and David Sproule, the Charge D'Affairs of the Canadian High Commission in Nigeria. The meeting was confirmed in a statement signed by Mary Ali, the ministry's head of media, and reported by The Nation on Wednesday, September 9.
Visa Processing Delays Disrupt Nigerian Students' Academic Plans
Ajani, who represented the interior minister at the talks, said Nigerian students have repeatedly missed the start of academic programmes in Canada due to delays in study permit issuance after visa approval. She noted that even after visa applications were approved, students were unable to travel to begin their studies because study permits were not issued on time.
Ajani stressed that resolving the problem would require consistent dialogue and closer cooperation between institutions in both countries, rather than one-off interventions.
Migration Management and Joint Working Group
The talks also covered migration management, specifically the development of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) between Nigerian authorities and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) for handling the removal of individuals without legal status in Canada. Ajani said Nigeria would name relevant officials to work with their Canadian counterparts and help establish a joint working group to move the process forward.
Sproule acknowledged the visa delays, describing them as "an important pressure point in the bilateral relationship." He said he would pass the concerns on to Canadian immigration authorities, with the goal of improving processing times and ensuring Nigeria receives appropriate attention within the system.
Nigeria and Canada Strengthen Bilateral Cooperation
Both delegations agreed to set up a small technical working group to keep discussions going and maintain regular contact between the relevant Nigerian and Canadian agencies. The two sides also reviewed opportunities under the Nigeria-Canada Air Transport Agreement (ATA), which covers seamless air travel between the two countries.
Sproule welcomed the openness shown by the Nigerian side and said he appreciated the Ministry's commitment to building stronger institutional ties between Nigeria and Canada.
Meanwhile, the Canadian government recently published the official list of people who may qualify for an open work permit in 2026, allowing eligible foreigners to work for almost any employer without first securing a job offer. The categories include certain students and graduates, family members, refugees and asylum claimants, vulnerable workers, permanent residence applicants, and other eligible groups.
