Abuja, 24 October, 2013 — Effective October 23, visitors to Canada from
several countries, including Nigeria, will be required to provide fingerprints
and a digital photograph when they apply for a visitor visa, study or work
permit.
This new requirement will not only help protect the safety and security
of Canadians while helping facilitate legitimate travel, it will also protect
prospective visitors by making it more difficult for others to forge, steal or
use an applicant’s identity to gain access to Canada. The new requirement will
put Canada in line with other countries which are already collecting this
information from visitors, including the United States, the United Kingdom,
Australia, countries in the European Union Schengen Zone, and Japan.
In the long run, the use of this information will make entry to Canada
easier by providing a reliable tool to readily confirm a person’s identity.
Applicants will need to go in person to a visa application centre (VAC)
to submit their application and give their fingerprints and have their photograph
taken. There is a new fee of $85 CAD for the collection of fingerprints and the
photograph, which includes application services at the VAC. Family members who
apply together for a visitor visa will pay a maximum fee of $170 CAD.
Applicants under the age of 14 or over the age of 79 will not have to
give this information. Diplomats and government officials travelling on
official business are also exempt.
When a traveller arrives in Canada at a port of entry, a Canadian border
services officer will use all available sources of information to confirm that
person’s identity. Visitors can submit their application, their
fingerprints and their photo by visiting the VAC located at:
VFS Canada
Visa Application Centre
No 16,
Bilings way, Oregun Industrial area,
Ikeja, Lagos
+234
7042848155
VAC service agents are available by phone, email or in
person to answer questions in local languages and to make sure that applications
are complete. This helps avoid unnecessary delays or refusals due to incomplete
applications.
For more information on the new requirements and VAC services, please visit
www.cic.gc.ca.
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