Canada introduces new visa policy

Posted by admin Africa & World Politics, Headlines Sunday, October 27th, 2013

BY VICTORIA OJEME

ABUJA-The Canadian Embassy in Nigeria has introduced a new visa policy which will require provision of fingerprints and a digital photograph for applicants for visitor visa, study or work permit.

In a statement in Abuja, yesterday, the embassy said visitors to Canada from several countries, including Nigeria, were affected by the new visa policy.

It read: “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 photographs 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.” wp_posts