Nigeria to Canada Spousal Sponsorship
Last updated: January, 2026
Sponsoring a spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner from Nigeria to Canada?
In Nigeria-based files, strong preparation usually comes down to four Nigeria-specific risk areas: additional required forms for residents, police certificate format + coverage, special rules for late-issued child birth certificates, and identity consistency / clear scans. Missing any of these is a common reason for delays and follow-up requests.
Based on IRCC’s Nigeria-specific requirements and the most common Nigeria-linked pitfalls, here’s what you need to prepare to avoid preventable delays.
From 2016 to 2025, our Toronto immigration consultants supported 1,383 clients from Nigeria, so we’ve seen the same delay triggers come up again and again. If you’d like a full overview, you can visit our Spousal Sponsorship page, review our spousal sponsorship fees, and book a consultation for more personalized guidance based on your situation.
Country-Specific Documents
Nigeria – Additional forms for residents
Nigeria has extra form requirements for residents:
- Supplementary Information – Your Travels (IMM 5562)
The principal applicant and all family members included in the application who are 18 years old or older must complete this form. - Details of Military Service (IMM 5546)
Complete this form for anyone included on the application who has ever:- held a high-ranking or senior official government position, or
- served in the military, army, defence, or police unit (including National Service)
- Also required (if applicable): Submit a copy of all pages of the military card/booklet, including blank pages.
Nigeria – Instructions for documents: Child birth certificates not issued at time of birth
If a child’s Nigerian birth certificate was not issued at the time of birth, you must also submit copies of:
- the supplementary judgment
- another official document naming the parents
- school documents listing the parents (if you can’t get these, provide an explanation)
- the household registry
This is one of the most common Nigeria-specific document gaps that triggers re-requests.
The Hidden Hurdle
Nigeria has country-specific requirements for the accepted issuing authority and format of the police certificate. Delays often happen when the wrong document is submitted or when coverage is incomplete.
What to do:
- Follow IRCC’s Nigeria instructions to obtain the correct certificate type in the accepted format
- Ensure it meets the required coverage period
- Police certificates are generally required based on where the applicant has lived, so a multi-country residence history can mean multiple certificates
- Keep proof of request (receipts/confirmations) in case issuance takes time
Nigeria-Specific Issues: Identity Consistency & Document Clarity
- Identity consistency
Small differences in names, dates, or addresses can trigger questions. Use the passport spelling as the reference across documents, and provide a brief Letter of Explanation if any variation appears, supported by ID pages where helpful.
- Document clarity
Make sure scans are sharp and legible so officers can clearly see:
- stamps/seals and signatures
- issuing authority details
- document numbers and dates
Illegible scans or missing issuing details are a frequent cause of follow-up requests.
Top Mistakes to Avoid
- Missing Nigeria’s additional resident forms (IMM 5562 for adults 18+; IMM 5546 plus full military card/booklet copies when applicable)
- Submitting a police certificate that doesn’t match Nigeria’s required format or coverage
- Uploading a late-issued child birth certificate without the required supporting documents
- Name/date/address inconsistencies without explanation
- Unclear scans where stamps/seals/issuing details are not legible
With Nigerian applications, the strongest files are the ones that treat the Nigeria-specific add-ons as non-negotiable: IMM 5562 completed for all adults 18+, IMM 5546 (and military booklet copies where applicable), the correct police certificate format and coverage, proper supporting records for late-issued child birth certificates, and consistent identity details in clear, legible scans.
