Canada has updated its Express Entry immigration requirements, raising the minimum financial threshold for applicants seeking to migrate under the Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades programs. As of 7 July 2025, single applicants must now show proof of at least CAD 15,263 (approximately ₦17 million), up from CAD 14,690.
This move comes shortly after the United States implemented its own visa restrictions, announcing that most Nigerians applying for non-immigrant visas will now receive only single-entry visas valid for three months. The U.S. says the change is part of a reciprocity adjustment in response to Nigeria’s visa policies toward Americans.
According to Canada’s Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), applicants must update their Express Entry profiles with the new proof of funds requirement by 28 July 2025 to maintain eligibility. The amount required increases based on family size, with a two-person household now needing CAD 19,001 (around ₦21.2 million).
Proof of funds is required to demonstrate that a prospective immigrant has sufficient resources to support themselves and their family during initial settlement. Acceptable documentation includes recent bank statements, official letters from financial institutions, or other formal evidence of access to funds.
The IRCC warns that applicants must prove legal access to the money and cannot use property equity or borrowed funds as part of their settlement proof. Joint accounts with spouses are permitted, but proof of access must be provided if the money is not in the applicant’s name.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it did not introduce a new visa policy that triggered the recent changes from the U.S., suggesting instead that the new U.S. rules may be responding to long-standing visa imbalances. The government says it is currently studying the situation and will issue a formal response in due course.
These changes signal tightening immigration rules from top destination countries for Nigerian migrants and could significantly impact prospective travellers, particularly younger applicants and middle-income earners. [The Guardian]
