Canada Exempts Two African Nations from Visa Requirements, Excludes Nigeria
The Canadian government has announced that it will grant visa-free travel to visitors from 13 different countries, including two African nations. However, Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, was not included in the visa-free travel list.
The Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Sean Fraser, stated in a recent statement that the visa-free travel privilege applies to countries such as Antigua and Barbuda, St Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, St Kitts-Nevis, Panama, Argentina, Costa Rica, Uruguay, Morocco, Seychelles, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Thailand, and the Philippines.
While Morocco and Seychelles from North and East Africa respectively were added to the list, Nigeria did not meet the criteria for inclusion. The expansion of the electronic travel authorization (eTA) program aims to facilitate the entry of “known travelers” from these countries for tourism and business purposes.
The initiative not only improves convenience for travelers but also boosts travel, tourism, and economic benefits while strengthening global relationships with the selected 13 countries. Furthermore, visitors from these countries can significantly save costs since they are exempt from visa fees.
Currently, a visitor visa for Canada costs $100 per person, with a family of five or more paying $500. In contrast, obtaining an eTA costs only seven dollars per person and remains valid for up to five years.
By introducing visa-free air travel, Canada aims to enhance the speed, ease, and affordability of visiting the country for up to six months, whether for business or leisure purposes.