Steps to apply for a work visa

Thousands of Nigerians are seeking to leave Nigeria and go abroad in search of greener pastures. Many countries like Australia, Germany, UK, Canada and USA among others have better job opportunities, higher standard of living and stronger economy than Nigeria. However, before you can travel to any foreign country to work and live, you need to have a valid work visa. The good thing is that this post will provide you with useful information, including a step-by-step approach to applying for a work visa in general.

About work visa

Nigerians seeking to travel and work in another country require a work visa. This visa is like a stamp or sticker on your passport. However, there are certain requirements that apply to the work visa that applicants must meet depending on the country in which they wish to work. Therefore, it is best that you research the business visas offered by the specific country you wish to travel to. The most common business visas include those for Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, etc.

Types of work visas

There are different types of work visas and the one that is right for you depends on how long you have been working abroad. However, the types of work visas generally include:

• Permanent work visas

This type of work visa allows applicants to live in a foreign country permanently, and after residing there for a specified period of time, they can apply for citizenship and become permanent residents of the country.

• Temporary work visas

The temporary work visa is for people who want to work for a short time in another country as it is only valid for a limited time. However, depending on the country of your choice, you can either extend the visa or return to Nigeria when the visa expires. Also, some countries may allow you to transfer to a permanent work visa.

Work visa eligibility

It should be noted that the process of applying for a work visa depends on the country in which a person wishes to work, however, the general eligibility criteria for anyone seeking a work visa for any country includes the following:

• You must be 18 years of age.

• You must have obtained a valid job offer.

• The company or organization that employs you must not be illegal.

• You must not change employers while applying without informing the authorities of the change.

• If you wish to change employer, it must be in the same field in which you applied for the work visa in the first place.

• If you wish to continue on your work visa, your employment must not end.

General requirements for a work visa

Although there are many requirements that must be met to obtain a work visa depending on the country, the general requirements for obtaining a work visa include:

1. International passport

Possession of an international passport that must be valid for at least 6 months before the visa expiry date is important to your application. You must also provide copies of the data page of your passport. Note that it must be colored and scanned. If you also have previous passports, you must also present them to the authorities.

2. Visa application forM

Most work visas require that you fill out a form, which may be completed either offline or online. You are advised to complete the form honestly and in capital letters. It is also important to note that providing false information may prevent you from obtaining a visa and ultimately lead to your application being refused.

3. Passport photos

You may be asked to include at least two passport photographs in your application. These photos must be no more than six months old and must meet the photo requirements of the country you wish to relocate to. Most states require photos to measure 35 mm by 45 mm. It is also appropriate for your entire face to be clear with a neutral expression, the background of the photo must be plain, and no accessories and glasses are allowed. Head coverings are also not permitted unless your religion allows it.

4. The national identity card

Although this is not necessary in your application, some countries insist that applicants submit a scanned copy of their national identity cards for proper verification. Although this may not be mandatory, it is recommended that you include it in your application, in case it is needed.

5. medical insurance

Many countries require candidates to provide health insurance to support any health costs while in the country. Hence, it is expedient to prepare your own medical insurance which will cover your stay across the country.

6. Proof financial stability

It is very important that you provide the immigration authorities with evidence that you have sufficient funds. This is because the government needs to make sure that you have enough money to support yourself in the country. Therefore, you must prove that you can support yourself and any family member (on each adventure they will travel with you into the country) for the duration of your stay in the country. You can do this by providing your bank statements for the past six months or a sponsorship letter if you will be traveling through sponsorship.

7. Book the flight

You must also submit an itinerary or flight reservation detailing your flight. Thus, dates of travel, proof of ticket purchase, duration of visit, etc. must be included in the itinerary.

8. Hotel booking

Also, you must provide proof that you have secured housing in the country. It is not mandatory for you to have a hotel reservation, a house receipt or invitation letter from a friend or family member residing in the country if you are going to live with them will suffice.

9. A certificate of criminal investigation

It is appropriate to provide a police clearance certificate. This is to show that you are law abiding and have no criminal record.

10. Proof of good health

You must submit a report showing that you are in good health and fully fit. This report will be provided by a certified health professional after conducting medical examinations for various diseases such as yellow fever and polio.

11. Fifthone drawing receipt

You must prove that you have paid the visa fee in full and you must prove that you have done so by presenting the receipt.

work Visa application guide

1. Become an employee

Before you consider applying for a work visa, you must have secured a legitimate job in the country you wish to travel to as you may need some documents from your employer. Although it may be difficult to get a job in a country other than Nigeria, there are still ways you can go through the whole process. Fortunately, we will give you tips on how to do that further in this post.

2. Started your app

The next step is to start your application after getting a job. You may be required to complete the application form offline or online, depending on the country, as mentioned earlier in this post. When you’re done filling out the form, be sure to sign and date it. In case it is required during the application procedure, you can also make scans. Remember that providing false information may result in your visa being refused and, ultimately, restriction of future visa applications.

3. Pay the required fees

You can pay the visa fee in person at the Visa Application Center when submitting your application if you have not previously done so online. There are two ways to do this. A business visa may cost more or less and is good for one or multiple entries depending on the country. Keep in mind that the VFS office may ask you to pay additional costs.

4. go to the Visa Application Centre

Make sure you have an appointment with VFS before going to their site. You must bring all of the above documents, including your passport, to the office. These documents must be checked again to ensure that they are original and that nothing is missing. Due to its importance in the application process, your biometric data will also be collected at the Visa Application Center and sent to the Embassy. Be sure to choose the nearest VFS center, the most convenient date, and time of your visit.

5. Track your order

You can check the status of your application online after submitting the necessary documents. Entering your last name and the reference number found on the receipt you received from the Visa Application Center will enable you to do so.

6. Get your passport

Once a decision has been made on your application, your passport and other documents you have submitted will be sent to you via courier. Keep in mind that the applicant often pays for the courier service. Making copies of your documents before sending them is crucial because it is very likely that not all of them will be returned.

Work visa processing time

The processing of a business visa is not certain as several factors could be involved. However, depending on the country, it can take weeks or even months from the date you submit your application to get feedback.

The job Visa refusal

If your work visa application is refused, it could be due to any of the following reasons:

• You have provided wrong details.

• It was found that you have a criminal record.

• You have submitted wrong or invalid documents.

• You do not have a legitimate job offer.

• You have submitted an invalid or expired passport.

• Your application is incomplete.

• You do not have sufficient funds or no evidence of financial stability.

tips about Getsting function Abroad from Nigeria

1. Meet requirements

To get a job abroad, you must first meet all the criteria. Although the general requirements have already been mentioned, it is important to remember that each job has its own unique criteria that must be met before someone can be hired. For example, while some job openings may require only one, others may require two years of relevant professional experience. For this reason, we suggest that you research the jobs that are a good fit for you, and if you’ve already discovered one, make sure you’re eligible for it.

2. havi a good CV

Before meeting you, potential employers can learn more about you by simply reviewing your resume. As a result, it is imperative that your resume makes a good first impression. However, if you want to land your dream job, your CV must meet the application requirements of the country you wish to travel to. Your CV should briefly outline your relevant work experience for the position you are applying for.

3. Check profession Bawards aOnline

Job sites are great for job hunting because they allow you to check out job postings from the comfort of your home. In fact, hundreds of Nigerians have used online job searches to look for work abroad and successfully landed a job. Many job sites such as Glassdoor, Ended, etc. collect job vacancies from many companies around the world, making it easier for people to find suitable jobs. These jobs can be either remote, on-site, or a hybrid, depending on what works for you. When searching for the type of job you want, all you need to do is select the country you want to work in, and hundreds of job vacancies will appear to you with descriptions, income ranges, employer information, etc.

conclusion

The average Nigerian prefers to work abroad more than Nigeria, because there are many job opportunities abroad and this can open doors for many. If you are looking for steps to get a work visa from Nigeria, then we believe that this article was very helpful for you. Also, following our guidelines will not only help you to get a work visa but will also help you get a good job without any hurdles.