Nigeria
If you now live in Canada and previously lived, worked, or studied in Nigeria,
many immigration, employment, and licensing processes will ask you for a Nigeria Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)
in addition to your Canadian one. Getting fingerprinted correctly is usually the first step. This guide walks through how that works
while you’re based in Canada, and how Surrey Fingerprint Company can help with the fingerprinting part.
Visit Surrey Fingerprint Company for professional, correctly-formatted fingerprints for your Nigeria police clearance
application. Email info@surreyfingerprint.com
beforehand so we can confirm the exact form and format Nigeria Police Force, Central Criminal Registry (Force C.I.D. Annex), Lagos currently requires.
Why Would Someone in Canada Need a Nigeria PCC?
- Canadian immigration & citizenship (IRCC): if you lived in Nigeria for 6 months or more before moving to Canada, IRCC may require a police certificate from Nigeria as part of permanent residency, sponsorship, or citizenship applications.
- Immigration to a third country: if you are applying to move from Canada to another country (e.g. Australia, the UK, the US, or elsewhere), that country’s character/background check requirements often ask for a clearance from every country you’ve lived in for an extended period, including Nigeria.
- Employment & licensing: some regulated professions and international employers request a background check covering your time in Nigeria.
- Legal, banking, or property matters: some processes back in Nigeria may themselves ask you to complete identity verification via fingerprints while abroad.
The General Process From Canada
Because you’re applying from outside Nigeria, the typical path is: get fingerprinted locally in Canada in the exact
format Nigeria Police Force, Central Criminal Registry (Force C.I.D. Annex), Lagos accepts, then send that fingerprint record to them along with the rest of your
application package.
Contact Nigeria’s issuing authority first
Confirm the current application form, required fingerprint format, fee, and mailing/submission method directly with
Nigeria Police Force, Central Criminal Registry (Force C.I.D. Annex), Lagos — requirements can change, so always check before your appointment.
Get fingerprinted at Surrey Fingerprint Company
Bring valid photo ID and any required form. The fingerprint format usually requested for a Nigeria PCC is:
Ink-and-Roll Fingerprinting (Paper Card). We offer both ink-and-roll and digital fingerprinting on-site.
We complete your card correctly
We take your fingerprints on the correct form, complete any required identity/witness sections, and provide the card or
document ready to send.
Send your package to Nigeria
Mail or submit your fingerprint card along with your application form, ID copies, photos, and fee (as required) to
Nigeria Police Force, Central Criminal Registry (Force C.I.D. Annex), Lagos. Use a tracked courier for original documents.
As of 2026 there are three ways to apply from Canada: (1) the POSSAP online portal (possap.gov.ng) if you already have a Nigerian National Identification Number (NIN, mandatory since 2022) or Bank Verification Number (BVN); (2) mail your application to the Central Criminal Registry with a fingerprint card certified by an RCMP-accredited fingerprinting agency (such as Surrey Fingerprint Company) or the Nigerian High Commission/Consulate in Canada, a copy of your passport bio-data page, and an international money order to the Nigerian Police Force, CID; or (3) ask the Nigeria High Commission in Ottawa to submit on your behalf. After the certificate is issued it must go through two more authentication steps before Canada will accept it: verification by Nigeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja, then legalization at the Nigeria High Commission in Ottawa (about CAD $100, paid by money order or bank draft, with a self-addressed Canada Post Xpresspost envelope). IMPORTANT: a police certificate mailed directly to IRCC is not accepted for Express Entry — the finished, authenticated certificate needs to be uploaded to the applicant's online account, so build the authentication steps into your timeline. The certificate is valid 3 months from Nigeria Police Force practice; IRCC accepts it within 6 months of the issue date.
Mailing address:
Central Criminal Registry, Force C.I.D. Annex, Alagbon Close Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria; Nigeria High Commission, 295 Metcalfe Street, Ottawa, ON
Receive your Nigeria PCC
Processing time is PCC issuance: roughly 1-4 weeks once fingerprints/documents are received; plus 2-3 more weeks for MFA verification and High Commission legalization — confirm current timelines. Some authorities mail the certificate directly to your Canadian
address; others may require pickup via a consulate or representative.
Source: Official guidance for Nigeria. Requirements can change; always confirm current details on the official page before applying.
the current requirement before your appointment so you don’t need to redo it.
clearance applications can change without notice. Always confirm current requirements directly with
Nigeria Police Force, Central Criminal Registry (Force C.I.D. Annex), Lagos before your appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get fingerprinted in Surrey for a Nigeria PCC?
Yes. Surrey Fingerprint Company offers both ink-and-roll and digital fingerprinting, and can prepare your fingerprint card or document in the format most commonly requested for Nigeria applications. Contact us to confirm the exact form before your visit.
How long does it take to get a PCC from Nigeria while living in Canada?
Timelines vary widely by country and by how the application is submitted. As a general estimate: PCC issuance: roughly 1-4 weeks once fingerprints/documents are received; plus 2-3 more weeks for MFA verification and High Commission legalization — confirm current timelines. Confirm current processing times with the issuing authority.
Do I need an original fingerprint card, or is a scan acceptable?
This depends on Nigeria's current requirements — some authorities require original ink cards mailed physically, others accept digital submissions. We'll help you confirm which applies before you leave our office.
Can Surrey Fingerprint Company submit my application to Nigeria for me?
We handle the fingerprinting step. Submission of the full application package is generally your responsibility (or your immigration consultant/lawyer's), unless otherwise noted for a specific country.
Get Fingerprinted for Your Nigeria PCC — Surrey, BC
Email us before your visit so we can confirm the correct form and format for Nigeria.
+1 (604) 825-8882 · info@surreyfingerprint.com