Top refusal reasons (and what to do)
1) Purpose of travel is unclear or weak
Symptoms in refusal letters: “Purpose of visit,” “Travel history,” or “Limited documentation provided for purpose.”
How to fix:
- Provide a day-by-day itinerary (dates, cities, activities, who you’ll visit, conference schedule).
- Add proof of events: invitation letter, conference registration, paid receipt, or meeting confirmations.
- For tourism: show hotel reservations, tour bookings, and a planned route (don’t buy non-refundable tickets before approval).
- If visiting family/friends: include a detailed invitation letter (see template below) + inviter’s status in Canada (PR card/citizenship card, study/work permit), recent pay slips or bank statements, and a lease/utility bill.
2) Insufficient or non-credible proof of funds
Symptoms: “Insufficient funds,” “Financial situation,” “I am not satisfied you have enough money.”
How to fix:
- Show 6 months of personal bank statements with steady inflows. Avoid sudden unexplained deposits.
- If someone is sponsoring you: include a sponsorship letter, the sponsor’s bank statements (6 months), employment or business proof, and evidence of relationship (birth/marriage certificates, photos).
- Provide a trip budget table in your cover letter (see example below) and make sure the funds shown reasonably cover it.
- Add tuition/employment obligations in Nigeria to reinforce you can afford the trip and have reasons to come back.
3) Weak ties to Nigeria (home ties)
Symptoms: “Not satisfied you will leave Canada,” “Family ties in Canada and in your country of residence.”
How to fix (choose what applies to you):
- Employment: Employment letter stating role, salary, approved leave dates, and resumption date + last 3–6 pay slips + staff ID.
- Self-employed: CAC documents, business bank statements, tax evidence, client contracts/invoices.
- Students: School letter confirming enrollment and resumption date.
- Family: Marriage certificate; children’s birth certificates and school enrollment receipts.
- Assets: Property deeds, land documents, valid tenancy agreements.
- Community/Professional ties: Association memberships, responsibilities you must return to.
4) Limited travel history
Symptoms: “Travel history,” “Lack of previous international travel.”
How to fix:
- Travel history helps but is not mandatory. If you lack it, compensate with strong purpose docs, robust ties, and clear finances.
- If you’ve previously complied with visas (e.g., UK, Schengen, UAE), include visas and entry/exit stamps.
5) Inconsistent, incomplete, or low-quality documentation
Symptoms: “Information provided is insufficient,” “I am not satisfied the information is reliable.”
How to fix:
- Ensure names, dates, and amounts match across documents (passport, bank statements, letters).
- Provide clear scans; translate any non-English documents with certified translations.
- Cross-reference your cover letter with all attachments.
6) Previous refusal reasons not addressed
Symptoms: “You have not satisfied me that the circumstances of your application have changed.”
How to fix:
- Do not reapply with the same package.
- Address each refusal point directly in a re-application cover letter.
- Consider requesting GCMS notes to see the officer’s detailed concerns, then rebuild your case around those points.
7) Misrepresentation (serious!)
Symptoms: “Misrepresentation,” discrepancies, altered or fake documents.
How to fix:
- Never falsify. Misrepresentation can lead to long bans. If you made an honest mistake previously, explain and correct it clearly.
How to structure a strong TRV application (step-by-step)
A) Write a focused cover letter (1–2 pages)
Use headings. Keep it factual.
Suggested outline:
- Purpose & dates: Who you’re visiting / sightseeing plan / conference (include dates and cities).
- Itinerary: Day-by-day summary (e.g., Day 1–3 Toronto; Day 4–6 Ottawa; Day 7–9 Montreal).
- Funding: Who pays what. Add a trip budget table (below).
- Employment/Business ties: Role, employer, leave approved, resumption date; or CAC + clients + tax for entrepreneurs.
- Family & assets ties: Spouse/children/parents, property.
- Travel history & compliance: Prior visas and returns (if any).
- Previous refusal (if applicable): Bullet each reason and show how you fixed it.
- Contact details and a concise document index.
Trip budget (example to paste)
| Item | Cost (₦ / C$) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Flights (return) | Reservation only (no purchase yet) | |
| Accommodation (9 nights) | Hotel bookings attached | |
| In-country transport | Airport transfers + intercity | |
| Meals & incidentals | Per-diem estimate | |
| Event/Conference fee (if any) | Receipt attached | |
| Total Estimated | Funds shown: ₦ / C$ ____ |
Ensure the bank statements (and sponsor’s, if any) comfortably cover this total plus margin.
B) Documents to attach (by scenario)
Tourism
- Cover letter + itinerary
- Hotel reservations (cancelable)
- Proof of funds (6 months)
- Employment letter + leave approval + pay slips (or business proofs)
- Property/asset docs (if any)
- Travel insurance (optional but helpful)
Visiting family/friends
- All tourism docs plus invitation package:
- Invitation letter with relationship, visit dates, where you’ll stay, and who pays for what
- Inviter’s status in Canada (PR/citizenship card or valid permit), pay slips, and lease/utility bill
Business/Conference
- Conference registration/agenda, receipt
- Employer letter stating purpose of trip and costs covered
- Company bank statements (if company is paying)
C) Simple invitation letter template (for family/friends)
From the inviter in Canada (edit and print):
[Inviter’s Full Name], [Status in Canada: PR/Citizen/Permit Holder]
[Canadian Address]
[Phone] [Email]
[Date]
To: Visa Officer
Re: Invitation for [Applicant’s Full Name, Passport No. XXX] to visit me in [City], Canada from [Date] to [Date].
I am [relationship]. [Applicant] will stay at my residence above. We plan to visit [cities/attractions].
I will/ will not (choose) cover accommodation and local transport. Attached are my PR/citizenship/permit, recent pay slips, and lease/utility bill.
[Applicant] will return to Nigeria by [date] to resume [work/school]. Please contact me if you need any information.
Sincerely,
[Signature]Re-applying after a refusal (smart approach)
- Order GCMS notes (if available to you) to see the officer’s concerns.
- Wait only as long as needed to fix the reasons (e.g., build funds history, get proper leave letter).
- Submit a new, complete application with a point-by-point cover letter referencing changes.
FAQs
Do I need to buy a flight ticket before approval?
No. Provide reservations or a plan—avoid non-refundable purchases before a decision.
Is travel history required?
No, but it helps. If you lack it, strengthen purpose, ties, and funds.
How much money is “enough”?
There’s no single number. Your statements should comfortably cover flights, stay, local transport, activities, and still show healthy balances. Explain large deposits.
Can a friend sponsor me?
Yes—attach sponsor letter, relationship proof, sponsor’s bank statements, and income proof. Officers assess if the sponsorship is credible.
Should I use Priority processing?
It can be faster but isn’t guaranteed if the case is complex. Focus on quality of documents first.
Ready-to-use CTAs
- Download: TRV Readiness Checklist (Nigeria) — documents, itinerary template, and cover-letter outline.
- Get a 20-minute mock review: WhatsApp:
https://wa.me/234XXXXXXXXXX?text=Please%20review%20my%20Canada%20TRV%20package.
