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Responses to Information Requests (RIRs) cite publicly accessible information available at the time of publication and within time constraints. A list of references and additional sources consulted are included in each RIR. Sources cited are considered the most current information available as of the date of the RIR.            

RIRs are not, and do not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Rather, they are intended to support the refugee determination process. More information on the methodology used by the Research Directorate can be found here.          

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4 March 2015

NGA105115.E

Nigeria: Emergency Travel Certificates issued by the Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa, including procedures and requirements to obtain said Certificate, and security features; whether applicants who have no documentation can obtain an Emergency Travel Certificate (2014-March 2015)

Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

In a 23 February 2015 interview with the Research Directorate, an official of the High Commission of Nigeria in Ottawa indicated that Emergency Travel Certificates are issued "in emergency cases such as when an individual may have lost their passport" (Nigeria 23 Feb. 2015).

The website of the High Commission indicates that applicants must submit the following when requesting an Emergency Travel Certificate:

  1. Formal request letter ... [including the applicant's] current address and telephone number ....
  2. Police report or a copy of Applicant's bio-data page of Nigerian Passport
  3. 2 passport-size photographs
  4. Copy of itinerary or airline ticket
  5. $100.00 in money order payable to the Embassy of Nigeria
  6. Self-Addressed return envelope (Canada priority or Express post Courier Envelope Only). (ibid. n.d.)

The representative of the High Commission stated that Emergency Travel Certificates cannot be issued to individuals who are unable to provide documentation confirming their identity and that the Certificate has the following features: a signature, a Nigerian logo as well as the issuing embassy's serial number and logo (ibid. 23 Feb. 2015). The High Commission of Nigeria website indicates that the Emergency Travel Certificate is valid for 30 days and can be used only for a one-way journey (ibid. n.d.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Nigeria. 23 February 2015. High Commission in Ottawa. Correspondence from an official to the Research Directorate.

_____. N.d. High Commission in Ottawa. "Requirements for Obtaining Emergency Travel Certificates." <http://www.nigeriahcottawa.ca/citizen-services/emergency-travel-certificates> [Accessed 25 Feb. 2015]

Additional Sources Consulted

Internet sites, including: Nigeria – Embassy in Washington, High Commission in Ottawa, Nigerian Immigration Services.

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