What is a Visa Sponsorship – How does it work in Nigeria?

A visa application may require sponsorship. This happens when an individual or organization stands in the gap by supporting your visa application. Before applying for a visa, you need to confirm if the visa application requires a visa sponsorship.

In addition, the intent of visa sponsorship varies. It could be for employment, family reunification, or humanitarian purposes. For instance, an employer in Nigeria may sponsor you abroad for studies or other reasons. A family member who is a citizen or permanent resident of a country may sponsor you to visit them abroad.

Again, an organization or individual may sponsor you to a foreign country based on humanitarian needs. Visa requirements for each route will determine the process and conditions for sponsorship.

Keep reading as I explain everything about visa sponsorship, including how it works. If you have any questions about this topic, let me know in the comment section below.

What is a visa sponsorship?

Visa sponsorship happens if an individual or organization sponsors an applicant’s visa. It means the applicant has someone backing their visa application. The sponsor will also submit a petition to the government, requesting that the visitor be allowed to enter the country.

Country and visa type or other conditions determine the sponsorship requirements. Sponsoring a person’s visa could have a financial component that must be met. Hence, the visa sponsor bears all or part of the financial implications.

Who is a visa sponsor?

A sponsor is simply the individual or organization taking care of the travel expenses of the visa applicant. You must provide your information as a visa applicant, proving you cannot sponsor the visa yourself. You will need a sponsor if you are going abroad from Nigeria without financial backing.

Do I need a Visa Sponsorship?

Depending on the purpose of your visit or the country, you may not need visa sponsorship. If there is no proof that you can offset your travel expenses, you will need a visa sponsor. Your bank account must have the required proof of funds for the last three months to prove you can handle your visa. If not, you will need a sponsor.

Who can be my Visa Sponsor?

Each country has its conditions for allowing a visa sponsor. Generally, only one of your first-grade legal guardians can be your sponsor. Your first-degree relatives, including your parents or children, can sponsor you.

If there is no first-degree relative or they cannot sponsor you, your legal guardian can sponsor you. However, you must prove that your first-degree relative is not financially responsible for supporting you.

What are the Types of Visa Sponsorship?

There are three kinds of visa sponsorship:

• Financial Sponsorship
• Employment-based Sponsorship
• Family-based Sponsorship

I will expand them below:

i. Financial Visa Sponsorship (Humanitarian Program)

If you are relocating from Nigeria to abroad, you must prove that you will be financially stable throughout your stay. You can provide your bank details as proof of sufficient funds to sponsor your stay.

In addition, the specific requirements to relocate to that country determine the amount to present as proof of funds. However, if you cannot meet your financial needs, a visa sponsor can step in to cover your travel expenses for the time you will be there.

ii. Employment-Based Visa Sponsorship

As a Nigerian, you can enter a foreign country for employment’s sake. In that case, you need a foreign employer to sponsor you. Before a foreign employer can sponsor you, they must prove they have failed to find qualified residents to fill the employment gap.

This employer must have given you a job offer to be able to sponsor you. That official job offer qualifies you as a legal worker in the country you are relocating to.

iii. Family Immigration Sponsorship

This is one of the most common visa sponsorships in countries like the USA and Canada. A citizen or permanent resident of the country in question can sponsor a family member in their visa application.

What are the General Documents for Visa Sponsorship?

As we pointed out, the individual country you are relocating to from Nigeria determines the process and requirements of your visa sponsorship. However, here are the general documents for most countries:

• A signed letter by the sponsor
• A sponsor’s business document
• A scanned copy of the sponsor’s passport or ID
• Sponsor’s proof of fund (bill of account, home deed, vehicle license, etc.)
• Sponsor’s signatory circulars
• Sponsor’s proof of address

The above are primarily requested along with the visa application process.

Can I get a Visa without a Sponsor?

If you do not have the financial strength for your travel, you may show others as your sponsors under definite conditions. For instance, your friend living in your country of relocation may invite you to come over or even sponsor your travel.

Before this can happen, the consulate must probe the possibility of your violating the visa period and not returning to Nigeria.

Conclusively, if you have the financial capability to sponsor yourself abroad, you don’t need a visa sponsor. Visa sponsorship is one of the ways to immigrate to any country from Nigeria. Hence, if you cannot sponsor yourself abroad, other ways exist to make the move and succeed.

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