Opening of Visa Application Centres (VAC) in Abidjan, Bamako, Dakar, Guinea-Conakry, Niamey and Yaoundé
On December 16th, 2011, Citizenship and Immigration Canada opened Visa Application Centres (VAC) in order to make the visa application process easier for applicants in West Africa.
All applicants for temporary resident visas —visitors, students and temporary workers—and all permanent residents applying for travel documents to return to Canada are encouraged to present their applications at the VAC after December 16th and take advantage of the extended office hours and of the on‑site client service.
The VAC is only responsible for:
- distributing information on relevant visa requirements, as published by the Embassy of Canada
- receiving applications and supporting documents
- reviewing applications to ensure completeness
- securely forwarding applications to the visa office in Dakar
- returning, by secure means, the passport and decision to the applicant
The VAC is authorized by Citizenship and Immigration Canada to receive your application. If you are in Senegal and you choose not to submit your application through the VAC, you may apply directly in-person, on appointment, at the Embassy of Canada to Senegal. If you are in Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Mali, Guinea-Conarky or Niger and choose not to submit your application through the VAC, you may submit your application by mail (with a pre-paid return courier) to the Embassy of Canada to Senegal.
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