How Much Does It Cost for a Nigerian Accountant to Relocate to the Canada? 🇨🇦
Nigerian accountants can work in many roles in Canada without the CPA designation, but the protected 'Chartered Professional Accountant' title and audit sign-off require CPA registration. Most enter through Express Entry, a points-based route that does not require an employer sponsor. Credential evaluation via WES and a language test are key first steps.
Quick Numbers
Total Cost
₦0.3M – ₦0.8M
Starting Salary
C$52,000/yr
Financial auditors and accountants (NOC 11100) (2024)
Nigerians Who Moved
Top-3 country (~3% of ITAs)
Express Entry invitations, 2024 (Nigeria)
Source Rank
1
Step-by-Step: Registration & Costs
1Get a WES Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)Base ECA fee (excl. tax/delivery; +CAD 115 for course-by-course)
Required for Express Entry to validate your Nigerian accounting degree against Canadian standards. A course-by-course version is needed for CPA.
2Sit a language test (CELPIP or IELTS General)CELPIP-General (+ tax)
Required for Express Entry points. IELTS General Training (not Academic) is accepted.
3Submit Express Entry profile and apply for PRProcessing (CAD 990) + Right of PR fee (CAD 600)
Create a profile, receive an Invitation to Apply based on your CRS score, then pay IRCC fees. No employer sponsor required.
4(Optional) Pursue CPA designationAdmission to membership (+ GST/HST); transcript, module & exam fees extra
Internationally trained accountants (e.g. ICAN, ACCA) may receive advanced standing toward CPA, then complete the certification program and 30 months of practical experience.
Other Costs to Budget For
Required for permanent residence applicants.
Official source ↗What You'll Earn: Financial auditors and accountants (NOC 11100) (2024)
Entry
C$52,000
per year
After 2 Years
C$83,950
per year
Top of Band
C$148,575
per year
Job Bank publishes hourly: low CAD 25.00, median CAD 40.36, high CAD 71.43. Annualized at 2,080 hrs/yr (illustrative). Source ↗
Important Things to Know
- You can work in accounting roles without CPA, but the 'Chartered Professional Accountant' title and audit sign-off require CPA registration.
- Express Entry does not require an employer sponsor — it is points-based.
- Nigeria was a top-3 country of residence for Express Entry invitations in 2024 (~3% of ITAs).
- IELTS General Training (not Academic) is the correct test for Express Entry.
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Start Free CalculatorFrequently Asked Questions
Do I need a CPA to work as an accountant in Canada?
No. You can take many accounting roles (analyst, staff accountant, bookkeeper) without it, but you need the CPA designation to use the 'Chartered Professional Accountant' title or sign off audits.
Do I need a job offer to immigrate as an accountant?
No. The main Express Entry routes are points-based and don't require an employer sponsor. A job offer can add CRS points but isn't required.
How much does my degree evaluation cost?
A WES ECA for immigration costs CAD 264 (plus tax and delivery). A course-by-course version, often needed for CPA, adds about CAD 115.
Related guides
Same profession, other countries
See cost breakdowns for this profession in other countries
Compare what it costs Nigerian accountants to relocate to each top destination.
Sources & Verification
Every figure on this page was independently verified on 2026-06-24. We do not use AI training data for any costs, fees, or policy claims.
Verification Notes
CPA Ontario / CPA Canada fee pages returned HTTP 403 to automated fetch; only the CAD 500 admission-to-membership figure surfaced via search. PEP module, CFE and annual dues are not verified here.
IELTS price in Nigeria is NGN-priced (~₦279,500) and not a fixed CAD figure; CELPIP CAD 290 is used as the verified CAD test cost.
Salary figures are Job Bank hourly rates annualized at 2,080 hrs/yr — annual figures are illustrative, not official.
Written by Max Ayobami
Founder of Japa Calculator, Nigeria's first data-driven relocation decision tool. Every cost figure and expert tip on this page is independently researched and verified against official government and regulatory body sources.