FULFILLING visa requirements set by the relevant French Embassy or Consulate is highly important. Make sure you provide all the information and documents necessary since this might lead to an unsuccessful visa application, postponement or rejection.

Download the France Schengen Visa application form. It can be filled out in a printed version, or electronically and printed after that. In both cases it needs to be signed by the applicant in order to be considered authentic. Get detailed instructions on how to accurately fill the application form!

Read Also: Visa Requirements: Germany

• Note: If the applicant is under the age of 18, parents or guardian is the authorized person to sign the application form.
• Two Recently Made Passport Photos. Understand which are French Visa Photo Requirements and other specifications.
• A Valid Passport: The passport of the visa applicant must be valid at least three months beyond the return date, as well as it needs to have at least two blank pages.
• Note: Rules of entry and stay in France might change depending if you possess a regular, a diplomatic or an official duty passport.
• Proof of the Applicant’s Address: A copy of the lease agreement or deed of apartment/house. Bills such as electricity, water, cable, or, other regular bills are accepted.
• A Proof of A Booked Round-Trip Flight Ticket with Travel Itinerary. The French diplomatic office will only require you to present a copy of a booked round-trip flight ticket, instead of buying the actual flight ticket before obtaining the visa. This document must involve information about the airline company, your name and identity details, destinations, flight number, days and hours.
• Tip: Save your money from buying a costly flight ticket to France, by knowing How to Book a Flight Itinerary for France Visa Application.
• Note: The French Embassy or Consulate might require from you to present the actual round-trip flight ticket the moment of issuing a French Visa.
• Proof of A Travel Visa Insurance.
• Covering Letter: A one or two-page document signed by the applicant, stating the purpose of your visit to France, including the travel programme. This is a separate written or printed sheet, where you include information about the days of travel, about means of transportation, destinations, addresses and so on.
• Note: If the applicant is a businessman or self-employed, when applying for a tourist visa, covering letter can be required on a company letterhead.
• Proof of a booked accommodation
• Proof of the Civil Status: Marriage certificate, child’s birth certificate, spouse’s death certificate, ration card if applicable.
• Means of Subsistence
• Visa Application Fee

As for every other visa type to anywhere else in the world, you will have to obtain a couple of Germany Visa required documents to complete your visa application.

The required documents for a Schengen Tourist/Visitor Visa to Germany are as following:

• Application form completed in English or German. The form should be fully, honestly and correctly completed, printed and signed at the end.
• Declaration of Accuracy of Information
• Passport size photographs. Please note that these photos should be identical and fulfil the visa photo requirements as set by the Schengen states.
• Valid national passport. The passport should be no older than 10 years, and have at least one blank page in order to be able to affix visa sticker on it, and fulfill the other passport requirements.

Read Also: Visa requirements: Canada

• Personal bank statements for the last three months
• Schengen Travel Insurance: You should submit a confirmation letter from your health insurance stating coverage for emergency medical treatment with a minimum of €30,000.
• Proof of accommodation. This can be a hotel booking for your whole stay in the Schengen region, or a letter of invitation by a family member or friend residing in the any or the Schengen countries.
• Proof of flight reservation. You can use the visa consultation services like this one or find one online.
• Proof of financial means. This could be:

A bank statement not older than three months or

• A letter of sponsorship by another person – Declaration of Commitment “Verpflichtungserklärungen“.
• Leave letter of your company (if employed).
• No-objection certificate.
• If you are a student, your school or university should issue this certificate to you.

If you are an employee, your employer or the company where you work at should issue this letter to you.

If you are not a student and you do not work either, this certificate is not required.

By Chikodi Okereocha

The number of Japanese affiliated companies in Nigeria has doubled in the last four years, growing from 21 in 2014 to 42 last year. This shows Japan’s strong interests in the country’s market.

Trade Commissioner/Managing Director of Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO), Mr. Shigeyo Nishizawa, attributed this to Nigeria’s economic recovery as well as increase in foreign investments.

He said Japanese firms have, therefore, taken a huge advantage of this economic recovery to invest by expanding their businesses in Africa’s biggest market.

Nishizawa spoke at a news conference in Lagos to announce Japan’s readiness to participate in the Lagos International Trade Fair.

He said 37 Japanese firms, their agents and local distributors would be exhibiting at the fair scheduled to hold from November 1 to 10.

Read Also: Nigeria guarantees highest returns on investment in Africa – Ahmed

JETRO is a Japanese governmental organisation that promotes mutual trade and investment between Japan and the rest of the world.

It started in Nigeria in 1955 and recently, it is focusing on promoting investment and facilitating trade from Japan to Nigeria.

Nishizawa said Japanese products that will feature at this year’s fair include brands of motorbikes from Honda, Yamaha and motor brands from Mitsubishi, Toyota, Isuzu and Suzuki.

Other products include cameras and multifunction printing machine from Canon, Sharp and Brother. There will also be construction materials such as Plascon Paint and Alteco Adhesive, which guarantees quality in housing construction.

The Trade Commissioner said to cater for Japan’s huge presence at the fair, JETRO was organising the Japan Pavilion at the Lagos International Trade Fair 2019, in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan.

He noted that this year marks the sixth year of JETRO’s participation at the fair since the organisation started in 2014 with the Japan pavilion, which is one of the biggest pavilions at the fair.

Nishizawa added that one of the captivating moments in Japan Pavilion this year will be the “Made-in-Japan, Made-for Women” Corner.

“JETRO is setting up a special zone at the Japan Pavilion featuring a collection of products for women in Nigeria. There is a common slogan in Nigeria that says: ‘Looking good is good business’.

“This zone will introduce Japanese products and services helping to enrich women’s lives with more fashionable and convenient items.

“Series of products like cosmetics, hair wigs, shampoo, sewing machines, headphones, foods and beverages, seasonings, etc., will be exhibiting, including live performance on stage,” he said.

Trade between Nigeria and Japan has been growing. For instance, export from Japan to Nigeria last year rose by 2.3 per cent, increasing to $328 million, from $321 million in 2017.

Similarly, export from Nigeria to Japan last year rose by 17.7 per cent to $922 million, compared to $783 million in 2017.

According to Nishizawa, some of the products that boosted the trade volume between both countries include vehicles, which total export share stood at 20.7 per cent last year; steel products, 16.7 per cent; chemical products, 11.3 per cent.

On the other hand, Nigeria exported oil and gas, which share stood at 77.6 per cent of total export last year, and non-ferrous metals, 15.4 per cent,

The JETRO boss said the increased volume of trade between both countries and the activities of Japanese companies in Nigeria are contributing to the country’s economic growth and development.

By Agency Reporter

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, leader of the terrorist group ISIS, is believed to be dead after U.S. forces carried out an operation in Syria, NBC News reported, citing two American officials.

The operation was carried out around midnight in Syria. The U.S. was conducting forensic tests to confirm that Baghdadi was among the dead, according to NBC News, but officials believe he was killed.

The mission came after the U.S. received actionable intelligence regarding Baghdadi in recent days. Various media outlets had previously reported that officials believe Baghdadi was killed.

Read Also: Troops uncover France-based NGO linked to Boko Haram, kill terrorists with ID card

The news came hours after the White House said late Saturday night that President Donald Trump would be making a “major statement” at 9 a.m. ET Sunday. It wasn’t immediately clear what the president would discuss.

The White House statement came more than an hour after Trump tweeted that “Something very big has just happened!” without disclosing further details.

The apparent attack on Baghdadi came days after Trump announced that Turkey agreed to a cease-fire against Kurdish forces in northern Syria. Trump’s decision to withdraw troops from the area had triggered concerns that the U.S. was not only abandoning a key ally in its fight against ISIS, but also potentially creating room for an ISIS revival.

Baghdadi, who was born in Iraq, became a key figure in the al Qaida in Iraq terror group in the years following the U.S. invasion of the country. Eventually, that group gave way to Islamic State in Iraq, and Baghdadi rose through its ranks. He would form his own group, the brutal Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, which took over prominent parts of Iraq, including the city Mosul.

U.S.-led forces in turn routed ISIS, forcing it to give up much of the territory it had seized. Baghdadi has been on the run, and has often been rumored to have been killed or gravely hurt.

(CNBC)

All applicants must apply in person at the nearest Embassy or High Commission of Canada.

Information below is for reference purposes only.

To apply for a travel visa to Canada requires the following documents:

• Completed Visitor Visa (IMM 5257) and Family Information (IMM 5645) forms.
• An original and copy of your Nigerian passport. The passport will need to be valid for at least six months beyond your date of return and have at least two blank pages.
• Two colour photographs that meet the visa photo requirements.
• Proof of application processing fee and, if applicable, biometric fee.
• Proof of sufficient funds for the duration of the trip (i.e. three months bank statements, payslips, proof of investments etc.).

Read Also: Visa requirements: United Kingdom

• If you are not paying for the trip you will need a letter from the person or institution sponsoring your trip and additional documents (i.e. a copy of their passport and a bank statement proving they have sufficient funds).
• Proof of ties to Nigeria (i.e. employment letter, proof of businesses or assets etc.).
• Copy of provisional flight booking and travel itinerary (i.e. accommodation reservations).
• You may need to provide a medical history or proof of good health.
• Previous passports showing travel history.
• Additional documents to support your application (i.e. marriage certificates, invitation letters etc.).
• A self-addressed return courier envelope.
• Minors (under 18) travelling alone will need a letter of authorisation signed by both parents or legal guardians. For minors travelling with one parent, a letter of authorisation from the non-accompanying parent or legal guardian is required.
• If you are visiting family or travelling for business you will need an invitation letter detailing the nature of the visit, length of stay, details of the host person or business etc.

Our Reporter

The Federal Government has officially handed over the rebuilt United Nations (UN) House and assured the global community of its commitment to ensuring the security and protection of lives and property.

President Muhammadu Buhari made the commitment on Thursday at the 74th UN day celebration and official handover of the rebuilt UN House in Abuja.

The day has the theme: ‘The future we want, the UN we need’.

Buhari, who was represented by the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, said the Federal Government would ensure maximum protection of all UN institutions in the country.

According to him, the efforts of the UN in confronting global issues such as international conflicts through mediation and peace-keeping, global battle against climate change and environmental degradation have continued to yield positive results around the world.

Earlier, the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres said the rebuilt UN House was a physical symbol of the close relationship between the UN and Nigeria.

Read Also: IMN: Anti-terrorism coalition takes protest to UN House, wants El-Zakzaky, Iran sanctioned for terrorism

Guterres, who was also represented by the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mr. Mark Lowcock, said the attack on the UN building in Aug. 2011 that led to the loss of 23 UN staff was an attack on the values and aspirations that the global body sought to uphold.

“The opening of UN House today is an act of defiance in the face of terror.

“We stand together to say that we will not be cowed by violence.

“We will continue to support the Nigerian people to fulfill their dreams of a future of prosperity and security.

“On behalf of Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General and the whole of the United Nations, I would like to pay tribute to the memory of the 23 UN colleagues, contractors, and visitors who lost their lives that day, and the many others who were injured.

“Their sacrifice will never be forgotten. My thoughts today are above all with the families and friends they left behind.

“Today, I want to dedicate this official handover of UN House to all those whose lives were irreversibly changed on that fateful day in 2011,” he said.

He added that the reopening of the UN building was a demonstration of UN collective commitment to addressing the complex challenges facing Nigeria, West Africa, and the whole world.

He renewed the UN’s pledge to work together with the government and people of Nigeria toward a more prosperous future for all Nigerians.

Similarly, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr. Edward Kallon, said the rehabilitation and handover of the edifice was a further demonstration of Nigeria’s resilience in combating terrorism.

At least 18 people were killed in an apparent suicide car bombing at the UN House on Aug. 26, 2011.

The powerful blast destroyed the lower floors of the building leaving dozens injured and some critically injured.

A spokesman for Boko Haram claimed that it carried out the attack.

The UN Day is celebrated on Oct. 24 of every year