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The short answer
A Nigerian declaration of age is a sworn statement of your date and place of birth, used when no birth certificate was issued; NIMC and the Nigeria Immigration Service accept it at home. We found no IRCC or Service Canada page that names it, so whether a Canadian office accepts it depends on that application's checklist; the stronger document to pair it with is the National Population Commission's attestation of birth, which adults obtain on the strength of the declaration.
Many Nigerians born before birth registration was common, or born at home, never had a birth certificate. At home that is rarely a problem: a declaration of age sworn before a court has long filled the gap. In Canada, though, forms ask for a "birth certificate" and officers may not know what a declaration of age is. This guide explains the Nigerian documents, which one carries more weight, and how to present them.
The Nigerian documents, in order of weight
| Document | Who issues it | What it rests on |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Birth | National Population Commission (NPC) | Registration of the birth, normally soon after it happened |
| Attestation of Birth | NPC, for adults | An application backed by a court declaration of age or affidavit |
| Declaration of age (statutory declaration) | Sworn before a court or commissioner for oaths | Your own statement, or a parent's, of the facts of birth |
Canada's Immigration and Refugee Board published research on Nigerian birth documents in August 2011 (RIR NGA103787.E). It reported that the NPC is the sole birth registrar under the 1992 law, that adults are given an attestation backed by a High Court declaration of age, and that the attestation is signed only by a state or FCT chief registrar. More recently, TechCabal reported in 2024 that the NPC portal issues birth attestations to applicants aged 17 and over, that a court affidavit sworn before a commissioner for oaths is mandatory, and that the processing fee was ₦3,000 at the time. Check the NPC's current fee before paying.
Where a declaration of age is accepted in Nigeria
- NIN enrolment: NIMC lists a declaration of age among the documents accepted for adults and minors.
- Nigerian passport: the NIS passport page asks citizens by birth for an NPC birth certificate or age declaration, plus Nigerian ID.
- Visa and civil records for other countries: the US State Department's Nigeria notes accept the pre-1979 NPC Attestation of Birth and list local government, hospital or baptismal certificates as alternatives.
Using it for Canadian applications
We could not find an IRCC or Service Canada page that mentions the Nigerian declaration of age by name. Each IRCC programme lists the identity and civil documents it needs in its own guide and checklist, so the answer depends on the application. What the IRB research does show is that Canadian immigration bodies are aware of how Nigerian birth records work, including the attestation route for adults.
In practice:
- Read the checklist for your exact application and see whether it asks for a birth certificate or for proof of identity and date of birth more generally.
- If it asks for a birth certificate and you have none, provide the NPC attestation of birth rather than the declaration alone.
- Attach the declaration of age the attestation was based on, and a short letter explaining that no birth certificate was issued at the time.
- Make sure your date of birth is identical on the attestation, declaration, Nigerian passport and NIN record. A mismatch causes far more trouble than the type of document.
- Get a certified translation only if a document is in a language other than English or French.
A short covering letter helps
A Canadian officer reading a Nigerian file may never have seen an attestation of birth. A one-page letter in plain English does a lot of work: say that births in your area were not always registered at the time, that the National Population Commission is the official registrar, that the attestation was issued to you as an adult on the strength of a sworn declaration, and that the same date of birth appears on your passport and NIN record. Attach copies of each, in the order the letter mentions them. Keep the tone factual; you are explaining a document, not pleading a case.
Getting an attestation from Canada
The NPC moved civil registration online nationwide from 1 July 2026, and a commissioner said Nigerians abroad can start registration on the self-service platform (Peoples Gazette, 24 July 2026). The affidavit, however, is sworn in Nigeria, so many people abroad ask a parent or relative to swear the declaration as the person with knowledge of the birth. Ask the NPC whether a declaration sworn by a relative will support your application before you rely on it. For a child born in Canada, the Canadian birth certificate is the primary document; see registering a Canada-born child with Nigeria. For Nigerian passport steps that use the same documents, see passport renewal at the High Commission in Ottawa.
Where Pryme fits
NPC processing fees and court costs are paid in naira. A Pryme account lets you hold naira for these costs, and Swap shows the rate and fee before you approve.
Questions people ask
Does IRCC accept a Nigerian declaration of age?
We found no IRCC page that names it. Check the checklist for your application; where a birth certificate is required, the NPC attestation of birth is the stronger document to submit with the declaration.
What is the difference between declaration of age and birth attestation?
A declaration of age is a sworn statement. An attestation of birth is issued by the NPC to adults, based on that declaration or an affidavit.
Can I get an NPC birth attestation from Canada?
The NPC's online platform has been live since July 2026 and Nigerians abroad can start registration there, but the court affidavit is sworn in Nigeria.
My date of birth is different on my passport and declaration. What do I do?
Correct the Nigerian records first. NIMC asks for an NPC attestation letter to change an adult's date of birth on the NIN record.
Sources
- Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada: RIR NGA103787.E on Nigerian birth documents (Aug 2011) · accessed Oct 2026
- TechCabal: getting a Nigerian birth attestation on the NPC portal (2024) · accessed Oct 2026
- NIMC: NIN issuance and enrolment requirements · accessed Oct 2026
- Nigeria Immigration Service: passports · accessed Oct 2026
- US Department of State: Nigeria reciprocity and civil documents · accessed Oct 2026
- Peoples Gazette: Nigerians abroad can now register births and deaths online (24 Jul 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
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