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The short answer
A refugee claimant can often send money to Nigeria, but it depends on what ID the app accepts. FINTRAC's rules allow a federal government photo document that is authentic, valid, current and shows your name, photo and a unique number, so the claimant document IRCC issues may qualify, but each app sets its own list and some accept only passports or provincial ID. Opening a Canadian bank account first, which banks must do for people who meet the ID rules, widens your options.
Which documents can work as ID
FINTRAC's guidance on verifying identity accepts government-issued photo ID from a federal, provincial or territorial government, or a foreign government document equivalent to a Canadian one. The document must be authentic, valid and current, and show your name, a photo and a unique identifying number. Municipal IDs are not acceptable.
Claimants usually hold an IRCC document confirming their claim, commonly called the Refugee Protection Claimant Document, and may later get a provincial photo ID card. Whether a given app accepts the claimant document depends on its own policy and its technology: automated document scanners are often built around passports and driver's licences. If the app's ID list does not mention it, ask support before you upload anything.
Opening a bank account first
Under the Bank Act, banks must open a retail deposit account for individuals who meet the identification rules, and you request it in person at a branch. The FCAC describes two options: two documents from a list (one with your name and address, one with your name and date of birth), or one document with your name and date of birth plus confirmation of your identity by a bank customer in good standing or a person of good standing in your community. Some institutions also offer no-cost accounts to newcomers in their first year.
A bank account gives you Interac and debit funding for remittance apps, and the option of a bank wire. If a bank refuses, the FCAC says it must give you written notice with its complaint process and the contacts for OBSI and the FCAC.
Your options, side by side
| Option | What you need | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Remittance app | ID the app accepts, Canadian address, phone, funding method | Ask support about claimant documents first |
| Bank wire | A Canadian bank account | Wire fees and intermediary charges apply |
| Agent counter | ID the agent accepts | Ask before queuing; get a receipt |
| Your own Nigerian account | Access to a Nigerian bank app | Only if you still hold and can safely use it |
Money, support and records
Claimants on low incomes should know how provincial support treats them. Ontario Works Policy Directive 3.1, for example, says refugee claimants are eligible from the date the claim is initiated, subject to the usual financial rules. Assistance is for your needs in Canada; if you receive support and also send money abroad, keep clear records of where each payment came from, because caseworkers and apps may ask.
Your refugee claim is a legal process. How money you send or receive relates to your claim is a question for your lawyer or legal aid representative, not for an app. This article is information only.
Safety points
- Do not let anyone else use your account or documents to send money. Mule recruitment often targets newcomers.
- Use only providers you can find in FINTRAC's registry: see checking the MSB registry.
- Avoid informal senders who collect cash with no receipt.
- Keep copies of your ID safe; upload them only inside the official app or website.
Worked example
Example only: Chidi, a claimant in Toronto, tries an app that rejects his claimant document at the scan step. He goes to a bank branch with the document and a letter from a settlement agency, and a church member who banks there confirms his identity. He opens a no-fee newcomer account, and later uses the bank's debit card to fund a different app that accepts his newly issued provincial photo ID.
If your passport is not available
Some claimants arrive without a valid passport, or no longer wish to use Nigerian state services while a claim is pending. That limits the documents you can show an app. In that case, the bank-account route is usually the first step, because the Bank Act's basic banking rules allow vouching by a person in good standing. A provincial photo ID card, once you have one, is also a federal or provincial government document of the kind FINTRAC's method describes.
Ask any app, before you upload, which documents it accepts for people without a passport. A clear answer saves repeated failed scans, which can themselves trigger a manual review.
Where Pryme fits
Pryme is a technology company, not a bank. Outside Nigeria its activities are carried out through regulated partners, and Naira deposits are held by a licensed Nigerian microfinance bank, regulated by the CBN and insured by the NDIC up to the applicable limit. Accounts can be opened from any country, subject to identity checks; read how it works, then open an account to see which documents are accepted for you, and send to Nigeria with the rate and fee shown before approval.
Questions people ask
Can I use my refugee claimant document to send money from Canada?
Sometimes. FINTRAC allows federal government photo ID meeting its standards, but each app chooses which documents it accepts. Ask the app's support first.
Can a refugee claimant open a bank account in Canada?
Yes, if you meet the ID rules. Banks must open a basic account for individuals who do, and you can use one document plus someone vouching for you.
Will sending money to Nigeria affect my refugee claim?
That is a legal question for your lawyer or legal aid representative. Keep clear records of your money either way.
What can I do if a bank refuses to open my account?
The FCAC says the bank must give written notice with its complaint process and contacts for OBSI and the FCAC.
Sources
- FINTRAC: Methods to verify the identity of persons and entities (modified 3 Dec 2024) · accessed Oct 2026
- FCAC bulletin: Access to basic banking services · accessed Oct 2026
- FCAC: Opening a bank account (modified 23 Oct 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- FCAC: Low-cost and no-cost accounts · accessed Oct 2026
- Ontario Works Policy Directive 3.1: Residency requirements (updated 14 Apr 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.