Home > Biometrics Requirements For Immigration to Canada
If you are applying to come to Canada as a permanent resident or as a temporary worker, student, or visitor, you might need to give your biometrics (providing your fingerprints and a photo) before your application is accepted.
Rules for biometrics in Canada have changed in the past few years, so it's crucial to find out the latest info on who needs to provide biometrics and where to do it.
Rules for biometrics in Canada have changed in the past few years, so it's crucial to find out the latest info on who needs to provide biometrics and where to do it.
What are Biometrics & Their Fees?
According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), providing biometrics helps immigration and border officers better identify potential risks to the safety of Canadians. It also makes it simpler to check travelers' identities, process applications, and facilitate entry for those who are genuine.
The information collected includes electronic fingerprints, a digital photo, and personal details from the biographic data page of the applicant's passport or travel document.
Depending on the situation, biometrics can be provided before coming to Canada, at a Port of Entry (airports, land ports, etc.), or inside Canada.
Fees:
Individual applicants will need to pay a fee of 85 CAD, while families applying together will have a maximum total fee of 170 CAD.
Moreover, groups consisting of three or more performing artists and their staff, applying for work permits, will be charged a total fee capped at $255 CAD.
Exception: There is no fee to give biometrics for a transit visa.
The information collected includes electronic fingerprints, a digital photo, and personal details from the biographic data page of the applicant's passport or travel document.
Depending on the situation, biometrics can be provided before coming to Canada, at a Port of Entry (airports, land ports, etc.), or inside Canada.
Fees:
Individual applicants will need to pay a fee of 85 CAD, while families applying together will have a maximum total fee of 170 CAD.
Moreover, groups consisting of three or more performing artists and their staff, applying for work permits, will be charged a total fee capped at $255 CAD.
Exception: There is no fee to give biometrics for a transit visa.
Biometrics Requirements for Permanent Residence
Any applicant for permanent residence in Canada must provide their biometrics and pay the required fees.
There are no exceptions to this rule in terms of an applicant's nationality.
Besides, regardless of whether an applicant has provided biometrics in the past to support a visitor visa, study or work permit application or a different application for permanent residence, they will need to provide biometrics again if they are applying for permanent residence.
The only applicable exception (see other exceptions in the section below) would be the age of the applicant when the application is submitted to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Only applicants between the ages of 14 and 79 are subject to biometrics collection (this exception applies to any type of application).
There are no exceptions to this rule in terms of an applicant's nationality.
Besides, regardless of whether an applicant has provided biometrics in the past to support a visitor visa, study or work permit application or a different application for permanent residence, they will need to provide biometrics again if they are applying for permanent residence.
The only applicable exception (see other exceptions in the section below) would be the age of the applicant when the application is submitted to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Only applicants between the ages of 14 and 79 are subject to biometrics collection (this exception applies to any type of application).
Biometrics Requirements for Temporary Residence
The need to provide your biometrics mainly depends on your nationality and whether you are coming to Canada as a tourist or if you are requesting a study or work permit.
Visit:
If you are planning to visit Canada and:
Study or work:
If you are planning to request a study/work permit or a renewal of a study/work permit, and:
If you are a resident of Greenland or St. Pierre and Miquelon, you can request your study/work permit at a Port of Entry. This means you will have to provide and pay for your Biometrics at the Port of Entry.
Visit:
If you are planning to visit Canada and:
- You need a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) to be allowed entry to Canada, you will need to provide biometrics.
- You are eligible to an electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), you will not need to provide biometrics.
- You are a U.S. national or a U.S. permanent resident with a valid green card, you will not need to provide biometrics.
- You need an extension of authorization to remain in Canada as a temporary resident, a temporary resident permit, or a restoration of temporary resident status, you will need to provide biometrics.
Study or work:
If you are planning to request a study/work permit or a renewal of a study/work permit, and:
- You are not a U.S. national, you will need to provide biometrics.
- You are a U.S. national, , you will not need to provide biometrics.
If you are a resident of Greenland or St. Pierre and Miquelon, you can request your study/work permit at a Port of Entry. This means you will have to provide and pay for your Biometrics at the Port of Entry.
When & Where to Provide Biometrics?
The process is pretty simple:
- When submitting your application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), pay the biometric fee.
- Once you have paid and submitted your application, you will receive a letter confirming the need to provide your biometrics.
- Take this letter and your valid passport with you when you give your biometrics at your nearest collection center. It must be done in person :
- In Canada, at a designated Service Canada location
- Outside Canada, at a (i) Visa application centre (VAC) worldwide, or (ii) at an Application support center (ASC) in the United States and its territories.
Biometrics Validity
When biometrics are collected, they are valid for 10 years. However, you might still need to provide your biometrics again for a new immigration application even if those already provided in the past are still valid.
If your previously collected biometrics are still valid and you apply for permanent residence, you will still need to provide biometrics again even if you provided them in the past for:
If your previously collected biometrics are still valid and you apply for temporary residence, you should not have to provide new biometrics. However, the expiry date of temporary residence documents cannot be more than 10 years from the date you last provided biometrics. For example, if you want a new 10-year visa but provided your biometrics 8 years ago, you might only get a 2-year visa. To get the full 10 years, you will need to provide new biometrics and pay the required fee.
If your previously collected biometrics are still valid and you apply for permanent residence, you will still need to provide biometrics again even if you provided them in the past for:
- a previous temporary resident application (visit, study, work, etc.).
- a previous permanent resident application whose processing was completed.
If your previously collected biometrics are still valid and you apply for temporary residence, you should not have to provide new biometrics. However, the expiry date of temporary residence documents cannot be more than 10 years from the date you last provided biometrics. For example, if you want a new 10-year visa but provided your biometrics 8 years ago, you might only get a 2-year visa. To get the full 10 years, you will need to provide new biometrics and pay the required fee.
Biometrics Exemptions
The general exemptions to provide biometrics with regards to an immigration application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) are provided in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations :
- Canadian citizens, citizenship applicants (including passport applicants), or existing permanent residents
- Children under the age of 14 at the time the application is submitted
- Applicants over the age of 79 at the time the application is submitted (except for asylum claimants, there is no age limit)
- Applicants eligible for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) (visa-exempt foreign national) and coming to Canada as visitors
- U.S. nationals who apply for a Work Permit, a Study Permit, or a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP)
- U.S. permanent residents with a valid green card who apply for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV)
- U.S. visa holders transiting through Canada for less than 48 hours directly to or from the U.S.
- Foreign nationals that have provided their biometrics in support of a permanent residence application, asylum claim or overseas refugee resettlement application, as long as the application or claim is still open, and are applying for a Temporary Resident Visa (Visitor), a Work Permit, a Study Permit, a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP), or a temporary residence extension
- Heads of state and heads of government
- Cabinet ministers and accredited diplomats, coming to Canada on official business
- Members of a country’s armed forces who are exempt from requiring a TRV and a passport, and who request a TRV to facilitate travel to Canada under the Visiting Forces Act