Whether you are coming to Canada to immigrate, visit, work or study, you will be required to submit your biometric information. Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) require biometric information to verify your identity and simplify the entry process for legitimate travelers.
Biometric information includes your digital fingerprints, photograph, and personal details to be listed on the biographic page of your passport or travel document. In recent months, the process of submitting your biometric information has changed due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Since the pandemic forced people to stay at home, the Visa Application Centres (VAC) around the world were operating on partial capacity.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About the Biometric Information for Canada
What changes have been made to the biometric information collection policies during the Covid-19 pandemic?
The pandemic made it very difficult for immigration applicants to complete the biometric collection process. Overseas applicants are waiting for their nearest VACs to resume operations while applicants inside Canada were unable to book in-person biometric services during 2020 until the services were reopened in late November. The IRCC introduced the following measures for biometric collection:
- Temporary residents in Canada will be exempt from submitting biometric information provided they were applying to extend their Study Permit, or Work Permit, or Visitor Visa to restore or maintain their current status as a temporary resident
- Permanent residence applicants who have already submitted their biometric information in the last 10 years for a different application will be exempted from providing biometric information again
How to submit biometric information from inside Canada?
Canada allowed temporary residence and permanent residence applicants to submit their biometric information in Canada from December 2019. To submit your biometric information from inside Canada, first, you will need to pay the biometric fee with your visa application.
You will receive a biometric instruction letter once this fee has been paid. This letter will instruct you when and where to go to submit your biometric information. Carry this letter along with your valid passport to the appointment. The government has also set up primary inspection kiosks at major airports to automatically collect biometric information of travelers.
How to submit biometric information from outside Canada?
Canada has Visa Application Centres (VAC) all over the world and Application Support Centres (ASCs) in the United States to allow all international travelers to Canada to submit their visa application and biometric information.
