Canada Requires Biometrics of Foreigners to Apply for Permanent Residence

Canada has opened Service centers across the country for taking biometrics related to foreign nationals who apply to stay in it.

Before December 3rd, such immigration candidates, who were applying away from Canada, needed submitting their fingerprints as well as photos unless they were exempt. Additionally Biometrics is now necessary for applicants within Canada for:

• The work permit that includes extensions,

• The study permit that includes extensions,

• The visitor visa that includes extensions, and for

• Permanent residence

Biometrics has to be submitted if the applicants intend to extend a permit/visa in the country and the applicant has not provided biometrics that is valid still. The list regarding 58 designated service centers is available on the website of IRCC.

Also, the Minister of Immigration said that the expanded program of biometrics will improve the integrity and efficiency of the immigration system. Collecting the Fingerprints and photographs are a reliable way in identifying the people and 70 countries use it worldwide, he added.

Canada began collecting the biometrics for many foreign nationals who were applying to get the temporary/permanent residence from Dec 31, 2018.

IRCC manages an online tool through which the users fill up the questionnaire for determining whether giving biometrics is necessary for the application. 

The people in the age range between 14 -79 years must give photos and fingerprints for all applications in the permanent resident category like the economic class, family class, and finally the refugee class.

Furthermore, this regulation also applies to the people who in the past gave their biometrics to support the visitor visa, work/study permit application, or any other PR application. Finally, there is no requirement for the citizens as well as existing permanent residents of Canada to give the biometrics.

The persons who need to give biometrics must make an appointment in advance for providing the fingerprints and for taking the photo.  They get the Biometric Instruction Letter, providing the list of service points, for biometric collection to select. They must bring this BIL to the service point personally in 30 days for the processing of biometrics. 

Canadian Applicants, who travel outside the country, can give the biometrics in the Visa Application Centers in many countries where they can enter legally. We bring all the necessary and trending facts and our patrons can contact us for any details.