Are you planning to immigrate to Canada and looking for the eligibility requirements? One essential prerequisite is the biometric requirement for Canadian immigration. 

All foreign nationals ages 14 and 79 who are applying to gain temporary resident status, permanent resident status, or refugee protection in Canada need to submit their biometrics. 

This thorough guide will help you learn everything there is to know concerning the biometric requirement for Canadian immigration. From its eligibility to necessary documents and fees to biometric collection centers, this will help you enhance your understanding of this eligibility requirement.

Biometric Requirement for Canadian Immigration

The Canadian immigration department, called Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), collects biometrics of individuals interested in immigrating to Canada. This information permits the department to tighten identity management and improve security by cross-referencing the applicant’s identity with Canada’s criminal and immigration records.

Canada’s immigration department collects various information from an applicant at a biometrics collection service center. These are:

  • Biographic data: This includes the applicant’s name, date of birth, and other personal information as provided on the biographic data page of the passport or travel document of the applicant.
  • Ten fingerprints: This requires fingerprints of both the applicant’s hands. It is taken electronically at the time of the biometrics collection session with an electronic fingerprint-capture instrument.
  • Photograph: Applicant’s digital photograph.

Who is required to supply biometrics to IRCC?

All interested immigrants whose ages lie between 14 and 79 are required to submit the biometrics. This majorly includes temporary residents, permanent residents, and Refugee protection claimants. This means that if you are between 14 and 79 years old and willing to immigrate to Canada, you must supply your biometrics to the IRCC. 

The following is the breakdown of each:

Temporary Residents

The applicants for Temporary Residence in Canada must supply their biometrics if they are applying for any of the following:

  • A temporary resident visa
  • A temporary resident permit
  • A work permit or renewal of a work permit
  • A restoration of temporary resident status
  • A study permit or renewal of a study permit
  • An extension of authorization to stay as a temporary resident in Canada

Permanent Residents

The applicants for Permanent residence in Canada must supply their biometrics if they are applying for any of the following:

  • A permanent resident visa
  • A request to stay as a permanent resident in Canada
  • A new permanent resident card for the first time. This applies to cases where individuals were excused from biometrics enrollment due to being under the age of 14 years at the time of their application submission.

Refugee protection claimants

Refugee protection claimants must supply their biometrics if they are applying for any of the following:

  • An in-Canada asylum claim. It does not have an upper age limit.
  • An overseas refugee resettlement claim

Note: It’s notable that the applicants eligible for an electronic travel authorization do not need to supply their biometrics if they are visiting Canada as a tourists.

The scenario of Biometric Requirement for Canadian Immigration if the Applicant is Nearing the Age of 14 or 80 

According to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulation’s (IRPR) section R12.2(2), the biometric requirement for Canadian immigration depends on the applicant’s age on the date they claim, request, or apply to IRCC. 

This means that applicants are needed to provide their biometrics if they were 13 years old at the time of application submission but turned 14 years old when IRCC received the request/application.

Likewise, applicants of age 79 or younger at the time of their application submission also need to supply their biometrics, if they turned 80 or older when IRCC received the request/application.

Where Can You Submit Your Biometrics?

There are biometrics collection service points where applicants can submit their biometrics. To submit their biometrics, they must physically be present at the service stations in person. The various service stations include the following:

  • Visa application centres (VACs)
  • Select ports of entry
  • Select Service Canada locations
  • Select Global Affairs Canada locations
  • IRCC visa offices (in limited situations)
  • Select United States (U.S.) application support centers

What is the Biometrics Processing Fees?

Understanding biometrics processing fees is another valuable aspect of navigating biometric requirements for Canadian Immigration. The following are the biometrics processing fees in Canada:

  • $85 for an individual
  • $170 for a family 
  • $255 for a group of performing artists

You are required to pay the biometric fees each time you supply your biometrics details. The only exception is if you are exempt from paying fees.

The applicants for Permanent residence must enroll their biometrics information with each application. 

Applicants do not need to pay the biometric fees again if an officer requires them to collect their biometrics again as a part of the same application.

What is the 1 in 10 policy regarding Biometric Requirement for Canadian Immigration?

Subsection 12.7(1) of the IRPR is also called the “1 in 10 policy.” This policy temporarily exempts the applicant from providing their biometrics details to support the following application for temporary residence in Canada.

This includes applications for temporary resident status, temporary resident visa, temporary resident permit, study permit, or work permit.

To qualify for the biometric exemption under this policy, it’s necessary that the applicants have supplied their biometrics earlier as a requirement for a temporary residence application or have a pending permanent residence application. Also, it’s necessary that they submit the new application within ten years of the date they enrolled their biometrics information to the department.

Canada Dream Country of Many!

Canada offers numerous opportunities for Canadian immigration, including work, study, or living in the country permanently. Explore the options, immigration pathways, and your eligibility to move to Canada and achieve your Canadian dream successfully.

So, this is everything you must know about the biometric requirement for Canadian immigration if you want to immigrate to Canada or simply want to know all the eligibility requirements for Canadian immigration.