Biometrics for Canadian Immigration
Your Fingerprints and Photo — What You Need to Know
Biometrics are your fingerprints and photo. IRCC collects them to confirm your identity and support the assessment of your application. Unless you are exempt, biometrics are required for most Canadian immigration and visa applications.
Who Needs to Give Biometrics?
You must give biometrics when applying for:
- Temporary residence (except US nationals)
- Permanent residence
- An extension of your stay in Canada (unless you are from a visa-exempt country)
- Refugee or asylum status
- A new PR card (if you were previously exempt due to age)
Who Is Exempt?
You do not need to give biometrics if you are:
- A Canadian citizen, citizenship applicant (including passport applicants), or existing permanent resident
- Coming to visit Canada only and applying for an eTA
- A child under the age of 14
- An applicant over the age of 79 (there is no upper age exemption for asylum claimants)
- A head of state or head of government
- An applicant who qualifies for or holds a diplomatic or official visa
- A US visa holder transiting through Canada
- An applicant for a visitor visa, study permit, or work permit who has already provided biometrics for a permanent residence application that is still being processed
How age is assessed: IRCC uses the age you were when you submitted your application. If your child was 13 or under on the date of submission, they do not need to give biometrics.
How Often Do You Need to Give Biometrics?
Temporary residence applicants:
- Once every 10 years
- IRCC cannot issue a visa or permit for more than 10 years from the last date you gave your biometrics
- You can give your biometrics again voluntarily to extend the validity of your visa or permit — even if your biometrics are still valid
Permanent residence applicants:
- Every time you apply for permanent residence — even if you have given them before
Special Cases — Permanent Residence Applicants
If you have given biometrics and want to apply for temporary residence:
- You do not need to give biometrics again while your permanent residence application is open
- If your PR application is refused, you cannot use those biometrics for future applications
PR card applicants:
- You do not need to give biometrics when applying for or renewing your PR card — unless you were previously exempt because you were under 14 years old when you first applied for PR and are now 14 or older
PR travel document applicants:
- You do not need to give biometrics when applying for a permanent resident travel document
Fees
Individual applicant: $85 CAD
Family applying at the same time: Maximum $170 CAD
- Eligible family members include your spouse or common-law partner and your dependent children or their dependent children
Groups of 3 or more performing artists and their staff applying for work permits at the same time: Maximum $255 CAD
Transit visa applicants: No fee
For the most current fee amounts, visit the IRCC Biometrics Fees page.
How to Give Your Biometrics — Step by Step
Step 1 — Pay the biometrics fee
- Pay when you submit your application to avoid delays
- If you applied online — pay online and upload your receipt in your IRCC secure account
- If you applied on paper — pay online and upload your receipt using the IRCC web form
Step 2 — Get your Biometric Instruction Letter (BIL) After paying the fee, IRCC will send you a BIL that:
- Confirms you need to give biometrics
- Tells you how to book your appointment
When attending your appointment, bring:
- Your BIL
- Your valid passport
Important: Always use the BIL issued for your current application. Using an old BIL may cause delays or result in refusal of your application.
Step 3 — Go to an official biometric collection site
- You must give biometrics in person
- Appointments are free to book
- Book your appointment as soon as you receive your BIL
- You have 30 days from receiving your BIL to give your biometrics
- If you cannot give biometrics within 30 days, contact IRCC through the web form before your BIL expires explaining your situation and providing proof of your appointment attempts
Where to Give Your Biometrics
In Canada:
- At a designated Service Canada office
- Book through the eServiceCanada Appointment Booking Tool
- Do not go without a scheduled appointment
In the United States:
- At a US Application Support Centre (ASC) — book through the US Citizenship and Immigration Services website
- At a Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Los Angeles or New York
- You must already be legally in the US to use these locations
- Appointments are free — do not pay anyone to book
Outside Canada and the US:
- At a Visa Application Centre (VAC) — use the VAC website for your location
- Walk-in or emergency appointments may be available at some VACs
At a Canadian border crossing:
- Only if you are eligible to apply for a study or work permit at the port of entry AND you start and finish your application there
Citizenship applicants — important: Your fingerprints must be taken electronically at your local police service in Canada, the RCMP, or an RCMP-accredited fingerprinting company. Do NOT go to a Service Canada office for citizenship fingerprints — they will not be accepted and will be deleted.
To find an official biometric collection site near you, visit the IRCC Where to Give Your Biometrics page.
Tips for Your Biometrics Appointment
What is allowed:
- ✅ Glasses — eyes must be clearly visible with no glare on lenses
- ✅ Hair up or down — must be off your face so the edges are visible
- ✅ Religious or medical head coverings worn daily — full face must be clearly visible with no shadows
- ✅ Wheelchair — place a white blanket behind your head so facial features are visible
What is not allowed:
- ❌ Sunglasses or tinted glasses — including prescription lenses
- ❌ Hats or head coverings not worn for religious or medical reasons
- ❌ Henna on hands
- ❌ Temporary hand injuries — cuts or cracks on fingers must be healed before your appointment
If high-quality fingerprints cannot be collected at your appointment, you may be asked to give biometrics again at a later date.
What Happens After You Give Your Biometrics?
Your fingerprints and photo are encrypted and sent to a secure Government of Canada database. Your information is then:
- Checked by the RCMP against records of criminals, refugee claimants, deportees, and temporary resident applicants
- Shared with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to verify your identity when you arrive in Canada
- May be shared with other Canadian law enforcement agencies or government institutions as permitted by law
- May be shared with the US, UK, Australia, and New Zealand in compliance with Canadian privacy laws and human rights protections
Biometric collection sites do not keep your information — it is deleted from their system once it is sent to IRCC.
Your privacy rights:
- You have the right to access and correct your information under Canada’s Privacy Act
- You can submit an access to information request to IRCC
- For privacy concerns, contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada at 1-800-282-1376
Format of Police Certificates
IRCC only accepts:
- ✅ Scanned colour copies of original certificates
IRCC does not accept:
- ❌ Photocopies
- ❌ Certified true copies
- ❌ Black and white scans
- ❌ Low-quality or unclear scans
Submitting documents in the wrong format can result in your application being refused for being incomplete.
Biometrics vs. Police Certificate Fingerprints
These are two completely separate requirements:
| Biometrics | Police Certificate Fingerprints | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Identity verification for IRCC | Criminal background check |
| Where | VAC, Service Canada, ASC | Police service, RCMP, or accredited company |
| Same thing? | ❌ No | ❌ No |
Quick Checklist
Before your biometrics appointment make sure you have:
- ✅ Paid the biometrics fee
- ✅ Received your Biometric Instruction Letter (BIL)
- ✅ Booked your appointment at an official collection site
- ✅ Your valid passport ready to bring
- ✅ Hands free of henna and any injuries healed
- ✅ Appropriate clothing — no tinted glasses or non-religious head coverings
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Resources
Need Help?
Not sure whether you need biometrics or where to give them? We can guide you through the process and ensure your application is complete and on time.
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