New Biometrics requirements starting July 31st, 2018
Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced new biometrics requirements for applicants seeking the following permits into Canada:
Visitor Visa
Work Permit (except US nationals)
Study Permit (except US nationals)
Permanent residence
Refugee or asylum seekers
What are biometrics?
Biometrics are simply described as your fingerprints and photo.
You will only need to give biometrics once every 10 years.
Where to give biometrics?
Depending on your location, you must find an official location to give your biometrics:
Application support centers in the USA
Visa Application Centers (VAC) around the world
Canadian port of entry (for study and work permits who are eligible to be obtained at the border + asylum seekers)
Who does it apply to?
It seems like IRCC is slowly trying to make biometrics a requirement for all applicants who seek a temporary or permanent status in Canada.
Depending on your nationality and if you are eligible for an exception, you will be required to provide biometrics along with your application from the following dates:
Applicants from Europe, Middle East and Africa : July 31st, 2018
Applicants from Asia, Asia Pacific and the Americas: December 31st, 2018
Who is exempted?
The following are exempted from providing biometrics :
Canadian citizens
Nationals from visa-exempt countries coming to visit Canada
Children under the age of 14
Applicants over the age of 79
Applicants currently residing in Canada*
Ministers and diplomats
*There is no biometrics service in Canada at the moment, therefore those who are applying for a visitor, study or work permit in Canada are temporarily exempted.
How much do biometrics cost?
The biometrics cost 85$ CAD for a single applicant and a maximum of 170$ CAD for a family applying at the same time.
If you are a group of 3 or more performing artists, the maximum total fee will be limited at 255$ CAD.
