Biometrics are the fingerprints and facial photograph collected by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to confirm an applicant’s identity and assist with application assessment.
They are different from a police certificate and immigration medical examination. Completing biometrics also does not mean that an application has been approved.
Who needs to provide biometrics?
Unless an exemption applies, biometrics are generally required from applicants seeking:
- Temporary residence, except certain U.S. nationals
- A visitor visa, study permit or work permit
- Permanent residence
- Certain extensions of temporary status in Canada
- Refugee or asylum protection
Common exemptions include Canadian citizens, citizenship applicants, existing permanent residents, eTA-only travellers, children who were 13 or younger when they applied, and applicants who were 80 or older when they applied. The upper-age exemption does not apply to asylum claimants.
IRCC assesses age as of the application submission date. A person who applied at age 79 may therefore still have to provide biometrics after turning 80.
Can previous biometrics be reused?
Biometrics used for temporary residence are generally valid for 10 years. Valid biometrics may be reused for later visitor visa, study permit or work permit applications.
However, IRCC cannot normally issue a visa or permit beyond the expiry of the existing biometrics. An applicant may choose to provide them again if a longer document validity period is needed.
The rule is different for permanent residence. Most PR applicants must provide biometrics every time they apply, even if they previously gave fingerprints for a temporary resident application.
What should you do after receiving a BIL?
The standard process is:
- Pay the biometrics fee with the application.
- Wait for IRCC to issue the Biometric Instruction Letter.
- Book an appointment at an official collection location.
- Bring the BIL and the valid passport used for the application.
- Attend in person to provide fingerprints and a photograph.
Applicants in Canada normally attend a designated Service Canada location. Applicants outside Canada may use a Visa Application Centre, while eligible applicants legally in the United States may use an ASC or VAC.
An applicant who has already submitted an application and received a BIL cannot normally complete those biometrics at a Canadian port of entry.
What if you cannot meet the deadline?
Applicants normally have 30 days from receipt of the BIL to provide biometrics. Appointments should therefore be booked as soon as the letter arrives.
If no appointment is available or an unavoidable circumstance prevents attendance, the applicant should use the IRCC Web Form to explain the situation and provide evidence, such as an appointment confirmation. Extra time is not automatically granted.
How much do biometrics cost?
| Applicant |
Government fee |
| Individual applicant |
CAD 85 |
| Eligible family applying together |
Maximum CAD 170 |
| Group of three or more performing artists |
Maximum CAD 255 |
| Transit visa applicant |
No biometrics fee |
The family maximum generally applies when eligible spouses, partners and dependent children submit their applications together.
Common mistakes
- Visiting Service Canada before receiving a BIL
- Going to a regular police station for immigration biometrics
- Assuming temporary-resident biometrics will automatically be reused for PR
- Paying a third party to obtain an appointment that is officially free
- Missing the BIL deadline without contacting IRCC
- Confusing biometrics with police certificates or criminal-record checks
This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Requirements depend on the application category, nationality, age, existing biometric validity and the instructions contained in the applicant’s BIL.
FAQ
Q1. Do I need new biometrics for every Canadian visa application?
Not usually. Temporary-residence biometrics are generally valid for 10 years, although their expiry may limit the validity of a new visa or permit.
Q2. Can I reuse study-permit biometrics for Express Entry?
Most permanent residence applicants must provide biometrics again. Follow the new PR application’s BIL rather than relying on the temporary-residence validity rule.
Q3. Is there a fee to book a biometrics appointment?
No. Booking the appointment is free, although the government biometrics fee generally applies to the immigration application.
