Background
In recent years, Canada has been ushering in a requirement for applicants for various immigration visas/permits, to obtain ‘biometrics’ before such applications will be processed.
Biometrics are essentially the procurement of fingerprints and photos by the government, that are used to ensure proper identification of those seeking immigration status.
Until now, any application made inside Canada was exempted from this requirement. Such ‘inland’ applications are by and large renewals of status, so in many cases, biometrics may have been previously provided in any event.
However, this is not always the case, and in some situations, notably permanent residence applicants physically in Canada, securing biometrics sometimes meant needing to leave Canada for that purpose.
Inland Biometrics
However, as of December 3, 2019, biometrics are now required (and available) for inland applications. Situations needing biometrics for inland applications include:
- applications for work or study permits (including extensions),
- applications by visa-required visitors (including extensions of status), and
- applications for permanent residence.
Biometrics will be collected, by appointment, at designated Service Canada offices (for a listing of offices, please see https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/where-to-give-biometrics.asp).
Exemptions
Note that biometrics in all cases are valid for 10 years, so that if biometrics were previously provided, they will not be required for such inland matters, so long as the applicant is still within the 10-year window from the original provision of the biometrics.
Note further that there are some people who are in any event exempted from the need for biometrics, including:
- U.S. citizens (unless applying for permanent residence)
- Those under the age of 14 or over the age of 79
Summary
In summary, the rules for biometrics continue vis-à-vis who needs them and who is exempt from them, but such rules are now expanded to categories noted above, for persons making inland applications. This change takes effect immediately, so it is of course crucial to ensure that those requiring biometrics take necessary actions to comply with the requirement.
The information in this article is for general purposes only, and not intended as legal advice for any particular situation.