In this edition, I would like to address what may seem like a simple topic: fingerprints, or as we are used to calling them – biometrics (biometric data).
- Since July 31, 2018, biometrics has become a mandatory part of the immigration process for residents of Europe, East Asia, and Africa, aged 14 to 79.
- Since December 31, 2018, residents of Asian countries, Pacific Rim territories, and North and South American countries have joined the process.
- The cost of biometrics is 85 Canadian dollars per person.
- If a family is required to provide fingerprints, there is a separate maximum family rate of 170 Canadian dollars, regardless of the number of family members.
- Artists with a troupe of three or more people and their support staff pay a maximum of 255 Canadian dollars, regardless of the number of people in the group.
- Biometrics is mandatory for everyone applying for a student visa, work visa, or permanent residency in Canada.
- If you are from a visa-required country, you will need to provide fingerprints when applying for a visitor/tourist visa as well.
- Your biometric data is valid for 10 years, stored in the system for 15 years, and deleted when you obtain Canadian citizenship.
- Canada shares its biometric data with the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.
- If you are applying for permanent residency and have previously provided fingerprints for a visitor/student/work visa, you will still need to provide biometrics again, even if 10 years have not passed since your last submission.
Exemptions: As usual, rules would not be rules if there were no exceptions. So who is exempt from providing fingerprints?
- Applicants under 14 years old or over 79 years old
- Family members of Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom, including the Royal Highness
- U.S. citizens applying for a work or student visa, as well as Green Card holders
- Holders of diplomatic passports
- Those applying for a Canadian transit visa from the United States
- Citizens of visa-exempt countries who are traveling to Canada for a guest or tourist visit
- If you have already provided fingerprints for permanent residency, are waiting for a response, and are simultaneously applying for a temporary visa (e.g., a guest visa) to Canada, you do not need to provide fingerprints again.
Oleksandra Melnykova, Immigration and Refugee Consultant in Canada.
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