What you need to know about biometrics – fingerprints

In this edition, I would like to address what may seem like a simple topic: fingerprints, or as we are used to call them – biometrics (biometric data).

· Since July 31^st, 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^st, 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.