New Biometrics Submission Rules Start July 31, 2018

---

At a Glance

Effective July 31, 2018, biometrics collection will become mandatory for nationals from Europe, the Middle East and Africa who intend to work or study in Canada, as well as applicants for visitor visas, permanent residence and anyone seeking asylum in Canada. Visa-exempt travelers from these regions who are entering Canada as a visitor under a valid electronic travel authorization (eTA) and U.S. citizens are among those who are exempt from the requirement to provide biometrics at this time. The Canadian government has published additional details on the biometrics program, including validity rules and locations of biometrics collection centers for visa-exempt nationals.

---

The situation

The Canadian government has published additional details on the biometrics program to inform foreign nationals of key details of the process.

A closer look

• Biometrics collection for visa-exempt nationals.
  • Visa-exempt applicants who are required to provide biometrics must do so upon entry to Canada at the airport or at a land border.
  • Fingerprint verification will be conducted at self-serve primary inspection kiosks at eight major Canadian airports.
  • At other airports and land ports of entry, discretionary fingerprint verification will be conducted by a border services officer upon referral to secondary inspection.
     
• Biometrics collection for visa nationals.
  • Visa national applicants must first apply for the appropriate immigration document (work, study or visitor visa) online in order to receive a Biometrics Instruction Letter. Once received, biometrics must be submitted at a Visa Application Centre (VAC) as directed.
     
• New VACs to open. In order to accommodate additional demand, the Canadian government will allow visa nationals to submit their biometrics at any VAC globally, including the following:
  • Kigali, Rwanda; Stockholm, Sweden; and Tel Aviv, Israel starting mid-September 2018;
  • Athens, Greece; Berlin, Germany; Lyon, France; and Vienna, Austria starting early November 2018 
  • Antananarivo, Madagascar and Cape Town, South Africa starting early December 2018
  • Additional VACs will also open in 2019. These will be announced at a later date.
     

• Temporary VACs. The Canadian government is also opening temporary VACs in the following cities:
  • For applicants from Sweden and neighboring countries: at the Canadian Embassy in Stockholm, Sweden from July 31 to mid-September 2018;
  • For applicants from Greece, Germany, Austria and neighboring countries: Canadian Embassies in Athens, Greece; Berlin, Germany; and Vienna, Austria from July 31 to early November 2018; and
  • For applicants from France and neighboring countries: a VAC in Lyon, France from July 31 to early November 2018.
     

• Fees. Biometric fees will apply as follows:
  • Individual applicants: CAD 85;
  • Families applying together at the same time: maximum total fee of CAD 170; and
  • Groups of three or more performing artists and their staff who apply for work permits at the same time: a maximum total fee of CAD 255.
     
• Validity rules.
  • Generally, foreign nationals only need to submit their biometrics once every 10 years.
  • Foreign nationals from one of these 29 countries and one territory with a valid visitor visa or a study or work permit are subject to the following additional rules:
    • Those who submitted biometrics before July 31, 2018 must re-submit biometrics; and
    • Those who submit biometrics after July 31, 2018 do not need to submit their biometrics again if the biometrics are valid and will remain valid for the 10 years from the date they were submitted.
       

Background

As part of biometrics collection process in Canada, a foreign national’s fingerprints and photo will be checked against immigration and criminal records. The biometric check confirms if someone applied to enter Canada before using the same or a different identity, has a previous Canadian criminal record or has been removed from Canada before and may therefore be inadmissible.

Exemptions

As a reminder, the following foreign nationals will be exempt from submitting their biometrics:

• Canadian citizens, citizenship applicants (including passport applicants), or existing permanent residents;
• Visa-exempt nationals entering Canada as tourists who hold a valid electronic travel authorization;
• U.S. citizens;
• Children under the age of 14;
• Applicants over the age of 79 (there is no upper age exemption for asylum claimants);
• Heads of state and heads of government;
• Cabinet ministers and accredited diplomats of other countries and the United Nations, entering Canada on official business;
• U.S. visa holders transiting through Canada;
• Refugee claimants or protected persons who have already provided biometrics and are applying for a study or work permit; and
• Temporary resident applicants who have already provided biometrics in support of a permanent resident application that is still in progress

 

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].