Generally, you need to give biometrics if you apply for:
- a visitor visa
- a work or study permit (excluding U.S. nationals)
- permanent residence
- refugee or asylum status
Depending on your nationality, you may already need to give your biometrics.
- Since July 31, 2018 – applicants from Europe, Middle East and Africa
- Starting December 31, 2018 – applicants from Asia, Asia Pacific and the Americas
Visitor visa, study and work permit applicants
You only need to give your biometrics once every 10 years. You don’t need to give your biometrics again until the 10-year period expires.
If you gave biometrics in the past as part of an application for a visitor visa, work or study permit and they’re still valid, you don’t need to give them again.
You can go to one of these official locations to give your biometrics. We encourage you to make an appointment if that’s an option at your location.
- Visa application centres (VACs) worldwide
- You can go to any VAC – it doesn’t have to be in your country of residence.
- VACs also offer other services in local languages.
- Application Support Centers (ASCs) in the United States
- You can only go to an ASC if you got a letter from us that tells you to give biometrics.
- No other services are offered (only biometrics collection).
- ASCs are also available in some U.S. overseas territories.
What happens when you arrive in Canada
When you arrive, we will check your identity to make sure that you are the same person who was approved to travel to Canada.
How this is done will depend on where you enter Canada.
- At 8 major Canadian airports
- your fingerprints will be checked automatically at a primary inspection kiosk
- the system will check your identity against the information collected when your application was submitted
- At smaller airports and all land ports of entry
- your fingerprints may be checked if we refer you to a secondary inspection where a border services officer will use a fingerprint verification device to check your fingerprints
