To begin with, the biometrics requirement is where the Canadian government requires that you provide certain personal information when immigrating to Canada; The personal information allows Canadian immigration authorities to verify your identity and to determine whether or not there are any kinds of security issues or concerns that may potentially make you inadmissible to Canada.
Hence, when you are asked to do your biometrics; what you are in fact being asked to do is to get your photograph and fingerprints taken as well as provide other identity related information. Usually, the information is also contained on the information page of your passport. Basically, that is what you would be required to provide.
Who Is Required To Provide Biometrics For Immigration Purposes?
If you are applying to move to Canada on a work permit or if you are applying for a study permit or if you are applying to immigrate to Canada as a permanent resident then you will be required to get your biometrics done.
Generally, persons who are traveling to Canada as tourists may also be required to get their biometrics done particularly if you are visiting from a country that requires you to apply for a visa before entering Canada. In other words, persons from visa-required countries are also required to do their biometrics.
Exceptions To The Biometrics Requirement
It is important to note that there are some exceptions to the biometrics requirement. Hence, not everyone travelling to Canada must get their biometrics done. For instance, children under the age of 14 are not required under the Canadian immigration rules to get their biometrics done.
Similarly, persons above the age of 79 are not required to get their biometrics done. Additionally, persons from countries whose nationals do not require a visa to enter into Canada, that is nationals of visa-exempt countries, travelling to Canada as tourists are also not required to get their biometrics done.
The Biometrics Process
After submitting your Canadian immigration application, either a work permit application or permanent residency application or study permit application, you will be issued a letter requesting you to get your biometrics done. The letter is usually generated within 24 hours or 48 hours after the application has been filed.
Typically, you are given about 30 days within which to find a location in your specific country to go and physically get your biometrics done. There are locations in most countries around the world, almost every country where you can find third party agencies that the Canadian immigration authorities have authorised for biometrics taking.
In addition, there is always an opportunity to extend the 30 days period under certain justifiable circumstances. For instance, in the context of the global Covid-19 pandemic, the government has extended the 3o day period within which you have to submit biometrics, for obvious reasons due to the pandemic. However, under normal circumstances, individuals would be required to get their biometrics done within the specified 30-day time frame.
Keep in mind that the longer you take to get your biometrics done, the more likely that your overall application processing time will be longer. Hence, it is advisable to get your biometrics done as soon as possible after the request letter is issued to reduce the chances of delay in application processing time.
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Please feel free to contact us in case you need any assistance or have any questions regarding the biometrics requirement when making Canadian immigration applications. We are available and happy to provide the guidance you need.
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