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Facts about biometrics

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Who needs to give their fingerprints and photo (biometrics)

Normally, you need to give biometrics if you apply for

  • a visitor visa
  • a work or study permit (excluding US nationals)
  • permanent residence
  • refugee or asylum status
  • an extension of your stay in Canada, known as a visitor record
  • a work or study permit extension

There are some exemptions and there are also some temporary measures for biometrics collection in place for special situations.

Use the Check status tool to find out if your biometrics are still valid.

If you have an alien’s passport you need to give your biometrics, regardless of the country that issued the passport.

Answer a few questions to find out if you need to give biometrics.

If you apply for permanent residence on or after June 14, 2023

You need to give your biometrics, even if you gave them in the last 10 years. As of June 14, 2023, we’re resuming biometrics collection for all permanent residence applicants.

Alien’s passport

An alien’s passport is a travel document that you get from the country where you live as a non-citizen, if you can’t get a passport from your home country.

Temporary measures for biometrics

There may be temporary measures and exemptions related to biometrics collection that could apply to you.

Find out if a temporary measure for biometrics applies to your situation.

When to give your fingerprints and photo

You can give your biometrics only as part of an application you submit to us.

Read your instruction guide to find out how to apply and when you need to give your biometrics.

  • Example: If you apply for a visitor visa, study or work permit, you’ll need to give your biometrics before we start to process your application.

Find out how to give your biometrics.

How often you need to give your fingerprints and photo

Visitor visa, study and work permit applicants

You 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.

Find out if your biometrics are still valid and when they expire by using the Check status tool.

Exemptions

  • Canadian citizens, citizenship applicants (including passport applicants), or existing permanent residents
  • visa-exempt nationals coming to Canada to visit only
  • 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
  • applicants who qualify for or hold a diplomatic or official visa
  • 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
  • temporary resident applicants who have already provided biometrics in support of a permanent resident application that is still in progress

Alien’s passport

An alien’s passport is a travel document that you get from the country where you live as a non-citizen, if you can’t get a passport from your home country.

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