Changes to Support the Expansion of Biometrics

Description of the objective

Amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act provide the authority to collect and verify biometric information (i.e. fingerprints and digital photograph) from all foreign nationals (unless exempt) applying for temporary or permanent residence. These amendments, which were passed through the Economic Action Plan 2015 Act, No. 1 in June 2015, have yet to come into force and will do so on a day to be fixed by the Governor in Council. Once implemented, these amendments will strengthen Canada’s immigration and border screening processes through the expansion of biometrics collection and verification.

Amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations are required to support these legislative amendments, since existing regulations apply only to a limited number of foreign nationals seeking to enter Canada on a temporary basis. Regulatory amendments will also pertain to procedures for the collection and verification of biometric information, including the systematic fingerprint verification of these applicants upon arrival to Canada.

Enabling act: Immigration and Refugee Protection Act

Indication of Business Impacts

There are no expected business impacts.

Public Consultation Opportunities

The public will have the opportunity to comment on the text of the proposed regulations when they are pre-published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, anticipated in 2018.

The Department will also be holding stakeholder engagement sessions on the new regulations with numerous impacted groups including domestic stakeholders in the tourism, educational and employer groups.

Departmental Contact

Emmanuelle Deault-Bonin
Director, Identity Management and Information Sharing
Admissibility Branch
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Email: Emmanuelle.Deault-Bonin@cic.gc.ca
Telephone: 613-437-5894

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