Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s
Forward Regulatory Plan for 2025 to 2027
Amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations to expand the collection and use of biometrics in Canada’s immigration programs
Enabling Acts: Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
Description
Amendments are being proposed to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (the Regulations) to expand IRCC’s authority to collect and use biometrics in order to enhance the integrity of Canada’s temporary resident, permanent resident and refugee protection programs. These changes would allow IRCC to collect and use facial biometrics to more accurately verify client identities and reduce instances of identity fraud. Most notably, they would introduce a new biometric requirement for visa-exempt foreign nationals applying for Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to visit Canada. This change will help close crucial integrity and identity management gaps in Canada’s eTA program and align Canada’s practice with those of like-minded countries who have already implemented similar biometric requirements in their comparable programs.
Regulatory cooperation efforts (domestic and international)
Regulatory cooperation efforts are not required.
Potential impacts on Canadians, including businesses
Overall, the proposed regulatory change is expected to improve the integrity and efficiency of IRCC decisions by enhancing identity verification processes through the use of biometrics, thereby facilitating the movement of low-risk clients. This could result in net integrity benefits for Canadians.
The collection of new biometric information would create an additional step (and potential extra costs) for foreign nationals applying for a visa or authorization to enter Canada, most notably eTA applicants. Stakeholders in Canada’s tourism industry may raise concerns about these changes potentially affecting a visitor’s decision to travel to Canada. At the same time, many travel destinations – including the U.S., UK, Australia, New Zealand, and soon the European Union – have comparable requirements.
These amendments are not expected to have significant impacts on international trade or investment.
Consultations
This initiative is in the early stages of development. IRCC plans to consult with targeted stakeholders as work advances. The timing and approach for consultations will be added to this section once known.
The public will also have the opportunity to comment on the proposed text of the regulations when they will be pre-published in the Canada Gazette, Part I.
Departmental contact information
Victoria Henderson
Senior Director, Integrity Strategy and Identity Policy
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Email: Victoria.Henderson@cic.gc.ca
Telephone: 613‑698‑0062
Date the regulatory initiative was first included in the Forward Regulatory Plan: July 16, 2025