Find out if you need to give biometrics

Answer: You need to give your biometrics.

As of December 3, 2019, you need to give your biometrics. You can go to one of these official locations. You need to make an appointment.

Designated Service Canada offices

Visa application centres (VACs) worldwide

Application support centers (ASCs) in the United States and its territories, if you’re already legally in the U.S.

Find out more about biometrics:

For online or paper applications

You can only give your biometrics after you get a letter from us that tells you what to do.

To get this letter, pay the biometrics fee when you submit your application.

If you apply at a Visa Application Centre (VAC)

You need to book an appointment in advance to give your biometrics.

You can give your biometrics when you submit a paper application at a VAC, if you booked an appointment.

If you decide to apply online at a VAC, you’ll have to wait to get the letter that tells you that you need to give biometrics.

Once you have this letter, you can return to the VAC to give your biometrics.

Find out more about biometrics : who is exempt, how often you need to give them, how to give them and where to give them .

You don’t need to give biometrics if both of these apply :

You’re travelling by air to or from the U.S.

You have a valid U.S. visa.

You need to give your biometrics if you’re travelling to a country other than the U.S. and you’re between 14 and 79 years old. However, you don’t need to pay the biometrics fee for a transit visa.

If you need to give biometrics

For online or paper applications

You can only give your biometrics after you get a letter from us that tells you what to do.

If you apply at a Visa Application Centre (VAC)

You need to book an appointment in advance to give your biometrics.

You can give your biometrics when you submit a paper application at a VAC, if you booked an appointment.

If you decide to apply online at a VAC, you’ll have to wait to get the letter that tells you that you need to give biometrics.

Once you have this letter, you can return to the VAC to give your biometrics.

Find out more about biometrics : who is exempt, how often you need to give them, how to give them and where to give them .

For online or paper applications

You can only give your biometrics after you get a letter from us that tells you what to do.

To get this letter, pay the biometrics fee when you submit your application.

If you apply at a Visa Application Centre (VAC)

You can give your biometrics when you submit a paper application at a VAC, if you booked an appointment.

If you decide to apply online at a VAC, you’ll have to wait to get the letter that tells you that you need to give biometrics.

Once you have this letter, you can return to the VAC to give your biometrics.

Find out more about biometrics:

For online or paper applications

You can only give your biometrics after you get a letter from us that tells you what to do.

To get this letter, pay the biometrics fee when you submit your application.

If you apply at a Visa Application Centre (VAC)

You can give your biometrics when you submit a paper application at a VAC, if you booked an appointment.

If you decide to apply online at a VAC, you’ll have to wait to get the letter that tells you that you need to give biometrics.

Once you have this letter, you can return to the VAC to give your biometrics.

Find out more about biometrics:

Answer: You need to give your biometrics.

If you’re between 14 and 79 years old, you need to give your fingerprints and photo for all permanent resident applications, including:

family class

economic class

persons with refugee, protected person, or asylum status in Canada

You have to give your biometrics and pay the fee, even if you gave your biometrics in the past to support a visitor visa, study or work permit application, or a different permanent resident application.

After you submit your application, we’ll send you a letter that says you need to give your biometrics and where to go. You then need to make an appointment to give biometrics.

You have up to 30 days to go in person to an official biometrics collection service location.

If you apply online

The letter will go to your account message box if you sent us a complete application and paid the biometrics fee. You’ll get an email to let you know that you have a new message. It can be several days or even several weeks before the email is sent to you.

If you apply by mail

The letter will get to you by mail several weeks after we get your complete application and your payment for the biometrics fee. The timing of your letter depends on various factors including the speed of your postal service.

Answer: You don’t need to give your biometrics.

Most people who apply for a permanent resident card don’t need to give their biometrics.

Exception: You need to give your biometrics only if all these conditions apply:

you were younger than 14 years when we received your application for permanent residence

you applied for permanent residence on or after July 31, 2018

you’re now 14 years or older

you’re applying for a new permanent resident card, a replacement or a renewal

You don’t need to pay the biometrics fee.

Answer: You need to give your biometrics if it’s been longer than 10 years since you last gave them.

You don’t need to give biometrics if you’ve given them within the last 10 years.

To visit Canada as a tourist only

You don’t need to give your biometrics if you plan to visit only .

To study or work in Canada

You need to give your biometrics if you’re between 14 and 79 years old and you apply for a study or work permit.

If you plan to study for 6 months or less, you don’t need a study permit and you don’t need to give biometrics.

If you’re a lawful U.S. permanent resident with a valid green card , you don’t need to give biometrics to only visit Canada.

For online or paper applications

You can only give your biometrics after you get a letter from us that tells you what to do.

To get this letter, pay the biometrics fee when you submit your application.

If you apply at a Visa Application Centre (VAC)

You need to book an appointment in advance to give your biometrics.

You can give your biometrics when you submit a paper application at a VAC, if you booked an appointment.

If you decide to apply online at a VAC, you’ll have to wait to get the letter that tells you that you need to give biometrics.

Once you have this letter, you can return to the VAC to give your biometrics.

Find out more about biometrics : who is exempt, how often you need to give them, how to give them and where to give them .

For online or paper applications

You can only give your biometrics after you get a letter from us that tells you what to do.

If you apply at a Visa Application Centre (VAC)

You need to book an appointment in advance to give your biometrics.

You can give your biometrics when you submit a paper application at a VAC, if you booked an appointment.

If you decide to apply online at a VAC, you’ll have to wait to get the letter that tells you that you need to give biometrics.

Once you have this letter, you can return to the VAC to give your biometrics.

Find out more about biometrics : who is exempt, how often you need to give them, how to give them and where to give them .

Answer: You need to give your biometrics.

We’ll send you a letter that tells you where to give your biometrics.

Find out more about biometrics : who is exempt, how often you need to give them, how to give them and where to give them .

Answer: You don’t need to give your biometrics.

As a U.S. citizen or national, you don’t need to give your biometrics.

Exception: If you apply for permanent residence in Canada, you need to give your biometrics.

Answer: You don’t need to give your biometrics.

Based on your selection, you’re a visa-exempt traveller. You don’t need to give your biometrics if you plan to visit only .

If you plan to visit Canada for 6 months or less

You should apply for an eTA , not a visitor visa.

If you plan to visit Canada for more than 6 months

When you arrive at the Canadian port of entry, let the border services officer know that you want to stay in Canada longer than 6 months . The officer may authorize you to stay longer to cover the planned purpose of your visit.

If you’re a parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada and you’re outside Canada, you may be eligible to apply for a super visa to stay in Canada for up to 2 years at a time.

Answer: You may need to give your biometrics depending on what you plan to do in Canada.

If you plan to study, work, or live permanently in Canada

Starting December 31, 2018 , you need to give your biometrics when you submit a new application for:

a study permit

a work permit

permanent residence

If you plan to visit Canada only

You don’t need to give your biometrics if you plan to visit only (even after December 31, 2018).

Based on your selection, you’re a visa-exempt traveller. You don’t need to apply for a visitor visa. You should apply for an eTA .

If you plan on staying longer than 6 months , let the border services officer know when you arrive at the Canadian port of entry. The officer may authorize you to stay longer to cover the planned purpose of your visit.

If you’re a parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada, you may be eligible to apply for a super visa to stay in Canada for up to 2 years at a time.

Answer: You may need to give your biometrics depending on what you plan to do in Canada, and the type of passport you travel with.

If you plan to study, work or live permanently in Canada

Starting December 31, 2018 , you need to give your biometrics when you submit a new application for a study or work permit or for permanent residence.

If you plan only to visit Canada with an ordinary passport

You should apply for an electronic travel authorization if

you’re travelling with a passport issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that includes a personal identification number

you plan only to visit

You don’t need to give your biometrics, even after December 31, 2018.

If you’re a parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada, you may be eligible to apply for a super visa to stay in Canada for up to 2 years at a time.

If you plan only to visit Canada with another passport

You need a visitor visa if you’re travelling with a passport issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that does not have a personal identification number.

Starting December 31, 2018 , you need to give your biometrics when you apply for a visa, even if you plan only to visit .

Find out more about biometrics , who is exempt, how often you need to give them, how to give them and where to give them .

Answer: It depends what you apply for and if you’re between 14 and 79 years old.

If you apply for permanent residence

You need to give biometrics.

If you’re between 14 and 79 years old, you need to give your fingerprints and photo for all permanent residence applications, even if you already gave us your biometrics and they’re still valid. This includes:

family class

economic class

persons with refugee, protected person, or asylum status in Canada

You need to make an appointment to give biometrics.

Find out more about biometrics: