Canada rolled out the final phase of its biometrics program yesterday.
Foreign nationals applying for work visas, study permits, or temporary or permanent residence must now have their fingerprints and photo taken at a Service Canada office. Biometrics will help immigration officers verify the travellers’ identities and reduce application processing times.
Appointments to submit photos and fingerprints must be made in advance. Bookings can be done online at canada.ca/biometrics. Those outside of Canada can book an appointment at any one of the 160 Canadian visa application centres around the world.
Individuals under 14 or over 79 are exempt from the biometric program. Visitors from the US who are temporarily visiting, working or studying in Canada are also exempt.
Biometric information will be shared with Canadian law enforcement and border security, as well as the US, UK, Australia and New Zealand with due respect for privacy laws, civil liberties and human rights considerations.