Biometric Requirements – Canadian Immigration News

With the implementation of the Temporary Resident Biometrics Project, Canadian immigration is now requiring “biometric data” from visitors, students and temporary workers from designated countries. Biometrics is the measurement of an individual’s physical characteristics, such as facial features and fingerprints. This data will allow Canadian immigration officers to verify that the identity of individuals when they arrive in Canada. There are currently 30 countries that Canada has designated for this new requirement. Designated countries are from all around the world, and include countries such as Lebanon, Colombia, Jamaica and Vietnam. See table further below for a list of all designated countries.

Although such measures have been mainly absent in the Canadian immigration process, the biometric data requirement for immigration purposes is the norm for many countries such as Australia, the UK, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia. Further, this may not be surprising to many of those affected by this new requirements, as 20 of the 30 countries designated already collect biometric data from its citizens for the issuance of documents such as passports and identification cards.

Jason Kenney, Canada’s Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, explained that biometrics will strengthen and modernize the Canadian immigration system while keeping the our doors open to legitimate travelers. The purpose of obtaining biometric data is to reduce the risk of immigration fraud and to prevent criminals and other inadmissible people from entering Canada. Biometrics will allow our government and its agencies to verify the identities of new immigrants with a high level of certainty. Such measures will make it nearly impossible for an individual from a designated country to pose as or be mistaken for someone else, therefore reducing the amount of fraud occurring in the Canadian immigration system.

Temporary residents from the designated countries must now go to their nearest Canadian Visa Application Center (VAC) to provide their fingerprints and photo taken before coming to Canada. This information (biometric data) will be added to the applicants’ file that also contains other personal information and documents required for their visit, studies or work in Canada. Fingerprints obtained are sent to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (more commonly known as the RCMP) while the photographs are stored by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Given their role at Canada’s port-of-entries, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) will also be a partner in this new initiative. All data collected is transferred by secured means, and will be provided adequate protection measures as required by Canada’s Privacy Act. Obtaining biometric data will cost individual applicants a fee of $85 CDN and up to $170 per family.

Exemption

Citizens from designated countries will be exempt from the biometric data requirement if they are:

• Under 14 years of age or 80+ years old.
• Diplomats, consular officers and other similar representatives, traveling on official business (accompanying family members will also be exempt)
• Already in Canada when applying as a visitor, student or foreign worker; or
• Applying for a transit visa of less than 48 hours, and will be going directly to or coming directly from the United States and hold a valid United States entry visa.

It should be noted that individuals cannot use biometric data that was obtained for other countries, and that they must submit new biometric data by visiting their nearest Canadian Visa Application Center (VAC).  Further, those with multiple-entry visas only need to provide such data with their initial application, however, they may be required to if he or she decides to apply for a Canada study permit or Canada work permit.

Designated Countries:

Citizens from the countries listed below must provide their biometric data to the Canadian Government before they visit, study, or work in Canada. Please note that the effective date of this requirement varies by country, however, they will all come into effect before January 2014.

To speak with a Canadian immigration lawyer, contact First Immigration Law Firm toll-free in North America @ 1 (855) 360-4333 or 1 (514) 360-4333 internationally.