Biometrics Now Required for All Canadian Permanent Residence Applicants!

Attention all permanent residence (PR) applicants! Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has implemented a new policy regarding biometrics submission.

As of June 14, all PR applicants must submit biometrics, regardless of whether they have previously done so for a temporary residence permit.

This update signals a return to pre-pandemic procedures, where biometrics were mandatory for PR applications.

During the pandemic, temporary measures allowed PR applicants to reuse biometrics if submitted within the past decade due to temporary closures of Visa Application Centres (VACs).

With pandemic restrictions easing and IRCC’s increased capacity, regular service standards are being restored.

An IRCC official clarified that biometrics reuse was a temporary pandemic measure, and now applicants must provide biometrics for all PR applications, irrespective of previous submissions.

Remember, these changes do not apply to temporary resident status applications such as work, visitor, or study visas. Biometrics submission is not required for extension applications.

Discover the world of biometrics: fingerprints and a facial photograph are collected for identification purposes. Let’s keep Canadians safe and ensure the integrity of the immigration system. Some exemptions apply based on nationality and specific categories.