Effective from June 14, 2023, all individuals applying for Canadian Permanen Residence (PR) will now be required to submit their biometrics as part of the application process. This recent policy change by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) marks a return to the pre-pandemic requirements.

Previously, PR applicants who had already provided their biometrics for temporary residence permits, such as study or work permits, were exempt from resubmitting within a 10-year period. However, the new policy mandates the inclusion of biometric data regardless of any previous submissions.

What Are Biometrics?

Biometrics, within the realm of Canadian immigration, encompass fingerprints and a photograph, which serve as unique identifiers to verify an individual’s identity.

Exemptions from Biometric Submission

Certain groups of individuals are exempt from providing biometrics when entering Canada. These include Canadian citizens, citizenship applicants (including passport applicants), existing permanent residents, individuals below the age of 14 or above 79 (except for asylum claimants), heads of state or government officials, cabinet ministers, accredited diplomats, and United Nations representatives visiting Canada on official duties. Additionally, U.S. visa holders transiting through Canada and refugee claimants or protected persons who have already submitted biometrics for study or work permit applications are not required to provide biometrics again.

Impact and Exclusions

It is important to note that these changes only affect applicants for Canadian permanent residence and do not apply to those seeking temporary resident status, such as work, visit, or study visa. Furthermore, individuals applying for visa extensions as temporary residents are also unaffected by this policy change.