Canada to Expand the Collection of Biometrics

On April 7, 2018, the Canadian Government published proposed regulations that will require all persons whom are between 14 and 79 years of age and are applying for temporary or permanent residence to provide their biometrics (i.e. fingerprints and photograph) unless specifically exempted.

US citizens whom are applying for a study permit, work permit, or temporary resident permit will be exempted as well as persons whom are eligible to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) and are travelling to Canada as a tourist.

Foreign nationals will be required to provide their biometrics at a collection facility overseas or a Canadian port-of-entry (depending upon where the application is being made), their biometrics will be valid for 10 years from the date of collection, and the collection fee will be CAD$85 per person or CAD$170 for a family if their applications are made at the same time.

This expanded requirement is expected to be implemented in two phases starting on July 31, 2018. This expanded requirement will increase the costs associated with Canadian temporary and permanent residence applications and may result in slightly longer processing times at Canadian ports-of-entry.