What Are Biometrics for a Canada Visitor Visa?
Biometrics are your fingerprints and photograph. The Government of Canada uses this information to help confirm your identity and assess immigration applications.
For many people applying for a Canadian visitor visa, biometrics are a normal part of the application process. They are not an interview, and giving your fingerprints and photograph does not mean that your visa has been approved.
Instead, biometrics help Canadian immigration authorities verify that the person applying for the visa is the same person who may later travel to Canada.
The process is generally completed in person at an official biometric collection location after you submit your application and receive a Biometric Instruction Letter (BIL).
Do You Need Biometrics for a Canada Visitor Visa?
In most cases, applicants who need a visitor visa must provide biometrics unless they qualify for an exemption.
Some applicants do not need to provide biometrics. For example, exemptions can apply to:
- Children under 14 years old
- Applicants aged 80 or older when they submitted their application, except asylum claimants
- Canadian citizens and certain Canadian permanent residents
- Some visa-exempt visitors
- Certain diplomats and government officials
- Some people who have already provided biometrics in connection with a permanent residence application that is still being processed
- Certain other applicants covered by specific exemptions
Age is based on the applicant’s age when the application is submitted. For example, a person who was 79 when they applied may still need to provide biometrics even if they turn 80 while the application is being processed.
If you are unsure whether biometrics are required, IRCC provides an online tool to help applicants determine whether they need to provide them.
What Happens After You Apply for a Canada Visitor Visa?
For applicants who need biometrics, the general process looks like this:
1. Prepare and submit your visitor visa application.
You submit your application and the required documents through the appropriate IRCC application process.
2. Pay the required fees.
If you need biometrics, you should generally pay the biometrics fee when you submit your application. IRCC says failing to pay the required biometrics fee can cause delays.
3. Receive your Biometric Instruction Letter.
If biometrics are required, IRCC sends you a BIL explaining that you need to provide your fingerprints and photograph.
4. Book a biometric appointment.
After receiving the BIL, you should arrange an appointment at an official biometric collection location.
5. Attend the appointment in person.
Your fingerprints and photograph are collected.
6. IRCC continues processing your application.
After biometrics are received, immigration officers continue assessing your application. Biometrics are only one part of the overall visitor visa process.
What Is a Biometric Instruction Letter?
The Biometric Instruction Letter, commonly called a BIL, is an important document in the Canada visa biometrics process.
It tells you that you need to provide your fingerprints and photograph and provides instructions for completing this step.
Applicants should use the BIL issued for their current application. IRCC warns that attempting to provide biometrics using a BIL from an earlier application can result in delays and, in some circumstances, may affect the application.
Once you receive your BIL, do not ignore it. Arrange your biometric appointment as soon as reasonably possible.
How Do You Book a Canada Visa Biometrics Appointment?
Biometrics must generally be provided in person at an official collection location. Depending on where you apply, this may include a Visa Application Centre (VAC), a designated Service Canada office in Canada, or another approved location.
The exact location available to you depends on where you are applying from.
IRCC recommends using its official website to identify the appropriate biometric collection location. This is important because there are websites and individuals online that may falsely claim to arrange Canadian visa appointments or immigration services.
Applicants should be particularly careful with anyone promising a guaranteed visa, guaranteed appointment or guaranteed approval.
A biometric appointment is an administrative requirement. Nobody can legitimately guarantee that your Canada visitor visa will be approved simply because you have completed biometrics.
How Much Does Canada Visitor Visa Biometrics Cost?
The current biometrics fee listed by IRCC is CAN$85 per individual. For eligible families of two or more people applying together, the maximum biometrics fee is CAN$170.
This is separate from the visitor visa processing fee.
IRCC currently lists the visitor visa processing fee as CAN$100 per person, with a family maximum of CAN$500 for families of five or more people applying together under the applicable rules.
Fees can change, so applicants should confirm the current amounts on the official IRCC fee page before paying.
What Happens at a Biometrics Appointment?
The biometric appointment is generally much simpler than some applicants expect.
You attend the approved collection centre with the documents requested for your appointment. Staff collect your fingerprints and photograph.
Your fingerprints are captured electronically, and your photograph is taken according to the required specifications.
You do not normally need to prepare for the appointment like a job interview. There is no need to memorize answers about Canada or prepare a speech.
However, you should make sure that the information in your application and identification documents is accurate and consistent.
If you have a temporary injury affecting your fingers or face, it may affect the ability to provide fingerprints or a photograph. IRCC has specific guidance for applicants with temporary or permanent injuries or medical conditions affecting the hands or face.
How Long Are Canadian Visa Biometrics Valid?
For many temporary residence applicants, including visitor visa applicants, biometrics are generally valid for 10 years.
This means you may not have to provide fingerprints and a photograph every time you apply for a Canadian visitor visa.
However, there are important exceptions and situations in which IRCC may require new biometrics.
For example, IRCC explains that applicants may need to provide biometrics again if their existing biometrics are about to expire, if they previously provided only partial biometrics, or in certain circumstances involving a previous permanent residence application.
It is therefore a good idea to check whether your biometrics are still valid before assuming you can reuse them.
Do You Have to Give Biometrics Again?
Not necessarily.
If you have previously given biometrics for a Canadian temporary residence application, such as a visitor visa, study permit or work permit, they may still be valid.
IRCC states that eligible applicants generally only need to provide biometrics once every 10 years.
However, applicants should check their individual biometric status rather than relying on memory.
There are circumstances where new biometrics may be required even when an applicant has provided them previously.
For example, IRCC says it may be necessary to provide biometrics again when the existing biometrics will expire soon because a visa or permit cannot be issued beyond the validity period of the biometrics.
Does Giving Biometrics Mean Your Canada Visa Is Approved?
No.
This is one of the most important points for applicants to understand.
Completing biometrics does not guarantee approval of a Canadian visitor visa.
After receiving your application and biometrics, IRCC assesses whether you meet the requirements for a visitor visa. Officers may consider factors such as your purpose of travel, financial circumstances, supporting documents, ties to your home country and whether you are likely to leave Canada at the end of your authorized stay.
IRCC may also request additional information, an interview, a medical examination or other documents depending on the circumstances of the application.
Therefore, biometrics should be viewed as one step in the application process, not as an indication that a visa decision has already been made.
Can Biometrics Cause a Canada Visitor Visa Delay?
Biometrics themselves do not necessarily cause delays, but failing to complete the required biometric step promptly can delay processing.
IRCC advises applicants to book their biometric appointment as soon as possible after receiving their BIL.
Other factors can also affect processing time. These include an incomplete application, requests for additional information, verification of documents, security checks or other circumstances associated with an individual application.
For this reason, applicants should not assume that submitting an application online means the application is immediately ready for final processing.
If you receive a BIL, treat it as an important next step.
What Should You Bring to Your Biometrics Appointment?
The exact instructions can depend on your location, but applicants should carefully follow the requirements stated in their BIL and appointment information.
Commonly, you should be prepared to provide:
- Your valid passport or required travel document
- Your Biometric Instruction Letter
- Your appointment confirmation, where applicable
- Any other documents specifically requested by the official collection centre
Before leaving for your appointment, check the instructions provided by IRCC and the official collection location.
Avoid relying solely on information from social media posts, travel agents or unofficial websites because procedures can change.
Common Canada Visitor Visa Biometrics Mistakes to Avoid
A few simple mistakes can create unnecessary problems.
1. Waiting too long to book an appointment
Once you receive your BIL, arrange your appointment promptly.
2. Using an old Biometric Instruction Letter
Use the BIL associated with your current application.
3. Going to an unofficial location
Always confirm the biometric collection centre through official Canadian government information.
4. Assuming biometrics guarantee approval
They do not. Your entire visitor visa application is assessed.
5. Paying the wrong amount
Check the current IRCC fee information before making payment because fees can change.
6. Ignoring previous biometric records
If you have previously provided biometrics, check whether they are still valid before assuming that you need to provide them again—or assuming that you do not.
How Biometrics Fit Into the Canada Visitor Visa Process
It can help to think of the application as a series of stages:
Eligibility → Application preparation → Application submission → Biometrics, if required → Application assessment → Decision → Travel to Canada if approved
Each stage serves a different purpose.
Your application documents explain why you want to visit Canada and demonstrate that you meet the requirements. Biometrics help establish and verify your identity. The immigration assessment then considers the overall application.
Keeping these stages separate can make the process easier to understand.
Frequently Asked Questions About Canada Visitor Visa Biometrics
How long do I have to give biometrics after receiving the BIL?
IRCC’s visitor visa guidance states that applicants generally have 30 days from the date on the Biometric Instruction Letter to provide biometrics.
If you cannot meet the deadline because of circumstances outside your control, follow the instructions provided by IRCC rather than simply ignoring the deadline.
Are fingerprints required for a Canada visitor visa?
If you are required to provide biometrics, fingerprints and a photograph are collected. Some applicants are exempt.
Can children give biometrics?
Children under 14 are generally exempt from the biometrics requirement.
Is the biometric fee refundable if my visa is refused?
Applicants should not assume that fees will be refunded if the application is refused. IRCC’s application guidance states that processing fees are generally not refunded simply because an application is refused.
Does Canada keep my biometric information?
The Government of Canada uses biometrics to confirm identity and assist with application assessment. Canadian government guidance states that biometric and personal information is handled under Canada’s privacy framework.