Find out if you need to give biometrics

If you are from one of the countries or territory above, you do not need to give your biometrics to visit Canada if you are:

• under 14 years old or 80 years old and over,
• a diplomat, consular officer, representative, or official of:
  • a country,
  • the United Nations or any of its agencies,
  • any intergovernmental organization that Canada is a member of,

  and you are travelling to Canada on official business (any family members travelling with you are also exempt),

• applying for a visa to transit through Canada for less than 48 hours, directly to or from the United States and you hold a valid United States entry visa, or
• already in Canada and are eligible to apply for a visitor (temporary resident) visa, study permit or work permit to an office in Canada.

When you apply for a visitor visa, study permit or work permit, you have to pay an application fee. You also need to pay a biometric fee of $85 CAD per person. Families applying together for a visitor visa pay a maximum biometric fee of up to $170 CAD.

You can pay both your application fee and the biometric fee the same way. The website of the visa office that serves the country or region you are applying from has more information on fees, including how to pay them.

Make sure you pay all the correct fees when you submit your application to avoid any delays in processing.

Note: If you submit your application in person at a visa application centre (VAC) before the effective date for your country, you do not need to pay the $85 CAD biometric fee and you will get certain VAC application services at no cost. Find your closest VAC.

Visa application centre (VAC) application services included in the biometric fee:

If you submit your application in person at a VAC, the biometric fee covers the cost of collecting your biometrics and handling your application. This includes making sure your application is complete, sending it to the visa office and telling you when your passport or travel documents have been sent back.

Giving your fingerprints and photograph is a safe, fast, and clean process that only takes about five minutes to complete. An operator will take a digital photograph of your face and ask you to put your fingers on a glass screen to be scanned. You can find out more about how to give your fingerprints and photograph from our video or brochure.

• Do not mail in your application. Either apply online or in person at a visa application centre (VAC).
• Pay both the application fee and the biometric fee when you submit your application.
• Give your biometrics at the same time as you apply at a visa application centre (VAC), or within a few days of getting your biometric instruction letter.
• Consider travel time when planning if you need to travel to visit a VAC or Application Support Center (ASC).
• If you can, make sure all family members who apply for a visa go to the same VAC or ASC at the same time to give biometrics.
• If you have a temporary injury or decoration (such as henna) on your face or hands, wait until the injury has healed or the decoration has faded completely before you give your biometrics.
  • A temporary injury or medical condition is one that will likely heal or improve over time, and can include:
    • bandaged face or fingers due to minor cuts or burns,
    • rashes and other temporary skin conditions.
• If you have a permanent injury or condition on your face or hands, go to a VAC or ASC to have your photograph and any available fingerprints taken. A permanent injury or medical condition is one that will not heal or improve over time. Bring any documentation you have about your condition.

When you arrive in Canada, a CBSA border services officer will use your biometrics to verify that you are the same person the visa was given to.

Find out more about what to expect when you arrive in Canada.

Your fingerprints, photograph, and the personal information you gave in your application will be handled in line with Canada’s privacy laws.

Your personal information will be kept safe. Your biometric information will be encrypted and sent by a secure connection to the Government of Canada and stored in a secure database. It will then be deleted from the VAC or ASC computer system. Staff at VACs and ASCs will not have access to your biometric information.

Find out more about the use and storage of your personal information.