Biometrics for Canadian Immigration: Fees, Validity, and How to Give Them

As of June 7, 2026.

Biometrics are the fingerprints and photo that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) collects to confirm who you are. Most people applying for a temporary or permanent visa or permit have to give them once per application cycle, pay a set fee, and book an appointment at an approved collection point. This guide answers the questions applicants ask most often, with every fact checked against canada.ca, so you know exactly what to expect before you file.

What is done during biometrics for Canada?

Short answer: A collection officer takes a digital scan of all 10 of your fingerprints and a digital photo of your face. The appointment is short and routine. You give your biometrics in person at an approved site, present your passport and your Biometrics Instruction Letter (BIL), and the data is sent securely to IRCC to confirm your identity and run background checks. The fingerprints and photo are then used to verify your identity at the border and in future applications. There is nothing to study or prepare for beyond bringing the right documents and having clean, uninjured fingertips on the day. IRCC explains the full process on its official biometrics page.

Who needs to give biometrics in Canada?

Short answer: Most people applying for a visitor visa, a study permit, a work permit, or permanent residence (PR) must give biometrics. This includes applicants for an initial study or work permit and many extensions. You generally provide them if you are between 14 and 79 years old. IRCC confirms there is no upper age limit in the regulations, but it does not collect biometrics from applicants over 79 for most temporary resident streams. Whether you need to give them depends on the program you apply under and your nationality, so check the official who needs to give their biometrics page for your exact situation.

Who is exempt from giving biometrics?

Short answer: Several groups do not have to give biometrics. According to IRCC, you are exempt if you are a Canadian citizen or citizenship applicant (including passport applicants), an existing permanent resident, a child under the age of 14, an applicant over the age of 79, a head of state or head of government, or a visa-exempt national coming only to visit. You are also exempt if you already gave biometrics for a PR application that is still being processed and you then apply for a visitor visa, study permit, or work permit. There is no fee and no biometrics requirement for a transit visa. Confirm your category on the who needs to give their biometrics page.

How much do biometrics cost in Canada?

Short answer: The standard biometrics fee is CAN$85 for one person. Families applying at the same time pay a maximum total of CAN$170, and a group of 3 or more performing artists and their staff applying for work permits at the same time pay a maximum total of CAN$255. There is no fee to give biometrics for a transit visa. You pay this fee on top of your application processing fee. The table below sets out the current amounts confirmed on canada.ca.

How long do biometrics last in Canada?

Short answer: Biometrics given for temporary residence are valid for 10 years. IRCC cannot issue a visa or permit for longer than 10 years from the last date you gave your biometrics, so the validity of your visa or permit cannot exceed the validity of your biometrics. If you apply again within that 10-year window for a temporary visa or permit, you usually do not have to give them a second time. Permanent residence applicants are treated differently and are generally asked to give biometrics with each new PR application. You can check whether yours are still valid using the IRCC online tool, and the rule is set out on the biometrics page.

When in the process do you give biometrics?

Short answer: You give biometrics after you submit and pay for your application, not before. Once IRCC receives your application and the biometrics fee, it sends you a Biometrics Instruction Letter (BIL) confirming you need to provide your fingerprints and photo. The BIL is your authorization to attend a collection site. IRCC tells you to book your appointment as soon as you receive the BIL and provide your biometrics in person. Do not show up without the letter, and always use the BIL from your current application, not an older one, or your appointment will not count toward the file you have open.

Is biometrics the last step in a Canada visa application?

Short answer: No. Giving biometrics is one step, not the final one. After your fingerprints and photo are collected, IRCC continues processing your file: officers verify your documents, run background and security checks, and complete any required medical and eligibility reviews before a final decision. Biometrics confirm your identity and let those checks run, but they do not approve the application on their own. Processing time after biometrics depends on the program and your country of residence. Track current processing times and your application status through your IRCC secure account rather than guessing from the appointment date.

What are officers checking when you give biometrics?

Short answer: Your biometrics are used to confirm your identity and support security screening. IRCC and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) match your fingerprints and photo against immigration and law enforcement records to verify who you are, confirm your immigration history, and identify any prior records that affect admissibility. This protects the integrity of the system and speeds up identity checks when you arrive at the border. The biometrics themselves are biographic identity data, not a judgment on your case. CBSA describes how it uses biometrics at the border on its biometrics collection and verification page.

Where do you give biometrics?

Short answer: Where you go depends on where you are. Outside Canada, you give biometrics at a Visa Application Centre (VAC). In the United States, you can go to a designated application support centre or a VAC, but you must already be legally in the US. Inside Canada, you book a free appointment at a designated Service Canada office. In limited cases, you can give biometrics at a port of entry when you arrive, but only if you are eligible to apply for your study or work permit at the port of entry and you start and finish the application there. Find the right site on the official where to give your biometrics page.

How do you book and attend your biometrics appointment?

Short answer: After you get your BIL, book an appointment and bring the right documents. Appointments are free, and IRCC warns that you should never pay anyone for one. You must give biometrics in person and make an appointment in advance for a Service Canada office or a US application support centre. Bring two things to the appointment: your BIL and your valid passport. Make sure your eyes are clearly visible with no glare on glasses, and that any cuts on your fingertips have healed, because poor-quality scans can mean a repeat visit. The full checklist is on the how to give your biometrics page.

What happens if you miss or delay your biometrics?

Short answer: Delays can stall or sink your application. IRCC cannot finish processing your file until it has your biometrics, so missing the step leaves your application incomplete and can lead to a refusal for not meeting requirements. Book as soon as you receive your BIL, since VAC and Service Canada appointment availability varies by location and can fill up. If you cannot attend on time, rebook through the official tool rather than letting the file sit. Always use the BIL tied to your current application. Confirm timelines and steps for your case on the how to give your biometrics page.

How a licensed RCIC can help

Biometrics look simple, but a missed appointment, an expired BIL, or applying under the wrong program can cost months. Go Far Global is a licensed Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) firm in Toronto, regulated by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC). We confirm whether you owe biometrics, when in the process you give them, and where to go, then keep your full application on track. Book a consultation at gofarglobal.com/book.

Sources

• Biometrics, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
• Who needs to give their fingerprints and photo (biometrics)
• Where to give your biometrics
• How to give your fingerprints and photo
• Biometrics collection and verification, Canada Border Services Agency