All about the Biometrics Program

[ankitagoyal]

All biometrically enrolled applicants, regardless of enrolment location or department, will have an immigration identification number (IID) assigned to their fingerprints. IRCC and CBSA biometrics enrolments are completely separate. If a person applies to IRCC they must complete all of their processes with the IRCC service providers. The CBSA will not be providing biometric enrolment services for IRCC applications; however, the CBSA will verify the fingerprints of all biometrically enrolled applicants.​

BIOMETRICS ARE COLLECTED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA FROM ALL FOREIGN NATIONALS WHO ARE:

• Applying for a temporary resident visa or permit, a work permit or a study permit, or temporary resident permit (excluding U.S. nationals);

• Applying for permanent residence; or

• Claiming refugee or asylum status.

At all automated Ports of Entry (POEs): CBSA officers working in Primary Inspection are expected to:

• Conduct a facial comparison of the Biometric Photo with the traveler, passport photo, and c-Passport photo.

At 57 biometrically enabled POEs: CBSA officers working in Immigration Secondary are expected to:

• Conduct a 1: 1 fingerprint (10) verification of biometrically enrolled travellers; and

• Biometrically enrol fingerprints (10) and digital photo for Study, Work and Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) applications initiated at POE.

HOW ARE THE BIOMETRICS TAKEN?

The officer will take three images in the following order:

All biometrically enrolled applicants, regardless of enrolment location or department, will have an immigration identification number (IID) assigned to their fingerprints. IRCC and CBSA biometrics enrolments are completely separate. If a person applies to IRCC they must complete all of their processes with the IRCC service providers. The CBSA will not be providing biometric enrolment services for IRCC applications; however, the CBSA will verify the fingerprints of all biometrically enrolled applicants.

BIOMETRICS ARE COLLECTED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA FROM ALL FOREIGN NATIONALS WHO ARE:

• Applying for a temporary resident visa or permit, a work permit or a study permit, or temporary resident permit (excluding U.S. nationals);
• Applying for permanent residence; or
• Claiming refugee or asylum status.

At all automated Ports of Entry (POEs): CBSA officers working in Primary Inspection are expected to:

• Conduct a facial comparison of the Biometric Photo with the traveler, passport photo, and c-Passport photo.

At 57 biometrically enabled POEs: CBSA officers working in Immigration Secondary are expected to:

• Conduct a 1: 1 fingerprint (10) verification of biometrically enrolled travellers; and

• Biometrically enrol fingerprints (10) and digital photo for Study, Work and Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) applications initiated at POE.

IMMIGRATION INFORMATION SHARING

There is no requirement to conduct an international immigration information sharing request in GCMS as it pertains to applicants in support of their biometric emolument; however, an officer may submit a request at their discretion should they have reasonable grounds to suspect that the applicant has an immigration history with one of the Migration Five (M5) partners.

It should be noted that the permit should not be issued without the biometric result from the RCMP and from any subsequent information sharing request.