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It is commonly accepted that identification documents which rely on a person’s name, date of birth, and even photograph, are increasingly inadequate to detect fraud or to accurately confirm a person’s identity.  As such, the Government of Canada today announced regulatory changes which specify that certain foreign nationals will have to provide biometric information when applying to enter Canada and when actually entering Canada.

As indicated in the table below, starting in 2013, temporary resident visa applicants, study permit applicants, and work permit applicants from prescribed countries will have to have their biometric information collected overseas before they arrive in Canada.  This information will then be checked by the Canada Border Services Agency when the applicants arrive at a Canadian port of entry.  As well, the RCMP may analyze whether the person has previously made a refugee claim or been deported from Canada.

The biometric information which will have to be provided include fingerprints and a facial image.  Applicants will have to provide this information at Visa Application Centers.

The prescribed countries, and the dates by which foreign nationals holding travel documents from these countries will have to submit biometric information at Visa Application Centers, are:

List of Countries Whose Foreign Nationals Will Be Required to Submit Biometric Information Prior to Coming to Canada

Date
Countries

September 2, 2013
Haiti

Jamaica

October 15, 2013
Albania

Algeria

DemocraticRepublicofCongo

Eritrea

Libya

Nigeria

Saudi Arabia

Somalia

South Sudan

Sudan

Tunisia

December 7, 2013
Afghanistan

Bangladesh

Burma

Cambodia

Egypt

Iran

Iraq

Jordan

Laos

Lebanon

Pakistan

Palestine(document issued by Palestinian Authority)

Sri Lanka

Syria

Vietnam

Yemen

Children under the age of 14 and adults over the age of 79 will be exempted from the requirement to submit biometric information,

 » Read more about: Biometric Regulations  »