Biometrics are no longer required for some Canada immigration applications

Canada is waiving biometric requirements for applicants for permanent residence who have submitted biometrics within the past 10 years.

Canada no longer requires applicants for permanent residence to provide their biometric information as long as they have submitted their biometrics in another application within the past ten years.

IRCC has already taken special measures due to the coronavirus pandemic, such as allowing delays for biometric submissions if applicants are unable to submit them.

It is not known when many of the biometric collection service points in Canada and abroad will continue to operate normally. These service point and visa application center (VAC) closures have affected thousands of applicants for permanent residence. Many of these applicants had already submitted their biometrics in a previous application.

Additionally, IRCC said in a statement that Canada has an increasing number of permanent residence applications that cannot be processed due to the biometric requirement.

As such, IRCC aims to mitigate further disruption on these individuals by waiving the biometrics requirement in certain cases.

Effective date and eligible Candidates

According to IRCC, this policy came into effect on September 10, 2020, and was implemented on September 22, 2020. It will remain in effect indefinitely.

Eligible applicants who are exempt from biometric data collection requirements, whether currently in Canada or abroad, are those who have both of the following:

• A pending or new permanent residence application
• Have already submitted their biometric data within 10 years of the day on which they submitted their application for permanent residence

Basics of Biometrics

Canada has previously exempted other foreign nationals from providing biometric data due to its recognition that disruptions from COVID-19 may prevent them from doing so.

Biometrics are generally required for foreign nationals seeking a Canadian visitor visa, work or study permit (except US nationals), refugee or asylum status, permanent residence, visitor or to extend their work or study permit.

These people are required to submit their fingerprints, photograph, and pay a fee. Canada uses biometrics to confirm the identity of foreign nationals upon entering the country.

Reference is taken from CIC News