The Government of Canada has declared that they will be recommencing the process of gathering biometric information for individuals seeking temporary residency (TR) within Canada.
It has been more than 31 months since Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduced a temporary exemption policy, on July 15, 2020, due to the closures and disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This exemption policy allowed TR applicants to apply from inside Canada without the need to submit biometrics.
All individuals who are seeking temporary residency will be affected by this alteration, which includes the five groups of applicants that were explicitly identified in the press release by IRCC:
- Those who are applying for a work permit or study permit
- Those who are applying for a temporary resident permit
- Those who are applying for a visitor visa
- Those who are applying to extend their stay as a student, visitor, or worker
- Those applying to reinstate their student, visitor, or worker status.
Although this decision, IRCC acknowledges that particular exceptions and “some provisional arrangements for collecting biometric data” are still effective in “unusual circumstances.”
Submitting biometrics
Individuals who must provide their biometrics for their TR application must guarantee they pay the biometric fee while submitting their application. Following this, applicants will receive an instruction letter for biometrics through email, including details on how to provide biometrics online.
Over 70 Service Canada Centre collection sites are located throughout the country where TR applicants can provide their biometrics. However, biometric collection sites operate on an appointment-only basis.