From February 23,2023 the public policy exempting in-Canada temporary residence applicants from bio requirements is no longer valid.
The public policy exempting in-Canada temporary residency applicants from the biometrics requirement was removed on February 23, 2023, and revisions to the Global Case Management System restored pre-pandemic procedures. Temporary residency applications submitted within Canada on or after February 23, 2023, will now require biometrics, unless otherwise exempt. As a result, the public policy exception instructions have been eliminated.
screenshot from canada.ca official website
General Information:
Foreign nationals who wish to apply for temporary residence in Canada are generally required to provide biometric information as part of their application process. Biometrics are unique physical characteristics, such as fingerprints and photographs, that are used to identify individuals.
The requirement to provide biometric information applies to individuals who are applying for a visitor visa, study permit, work permit, or temporary resident permit. The biometric information is collected at a Visa Application Centre (VAC) or Application Support Centre (ASC), depending on the applicant’s location.
Individuals who are exempt from the biometric requirement include:
Canadian citizens and permanent residents
Individuals who are under the age of 14 or over the age of 79
Visa-exempt nationals coming to Canada as tourists who hold a valid Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
Individuals who have already provided biometric information within the last 10 years, and whose biometrics are still valid
Diplomatic, official, and military applicants who are exempted from providing biometrics, unless they are applying for a study permit, work permit, or temporary resident permit
It’s important to note that even if an individual is exempt from providing biometric information, they may still need to apply for a biometric instruction letter and pay the biometric fee.
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