Express Entry Biometrics: Who Needs Them, Fees and Process
Most Express Entry permanent residence applicants between 14 and 79 years old must provide fingerprints and a photo after applying. For permanent residence, previous biometrics generally do not remove this requirement: applicants usually need to provide biometrics for every new permanent residence application.
What Are Biometrics in Express Entry?
Biometrics are an applicant's fingerprints and photograph. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada uses biometric information to confirm identity and as part of the assessment of an immigration application.
Biometrics are not required when you simply create an Express Entry profile or enter the pool. The requirement becomes relevant after you receive an Invitation to Apply, submit your permanent residence application and IRCC instructs you to provide biometrics.
This makes biometrics different from documents used to establish whether you qualify for an Express Entry program or how many CRS points you receive. Biometrics do not increase your CRS score and do not determine whether you rank highly enough to receive an invitation.
Most permanent residence applicants must provide biometrics every time they apply for permanent residence. The 10-year reuse rule commonly associated with visitor visas, study permits and work permits does not generally apply to a new permanent residence application.
Who Needs Biometrics for Express Entry?
IRCC states that applicants between 14 and 79 years old generally need to provide fingerprints and a photo for every permanent residence application they submit.
Age is assessed based on the applicant's age when the application is submitted. This matters when an applicant has a birthday while the application is being processed.
| Applicant at time of application | General biometrics rule |
|---|---|
| Under 14 | Generally exempt |
| Age 14 to 79 | Biometrics generally required |
| Over 79 | Generally exempt for permanent residence |
There are other exemptions in Canada's biometrics rules, but the age exemption is particularly relevant to Express Entry families. Applicants should follow the instructions issued for their specific application rather than assume that biometrics are or are not required.
What if a child turns 14 after the application is submitted?
IRCC uses the person's age on the date the application was submitted. If a child was 13 or younger on that date, the child is generally exempt from the biometric requirement for that application even if the child later turns 14 while it is being processed.
What if an applicant turns 80 after applying?
The same age-at-submission rule applies. IRCC states that if a person was 79 or younger when the application was submitted and later turns 80, the person must still provide biometrics if required.
Do Previous Biometrics Count for Express Entry?
This is one of the most important distinctions between temporary residence and permanent residence applications.
For many temporary residence applications, biometrics can be reused for up to 10 years. A person who previously gave biometrics for a visitor visa, study permit or work permit may therefore be familiar with seeing those biometrics remain valid in IRCC's system.
Permanent residence works differently. IRCC currently states that applicants must provide biometrics every time they apply for permanent residence, even if they have previously given biometrics and those biometrics are still valid.
Seeing valid biometrics from a previous study permit, work permit or visitor visa does not normally mean that you can skip biometrics for a new Express Entry permanent residence application.
A temporary COVID-era public policy previously allowed certain permanent residence applicants to rely on biometrics submitted within the preceding 10 years. That temporary exemption was revoked on June 14, 2023. Applicants should not rely on older guidance describing that exemption as if it remains the general rule.
When Do You Give Biometrics for Express Entry?
Biometrics are normally provided after the permanent residence application is submitted, not before creating an Express Entry profile and not simply because an applicant has received an Invitation to Apply.
The usual sequence is:
- receive an Invitation to Apply through Express Entry;
- complete the permanent residence application and upload the required documents;
- pay the applicable processing and biometric fees;
- submit the complete application;
- receive a biometric instruction letter from IRCC;
- book an appointment at an authorized biometric collection location; and
- provide fingerprints and a photograph in person within the deadline.
Applicants should not attempt to provide Express Entry biometrics in advance using an old instruction letter from another application.
What Is a Biometric Instruction Letter?
The biometric instruction letter, often abbreviated as a BIL, is the IRCC letter confirming that an applicant must provide biometrics and giving instructions for doing so.
For an online Express Entry application, IRCC sends the letter through the applicant's secure account after the application and applicable biometric fee have been received and the relevant processing step has occurred.
The BIL is important because it connects the biometric collection to the current immigration application.
IRCC instructs applicants to use the biometric instruction letter issued for the current application. Using a BIL from an earlier application can cause processing problems and may result in the new application not receiving the required biometric information correctly.
Do you need the BIL before booking?
You should follow the collection site's booking procedure after receiving your current BIL. IRCC advises applicants to book their biometric appointment as soon as the letter is received.
How Much Do Express Entry Biometrics Cost?
IRCC's current biometric fees are:
| Applicant type | Biometrics fee |
|---|---|
| Individual applicant | CAN$85 |
| Family members applying at the same time | Maximum CAN$170 |
The family maximum can apply to eligible family members applying at the same time, including a spouse or common-law partner and dependent children or their dependent children.
For Express Entry, IRCC advises applicants to pay the biometric fee when submitting the permanent residence application. Delaying payment can delay issuance of the biometric instruction letter and the processing of the application.
Is the appointment itself supposed to cost extra?
Booking a biometric appointment at an official collection location is free. IRCC specifically warns applicants not to pay someone merely to obtain a biometrics appointment.
Where Can You Give Express Entry Biometrics?
Biometrics must be collected at an authorized location. The appropriate location depends on where the applicant is physically located.
| Where you are | Typical collection location |
|---|---|
| In Canada | Designated Service Canada office |
| Outside Canada, except the United States | Visa Application Centre (VAC) |
| In the United States | U.S. Application Support Center (ASC) or Visa Application Centre |
Giving biometrics in Canada
Applicants in Canada can provide immigration biometrics at a designated Service Canada office. An appointment is required. Not every Service Canada location necessarily provides biometric collection, so applicants should use IRCC's official location finder.
Giving biometrics outside Canada
Outside Canada, biometric collection is generally available through Canada's Visa Application Centre network. If there is no VAC in the country or territory where the applicant is located, IRCC permits applicants to use a VAC in another location they can legally enter.
Giving biometrics in the United States
Applicants legally present in the United States can use an authorized U.S. Application Support Center or a Canadian Visa Application Centre, subject to the applicable appointment requirements.
Can an Express Entry applicant give biometrics at the Canadian border?
An applicant who has already submitted an application and received a BIL cannot simply provide those biometrics at a Canadian port of entry. IRCC's port-of-entry biometric collection rules apply to specific eligible work or study permit applications that are started and completed at the port of entry, not to an already-filed Express Entry permanent residence application.
What Happens at a Biometrics Appointment?
Biometrics must be provided in person. At the collection location, the applicant's fingerprints are captured electronically and a digital photograph is taken.
Applicants should follow the specific instructions from the collection location and their BIL regarding what to bring. The biometric instruction letter and the applicant's valid travel document are particularly important.
Fingerprint quality
IRCC advises applicants to keep their hands free of henna and, where possible, allow temporary cuts, cracks or injuries on the fingers to heal before the appointment. If usable fingerprints cannot be captured, the applicant may need to provide biometrics again.
Photograph requirements
The applicant's face must be clearly visible. Glasses may generally be worn if the eyes remain clearly visible and there is no glare. Sunglasses and tinted glasses are not permitted for the biometric photograph.
Religious or medically required head coverings may be worn, but the full face must remain visible and the covering must not create shadows over the face.
How Long Do You Have to Give Express Entry Biometrics?
IRCC's current Express Entry instructions state that applicants normally have 30 days from the date on the biometric instruction letter to provide their biometrics.
The deadline therefore runs from the date specified on the BIL, not from the date the applicant happens to open the message or book the appointment.
IRCC recommends booking the appointment as soon as the BIL is received. Waiting until the end of the 30-day period creates unnecessary risk if appointments are unavailable or another problem arises.
What if you cannot meet the 30-day deadline?
IRCC's current instructions state that if an applicant cannot provide biometrics before the BIL expires, the applicant should use the IRCC web form to explain why more time is needed.
Where the problem is appointment availability, IRCC advises applicants to provide details such as the date of the booked appointment and upload evidence of the appointment confirmation.
Applicants should not simply ignore the deadline. Failure to comply with a required biometric request can jeopardize the permanent residence application.
What Happens After You Give Biometrics?
Once biometrics are collected, the fingerprints and photograph are encrypted and electronically transmitted to secure Government of Canada systems.
IRCC shares fingerprint information with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) for identity and record checks. IRCC states that fingerprints are checked against relevant fingerprint records, including immigration and criminal records.
Biometric information can therefore assist IRCC in confirming identity and assessing admissibility. It is not simply a photograph attached to the application.
Do VACs and Service Canada keep the biometrics?
IRCC states that biometric collection locations such as VACs, U.S. ASCs and Service Canada locations do not keep the applicant's biometric information after it has been transmitted. The information is deleted from the collection system after transmission to IRCC.
Can biometrics be used when you arrive in Canada?
IRCC also shares fingerprints and photographs with the Canada Border Services Agency so that identity can be verified when a person arrives in Canada.
Providing biometrics does not mean the permanent residence application has been approved. It is one part of IRCC's processing and identity and admissibility screening.
Do Family Members Need Express Entry Biometrics?
Accompanying family members included in an Express Entry permanent residence application may also be subject to the biometric requirement according to their age and applicable exemptions.
This means a principal applicant should not assume that one biometric collection covers every member of the family. Each person who is required to provide biometrics must attend and provide their own fingerprints and photograph.
The family fee maximum of CAN$170 can reduce the total biometric fee where two or more eligible members of the same family apply at the same time.
Applicants should carefully review the BILs and messages issued through the IRCC account to determine which family members have been instructed to provide biometrics.
Common Express Entry Biometrics Mistakes
Assuming previous biometrics are enough
A previous visitor visa, study permit or work permit biometric enrolment does not generally satisfy the requirement for a new permanent residence application. Most PR applicants must provide biometrics again.
Using the 10-year temporary residence rule for PR
The 10-year validity rule applies differently to temporary residence. It should not be treated as a general exemption from biometrics for Express Entry permanent residence.
Using an old BIL
Applicants should use the biometric instruction letter issued for the current application. IRCC warns that using a letter from a previous application can lead to processing problems.
Waiting too long to book
The normal deadline is 30 days from the BIL. Booking early provides more time to deal with limited appointment availability or other unexpected problems.
Paying the biometrics fee late
IRCC recommends paying the fee when submitting the Express Entry application. Paying it afterward can delay issuance of the BIL and processing.
Paying someone for an appointment
Official biometric appointments are free to book. Applicants should use official collection-site booking channels and should not pay third parties simply to obtain an appointment.
Going to the wrong Service Canada location
Not every Service Canada office necessarily provides immigration biometric collection. Applicants in Canada should use the official location and appointment system identified by IRCC.
Ignoring a missed deadline
If biometrics cannot be provided before the BIL expires, the applicant should communicate with IRCC through the web form and provide a detailed explanation and supporting evidence where appropriate.
Express Entry Biometrics FAQs
Do I need biometrics to create an Express Entry profile?
No. Biometrics are not required merely to create a profile and enter the Express Entry pool. They become relevant to the permanent residence application after an Invitation to Apply.
Do I give biometrics before or after submitting my PR application?
Normally after submission. You submit the permanent residence application and pay the applicable biometric fee, then IRCC sends the biometric instruction letter telling you to provide biometrics.
I gave biometrics for my study permit. Do I need them again?
Generally, yes. IRCC requires most permanent residence applicants to provide biometrics for every PR application even when previous biometrics are still valid.
I gave biometrics for a previous PR application. Do I need them again?
Generally, yes. IRCC's current rule is that permanent residence applicants provide biometrics each time they apply, subject to applicable exemptions or special cases.
How much are Express Entry biometrics?
The current biometric fee is CAN$85 for an individual. The maximum is CAN$170 for eligible family members applying together.
How long do I have after receiving the BIL?
Express Entry applicants normally have 30 days from the date on the biometric instruction letter to provide their biometrics.
Can I give biometrics without a BIL?
For an already-submitted online Express Entry permanent residence application, applicants should wait for and use the BIL issued for that application and follow its instructions.
Where do I give biometrics if I am in Canada?
At a designated Service Canada biometric collection location, with an appointment.
Where do I give biometrics outside Canada?
Applicants outside Canada generally use a Canadian Visa Application Centre. Applicants legally in the United States may also have access to a U.S. Application Support Center.
Can I give Express Entry biometrics at a Canadian airport or border?
Not simply because you have an Express Entry BIL. Port-of-entry biometric collection is limited to specific eligible applications made at the port of entry. An applicant who already submitted an application and received a BIL must use an authorized biometric collection provider.
What if I cannot get an appointment within 30 days?
IRCC instructs applicants who cannot meet the BIL deadline to use the web form to explain why additional time is needed. If an appointment has already been booked, provide the appointment date and evidence of the booking.
Does giving biometrics mean my Express Entry application is approved?
No. Biometrics are part of identity and admissibility processing. IRCC must still complete the remaining assessment of the permanent residence application.
Biometrics requirements, fees, exemptions and collection arrangements can change. Follow the biometric instruction letter issued for your application and verify current requirements with IRCC before attending a collection location.
Biometrics — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada