Canadian Embassy goes biometric

As part of the measures to control security risks, and to facilitate identification procedures, the government of Canada will on July 31, 2018 commerce the use of biometrics procedures for all its applicant.

All applicants from Europe, the Middle East, and Africa submitting an application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will be required to provide biometrics.

In a tweets by the Canadian embassy, visa applicants are urged to take note of the changes effective July 31st.

Planning a trip to Canada this summer? Find out whether you will need to give your biometrics to get a new visa or a permit. If you already have a valid visa, you don’t need to provide biometrics until you renew your visa. https://t.co/nkzgnvP5vc pic.twitter.com/ISP7QSS7aE

— Canada In Ghana (@CanHCGhana) July 24, 2018

The expanded biometrics program will affect those entering Canada to work, study, or immigrate permanently.

Everyone applying for a visitor visa, a work permit or study permit (except US citizens), as well as all applicants for permanent residence or refugee or asylum status will need to supply certain data, including fingerprints and a photograph.

Canada is not the only country to have implemented measures requiring certain foreign nationals to provide biometric data before being approved for entry.

More than 70 countries worldwide use biometrics in their immigration processes.