Visiting Canada
Biometrics for a Canadian application: who needs them, what they cost, how long they last
Who has to give fingerprints and a photo, who is exempt, the $85 fee or $170 per family, and the 10-year validity of biometrics for Canadian applications.
Fingerprints and a photo: most people applying for a Canadian visa, permit or permanent residence have to give their biometrics. Most, not all, and not every time. This quick guide answers the questions families ask most: who has to go, who is exempt, what it costs, and how long biometrics last.
Who has to give biometrics?
Unless exempt, you give biometrics when you apply for temporary residence (visitor visa, study permit, work permit), permanent residence, an extension of your stay, or refugee or asylum status.
Who is exempt?
- Children under 14.
- Applicants over 79, except asylum claimants, for whom there is no upper age limit.
- U.S. nationals, for temporary residence applications.
- Canadian citizens and permanent residents, except permanent residents renewing or replacing a PR card.
- Visa-exempt visitors travelling with an eTA, for their visit.
- A few others, such as heads of state and holders of diplomatic or official visas.
An exemption for one type of application does not automatically carry over to another. A visa-exempt visitor who later applies for a work permit, for example, may need to give biometrics.
Which age counts?
Your age on the day you submit the application. If you were 79 when you applied and turned 80 while it was processed, you still have to give biometrics.
How long are biometrics valid?
A visa or permit cannot be issued for more than 10 years from the date your biometrics were last collected. Biometrics still within that period may save you a new appointment for a temporary application; if you want a longer validity, you can choose to give them again. Your application's instructions tell you whether a new collection is required.
What does it cost?
| Who | Fee |
|---|---|
| One person | $85 |
| A family applying at the same time | $170 maximum |
| A group of three or more performing artists and their staff applying for work permits together | $255 maximum |
How the appointment works
- Pay the biometrics fee with your application.
- Wait for IRCC's biometric instruction letter before booking.
- Book at a collection point: a visa application centre abroad, or a designated service point in Canada.
- Bring the letter and your passport, within the deadline stated in the letter.
If no appointment is available before the deadline, keep proof of your attempts and contact IRCC before it passes.
For the rest of your application, see our guides to visitor visa documents and to studying in Quebec.
Frequently asked questions
Do I give biometrics for a super visa?
A super visa is a temporary residence application, so biometrics are generally required unless an exemption, such as age, applies.
I gave biometrics for my study permit. Do I need them again for my work permit?
Not necessarily, if they are still valid, but the permit cannot run beyond 10 years from the collection date. Follow your application's instructions.
Official sources
Official pages consulted on October 11, 2026:
More in this series
- Canada visitor visa documents: build a clear, consistent application
- Writing an invitation letter for a Canadian visitor visa: what to include, with a template
- Super visa for your parents: a checklist for the host in Canada
- Visitor record: how to extend your stay as a visitor in Canada
- Canadian visitor visa refused: reconsideration request, new application or judicial review?
About this guide
Written for Visa Canada Rouge, a Montreal immigration consultancy led by Moadh Rahmaoui, Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC-IRB, licence R534941, listed on the public register of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants).
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Immigration requirements, fees and processing times change often: check them on the official websites (canada.ca, quebec.ca) when you apply. No outcome can be guaranteed.
Every file is different.
This guide covers the general rules. To find out what applies to you, talk to a regulated consultant.