A step-by-step look at biometrics

Learn about where and how to give biometrics (fingerprints and a photo) when applying for a visa, study or work permit (excluding U.S. nationals), or permanent residence.

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Transcript: A step-by-step look at biometrics

Video length: 4 minutes, 33 seconds

The video begins by showing a globe, with the map of Canada highlighted in red. A number of arrows that originate from other parts of the globe point to different spots on the map of Canada.

Text on screen: A step-by-step look at biometrics

The screen changes to show a man and a woman with suitcases. Three icons that look like official documents appear to their left. Beside the icons are the words “visa”, “permit” and “permanent residence”.

Text on screen: What are biometrics?

Narrator: If you are travelling to Canada and need a visa or permit or are applying for permanent residence, you may be required to give your biometrics—fingerprints and a photo.

The icons and text fade and are replaced by 2 icons: a fingerprint, and an identification photograph.

Narrator: When you give your biometrics, it takes just a few minutes to have your fingerprints scanned and a photo taken to establish and confirm your identity.

The screen changes to an image of a hand on a fingerprint scanner. The screen changes again to an image of a camera. The camera’s flash goes off.

Narrator: Canada, like many countries, collects biometrics as a way to prevent identity fraud and to stop criminals from entering our country.

The screen changes to show a map of the world, with the map of Canada highlighted. Two icons appear, a masked robber face inside a circle with a line through it, and an upright hand gesturing stop, placed in an octagon like a stop sign.

Narrator: Collecting and verifying your biometrics helps Canadian immigration and border services officers make sure you are who you say you are, which will facilitate your entry to Canada.

The screen changes to show a man standing in front of an officer. The man has his hand placed on a fingerprint scanner. Two icons appear between the officer and the man: a fingerprint, and an identification photograph. Green check marks appear in the icons.

Narrator: If you are applying for a visa or permit in person, and you need to give your biometrics, you can give your biometrics at the same time as you submit your application at a visa application centre.

The screen changes to a large grey circle superimposed on a blue background. Text appears in the circle.

Text on screen: Where do you go to give your biometrics?

Text on screen: If you are applying in person

Representations of a visa and a permit appear in the centre of the circle.

Text on screen: and need to give your biometrics

Two icons appear: a fingerprint and a camera.

The screen changes to show an office building.

Text on screen: Visa Application Centre (VAC)

Text on screen: Authorized by the Government of Canada

Narrator: Visa application centres (VACs) are privately owned service providers authorized by the Government of Canada.

The screen changes to an image of 2 people being served at a visa application centre.

Narrator: Since 2000, VACs have helped provide administrative support services to visa applicants before, during and after their application is assessed at an Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) office.

Text on screen: VAC

Text on screen: Provides administrative support services before, during and after assessment

Narrator: Over a million applicants around the world use VACs each year to apply to come to Canada.

Narrator: Visa application centre agents will check that your application is complete and confirm that you have paid the correct fees.

Text on screen: Agents will check that your application is complete

An icon of a form appears beside the image of the people being served. A green check mark appears inside the icon.

Text on screen: and confirm that you have paid the correct fees

The first icon fades, and an icon of a receipt appears on the opposite side of the screen. A green check mark appears inside the icon.

Narrator: They will then scan your fingerprints and take your photo.

Text on screen: They will then scan your fingerprints and take your photo

The icon fades and is replaced by 2 icons: a fingerprint and a camera.

Narrator: If you are applying online and you need to give your biometrics, you will receive your biometric instruction letter through your secure IRCC account.

Text on screen: Applying online

The screen changes to an image of an open laptop. The laptop displays the home page of IRCC’s website. A stylized envelope appears beside the laptop. The envelope opens, and the letter inside has an @ symbol on it.

Text on screen: Applying by mail

Narrator: If you are applying by mail, we will mail the biometric instruction letter to you.

The stylized envelope fades and is replaced with a realistic envelope. The envelope is addressed to IRCC. The envelope slides off the right side of the screen. An envelope from IRCC slides in to replace it.

Narrator: If you are applying for temporary residence as a visitor, student or worker, you only need to give your biometrics once every 10 years.

The screen changes to show a man and a woman with their arms around each other, a man holding a book, and a construction worker.

Text on screen: Applying for temporary residence

Text on screen: Visitor

Text on screen: Student

Text on screen: Worker

An icon of a calendar appears with the words “10 years” on it.

The screen changes to a solid blue background.

Text on screen: Where do you go to give biometrics?

Narrator: To give your biometric information, you will need to go in person to one of the following locations:

The screen changes to show 3 different office buildings.

Text on screen: One of the following locations

Narrator: in Canada, to one of select Service Canada locations;

A Canadian flag appears over the first office building.

Text on screen: In Canada

Text on screen: Select Service Canada locations

Narrator: in the United States, to an Application Support Center or a visa application centre;

An American flag appears over the second office building

Text on screen: In the U.S.

Text on screen: Application Support Centers

The first 2 buildings slide off the left of the screen, and the third building moves to the left but stays on screen. A world map appears. Canada and the United States are pale blue, and the rest of the world appears dark blue. White dots appear on the map to represent locations of visa application centres around the world.

Narrator: outside Canada and the United States, to a visa application centre.

Text on screen: Abroad

Text on screen: Visa Application Centres

Text on screen: One of the following locations

Text on screen: More than 150 visa application centres around the world

Narrator: Make an appointment, print your biometric instruction letter and bring it with you,

The screen changes to show a small printer printing a document.

Text on screen: Print your biometric instruction letter

Narrator: along with your passport or travel document, to the nearest location that accepts biometric information.

The screen changes to show a generic passport and a form that has “biometric instruction letter” printed at the top.

Text on screen: Along with your passport or travel document

Narrator: If you are applying for permanent residence, you can apply by mail. You can also apply for certain permanent residence programs online.

The screen changes to show 2 icons: a laptop computer and an envelope.

Text on screen: Apply for permanent residence

Narrator: However, VACs will not accept permanent residence applications.

The screen changes to an icon of a paper form. A large red circle with a line through it appears over the icon.

Text on screen: VACs will not accept permanent residence applications

Narrator: VACs will collect your biometrics after you have received a biometric instruction letter.

The screen changes to show 2 icons: a fingerprint and an identification photograph.

Text on screen: VACs will collect your biometrics

Narrator: If you intend to travel with family members who are at least 14 years old and not more than 79 years old, they must have their fingerprints and photographs taken.

The screen changes to show 4 people of different ages, from a teenager to a senior.

Text on screen: 14 years old and over

Text on screen: 79 years old and under

The images and text shrink, and 2 icons appear: a fingerprint and an identification photograph.

Narrator: The biometrics collection process is quick and easy.

The screen changes to show a fingerprint scanner.

Text on screen: How do you give your biometrics?

Text on screen: Quick and easy

Narrator: For fingerprints, first show the palms of your hands. We must be able to see if you have anything on your hands that could prevent us from obtaining high-quality fingerprints.

The screen changes to show 2 hands, palms facing up. The hand on the left side of the screen has nothing on it. The hand on the right side of the screen has a bandage on one finger. A circle with a green check mark appears over the hand with nothing on it, while a circle with a red X appears over the hand with the bandage on the finger.

Narrator: Place the 4 fingers of your right hand flat on the scanner.

The screen changes to show a fingerprint scanner with the 4 fingers of a person’s right hand on it. Four images of fingerprints appear to the right of the scanner, with the words “Fingers: Right” over them.

Narrator: Then, do the same with your left hand.

The right hand on the fingerprint scanner is replaced with the 4 fingers of the person’s left hand. Four images of fingerprints appear to the left of the scanner, with the words “Fingers: Left” over them.

Narrator: Then, place both thumbs on the scanner at the same time.

The left hand on the fingerprint scanner is replaced with the person’s thumbs. An image of a thumbprint appears below the set of fingerprints on each side of the scanner, with the words “Thumb: Left” and “Thumb: Right” over them.

Narrator: For the photo, look right into the camera.

The screen changes to show 2 images of a woman’s face. In the image on the left, she is looking directly into the camera, while in the image on the right, she has her head angled slightly away from the camera. A circle with a green check mark appears over the image of her looking directly into the camera, while a circle with a red X appears over the image of her angled slightly away from the camera.

Text on screen: Look into the camera

Narrator: If you wear glasses, you will need to remove them.

The screen changes to show 2 images of a different woman’s face. In the image on the left, she is not wearing glasses, while in the image on the right, she is wearing glasses. A circle with a green check mark appears over the image of her without glasses, while a circle with a red X appears over the image of her wearing glasses.

Text on screen: Remove your glasses

Narrator: Your face must be clearly visible.

The screen changes to show 2 images of a different woman’s face. In the image on the left, her hair frames her face but doesn’t cover it, while in the image on the right, her hair partially covers her face. A circle with a green check mark appears over the image without hair in front of her face, while a circle with a red X appears over the image with hair partially covering her face.

Text on screen: Your face must be seen clearly

Narrator: Do not frown or smile.

The screen changes to show 2 images of a man’s face. In the image on the left, he has a neutral expression, while in the image on the right, he’s smiling. A circle with a green check mark appears over the image of him with a neutral expression, while a circle with a red X appears over the image of him smiling.

Text on screen: Do not frown or smile

Narrator: That’s it! It only takes a few minutes. Your fingerprints, photograph and personal information will be carefully protected, stored in secure Government of Canada databases, and handled in line with Canada’s privacy laws.

The screen changes to show several secure vaults with icons of a fingerprint, an identification photograph and a form. More icons appear: a padlock, a maple leaf and an eye.

Text on screen: Carefully protected

Text on screen: Stored in secure Government of Canada databases

Text on screen: Handled in line with Canada’s privacy laws

Narrator: When you arrive in Canada, you may be asked to provide your biometrics again to verify your identity,

The screen changes to show a woman with a suitcase placing her hand on a fingerprint scanner in front of a Canadian immigration and border services officer sitting at a desk. In the background, 3 people are walking with suitcases, as in an airport. A Canadian flag with the words “Welcome” and “Bienvenue” appears in front of them. An icon of a fingerprint appears above the fingerprint scanner. A green check mark appears on the fingerprint.

Narrator: or a border services officer will compare you to the photo in your passport and to the photo taken as part of your biometrics, which will appear on the officer’s computer screen.

The screen changes to show a computer monitor on a desk, and a hand holding a passport open to the photograph page. The photographs on the passport and the computer monitor appear to match.

Narrator: Biometrics significantly reduce the chance that one person could pose as or be mistaken for another. Fingerprints are used worldwide as one of the most reliable ways to identify people.

The previous image fades into the background and is replaced with a blue screen.

Text on screen: Biometrics

Text on screen: Help protect your identity

Text on screen: Prevent identity fraud

Text on screen: Biometrics make travel easier while keeping Canada safe.

Narrator: To find out more about biometrics, please visit Canada.ca/biometrics.

The screen changes to a montage of icons superimposed over a background of ones and zeroes: an identification photograph, a fingerprint, a computer screen, a camera, a stylized globe, and a padlock.

Text on screen: Biometrics

Text on screen: Coming to Canada? Find out if you need to give biometrics

Text on screen: Canada.ca/biometrics

Text on screen: The Government of Canada is working in collaboration with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada to ensure appropriate protections are in place when collecting, using and sharing applicants’ personal and biometric information. Find out more at Canada.ca/biometrics

The background music slowly fades as the screen fades to black.

The IRCC corporate signature and the copyright message are displayed.

The music ends. The Canada wordmark appears in the centre of the screen.

The screen fades to black for a final time as the video ends.