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Biometrics and the application process

Image that represents the different stages of the application process and biometrics.

We refer to your fingerprints and photo as biometrics. We collect biometrics for most applications. Find out what happens from when you submit your application to when you get to Canada and where biometrics fits in the process.

1. Apply for your visitor visa, study permit or work permit

If you want to visit, study or work in Canada, make sure you’re eligible to apply. Use our application guides to help fill out your application properly, then submit your application.

Avoid processing delays by sending us a complete application.

2. Get your fingerprints and photo taken

If you’re between 14 and 79 years old, you probably need to give your fingerprints and photo (biometrics).You only need to give your biometrics once every 10 years to make repeat trips to Canada easier.

  • You must pay the biometrics fee when you submit your application. Otherwise you may experience delays.
  • Get this done as soon as you get the letter from us that tells you to give biometrics.
  • You have 30 days to do this from the date on the letter.

Find out who needs to give, how to give, and where to give your biometrics.

3. We process your application

After we get your biometrics, we start processing your application. See how long it takes to process your application.

If we need more information from you, we’ll contact you.

4. We make a decision on your application

When we finish reviewing your application, we let you know if you’re approved to come to Canada. If you are, we issue your documents.

If your application is refused, we send you a letter that tells you why.

5. You travel to Canada (if you’re approved)

Make sure you travel with the documents we gave you. This includes travel documents like a visitor visa, study or work permits or an eTA (electronically linked to your passport).

Airline staff and border service officers at ports of entry will ask to see your travel documents. If you don’t have them, you may not be able to board your flight to Canada.

Make sure children under 18 travel with the right documents.

6. We check your identity when you arrive in Canada

When you arrive, we check your identity to make sure that you are the same person who was approved to travel to Canada. We may use your biometrics to do this.

If we can’t verify your identity, you may be detained by a border services officer. These officers help protect the health and safety of Canadians.

If the officer determines that you’re not admissible to Canada, you won’t be allowed to enter Canada. If you came by air, you’ll have to take a return flight to where you came from.

7. You’re allowed to enter Canada

If you pass the identity check and meet the entry requirements, the border services officer stamps your passport and lets you know how long you can stay in Canada. You’re normally allowed to stay in Canada for up to six months.

Children under 18 must meet the same entry requirements as adults. The border services officer may ask minor children to show other documents depending on whether the child is travelling alone or with someone.

Basic entry requirements

You must meet some basic requirements to enter Canada. You must:

  • have a valid travel document, like a passport
  • be in good health
  • have no criminal or immigration-related convictions
  • convince an immigration officer that you have ties—such as a job, home, financial assets or family—that will take you back to your home country
  • convince an immigration officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your visit
  • have enough money for your stay
    • The amount of money you will need depends on how long you will stay and if you will stay in a hotel, or with friends or relatives.

Some people are not admissible to Canada, which means they are not allowed to enter the country. You can be inadmissible for several reasons, including being involved in:

  • criminal activity
  • human rights violations
  • organized crime

You can also be inadmissible for security, health or financial reasons.

Find out more about inadmissibility.

Biometrics fee

  • Individual applicant: CAD $85
  • Families applying at the same time: maximum total fee of CAD $170
  • Groups of 3 or more performing artists and their staff who apply for work permits at the same time: maximum total fee of $CAD 255

How to apply

You can apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) from within Canada or from another country, as long as you’re eligible.

You have up to 180 days after you graduate to apply for a PGWP.

If your study permit expires before you apply

If you don’t change your status to visitor and your study permit expires, you have up to 90 days after your study permit expires to apply for a PGWP and restore your status as a student.

To restore your status as a student, you must

  • apply online for your PGWP and pay the correct fee ($255), and
  • pay the fee to restore your status as a student (Error loading fee. Check the fee list.)

You can’t work until your work permit has been approved. Find out if you meet the other requirements to work while we process your application.

If you don’t apply within 90 days, or if 90 days have already passed, you must leave Canada.

Your study permit must be valid (not expired) at the time you submit your application to be eligible to work in Canada while awaiting a decision on your PGWP application.

If you need to extend or change the conditions of your PGWP

You must apply on paper if you’re extending or changing the conditions of your PGWP.

You can only extend your PGWP if your passport expired earlier than the full period of eligibility of your PGWP. If your passport expired earlier than the length of time you’re eligible, we will only issue you a PGWP that’s valid until your passport expires.

This would be indicated in a note on your initial PGWP.

You may need to change the conditions on your PGWP if you need to provide an additional document, like a medical exam, after you already applied.

You don’t have to provide proof of language ability when you apply to extend your PGWP.

How to remove the job restrictions on your PGWP

There may be restrictions on your PGWP because you didn’t have a medical exam before you came to Canada. These restrictions prevent you from working in

  • jobs that bring you into close contact with people, such as
    • workers in health care settings
    • clinical laboratory workers
    • patient attendants in nursing and geriatric homes
    • medical students admitted to Canada to attend university
    • medical electives and physicians on short-term locums
    • workers in primary or secondary school settings or workers in child care settings
    • domestics
    • workers who give in-home care to children, the elderly or people with disabilities
    • day nursery employees
    • other similar jobs
  • jobs in agriculture if you’ve visited or lived in 1 of these countries for more than 6 months during the past year

You must get a medical exam within 90 days of your arrival. You will need a chest X-ray and blood test.

You may need to pay a fee for this exam.

Once you get your medical exam results, you can ask to have these restrictions removed. To do this, you must apply on paper to change the conditions on your PGWP.

Apply online

In most cases, you must apply online for a PGWP.

Step 1: Make sure you have what you need

To apply online, you’ll need

Step 2: Read the instruction guide

You should read the applicable guide for your situation before you complete your application. The guide will explain how to complete each field on the form.

If you’re applying online from outside Canada, read guide 5487 – applying for a work permit outside Canada.

If you’re applying online from inside Canada, read guide 5580 – Applying for a work permit – online application.

Step 3: Prepare your answers for the online tool

Before you can upload your forms, you must answer some questions. We use your answers to create a personalized document checklist for you.

When you fill out the PDF forms, your answers must be accurate. If you’re currently residing in Canada, use your Canadian address regardless of which instructions you’re using to apply .

Due to system limitations, the document checklist won’t ask you to provide language test results or proof that you graduated from an eligible field of study. If you’re required to provide either, you must upload them in the “Client information” section of your account.

We’re working to update the document checklist and our systems.

Step 4: Know the fees you have to pay

In most cases, your fees will include processing fees for you and anyone you include on your application.

We’ll ask you to pay your fees at the end of your application. Make sure you pay both the open work permit holder fee and the work permit fee.

Third-party fees

Depending on your situation, you may need to pay third parties for:

If you need to use any of these services, you’ll pay these fees directly to the third party.

Biometrics fee

In most cases, you should pay a biometrics fee when you submit your application. Otherwise you may experience delays. The biometrics fee covers the cost of collecting fingerprints and a digital photo. Find out if you need to give your biometrics.

Step 5: Create your online account or sign in

You need an account to apply online. You can use your account to:

Submitting your proof of language or field of study requirement (if applicable)

Due to system limitations, you must upload your proof of language and proof that you graduated in an eligible field of study under “Client Information.”

If you’re not sure what language levels you need or if you need to meet the field of study requirement, check your study program requirements.

Create an account or sign in

If you can’t apply online

You can submit a paper application if

If you’re in Canada, find out how to apply on paper from inside Canada.

If you’re not in Canada, read the instruction guide for how to apply on paper from outside Canada.

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