Do I have to be fingerprinted to apply for a Canadian visa?

As we all know, in the process of applying for visas in some developed countries such as Schengen countries, applicants need to collect biometric information. As a developed country, Canada began to follow suit and also took measures to collect applicants' fingerprints.

In fact, the measures to collect the applicant's fingerprints are to more effectively identify and manage the applicant's identity, and to prevent the identity from being stolen by some illegal elements, which poses a threat and harm to Canada and the applicant.

In order to avoid this problem, Canada has implemented measures to collect fingerprints from applicants since December 31, 2018, but not all applicants need to enter fingerprints.

So which groups of people must collect fingerprints?

First-time Canadian visa applicants must take fingerprints

Applicants who have previously applied for a Canadian visa but whose visa has expired need to re-enter their fingerprints.

3. For short-term visit visa, such as tourism, business, visiting relatives and friends, etc.; work or study permit; permanent residents are required to collect fingerprints

4. Applicants who have previously applied for a Canadian visa but have been refused will also need to take their fingerprints again.

The fingerprint collection of Canadian visa is different from that of other European countries. The collection of biometric information can be collected once every 10 years, and applicants do not need to enter it every time.

And when collecting information, it is also to make an appointment on the website in advance, and then choose the appropriate visa center nearby, which is more convenient for the handling person, and there will also be staff to guide the handling person to collect, thus avoiding a lot of trouble.

To sum up, not everyone who applies for a Canadian visa needs to enter fingerprints. Only the above-mentioned applicants need to enter fingerprints. As Canadian fingerprint entry requires an appointment, the applicant needs to make preparations in advance.