Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has revised its policies to ease the biometric requirements for certain permanent residence (PR) applicants. Effective September 10, 2020, applicants who have already submitted their biometrics within the past ten years as part of a previous application will no longer need to provide them again.
This interim measure is part of IRCC’s broader response to pandemic-related disruptions. During the COVID-19 crisis, many biometric collection sites and Visa Application Centres (VACs) around the world suspended operations, creating significant hurdles for thousands of applicants. The backlog in biometric collection has also contributed to a growing number of stalled PR applications.
To address these bottlenecks, IRCC implemented the exemption to eliminate redundant biometric submissions from applicants who have already completed the process. This policy applies whether the individual is currently residing in Canada or applying from abroad, provided they meet the eligibility requirements.
The agency highlighted that many affected applicants had previously submitted biometrics for visitor visas, study permits, or work permits. Since biometric data is valid for ten years once submitted, IRCC emphasizes it is unnecessary to collect this data again within that timeframe.
Although biometric service points continue to recover from pandemic disruptions, some VACs remain closed or are operating under limited capacity, particularly outside of Canada. Against this backdrop, IRCC’s policy aims to reduce procedural delays and prevent further setbacks for those navigating the immigration process.
Maple News notes that this policy will remain in place indefinitely unless otherwise stated by the Canadian government. Applicants should verify their biometric status through IRCC’s official tools or consult with authorized immigration professionals to determine their eligibility under the exemption.
The decision reflects Canada’s ongoing efforts to modernize and streamline the immigration process by reducing administrative burdens and focusing resources on new applicants who require initial biometric verification.