A biometric instruction letter is a document sent by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) when an applicant needs to provide biometrics as part of an immigration application.
The letter confirms that biometrics are required and provides instructions for booking an appointment. Biometrics generally involve having your fingerprints and photograph taken in person at an official collection location.
Receiving this letter can feel like an important milestone, but it is important to understand what it actually means. It is an instruction to complete a required processing step, not confirmation that your application has been approved.
This guide explains why IRCC sends the letter, what you should do after receiving it, what to take to your appointment, and what happens after your biometrics are collected.
A biometric instruction letter, often referred to as a BIL, confirms that IRCC requires you to provide biometrics for your current application.
IRCC normally issues the letter after the applicable biometrics fee has been paid. The BIL tells you how to arrange your biometrics appointment.
Your fingerprints and photograph are then collected in person at an official biometric collection site.
The exact biometrics requirements depend on the type of application and your circumstances, so receiving a BIL means you should follow the instructions in the letter issued specifically for your current application.
Biometrics are used as part of Canada’s immigration screening and identity-management process.
Not every applicant has the same biometrics requirements. Factors such as the type of application, the applicant’s age and whether valid biometrics have previously been provided can affect whether they need to be collected. IRCC provides an online tool for checking whether biometrics may be required.
If IRCC determines that you need to provide them, the biometric instruction letter confirms the requirement and allows you to move on to the collection stage.
No. Receiving a BIL should not be interpreted as approval of your visa, permit or permanent residence application.
It means that biometrics are required as part of processing your application.
IRCC may still need to assess eligibility, admissibility and other applicable requirements before reaching a final decision.
Depending on the application, there may also be other processing stages. For example, an applicant could later need an immigration medical exam or receive an IRCC additional document request if further evidence is required.
Think of the BIL as an instruction to complete one stage of the application rather than an indication of the final outcome.
Read the entire letter carefully before doing anything else.
IRCC currently advises applicants to book their appointment as soon as they receive their BIL to avoid delays. In the standard process, applicants generally have 30 days from receiving the letter to provide their biometrics, although you should always follow the deadline and instructions stated in your own letter.
Your next steps will usually involve:
Booking a biometrics appointment itself is free.
You must use an official biometric collection location.
Depending on where you are, this may include a:
The options available depend on your location and circumstances. IRCC recommends using its official website to locate an authorized collection site and avoid fraud.
If you are in Canada, biometrics can be provided at designated Service Canada locations. An appointment is required.
Do not assume that every immigration office or Service Canada location collects biometrics.
Only in limited circumstances.
IRCC states that biometrics can be given at a port of entry when someone is eligible to apply for a study or work permit there and starts and completes that application at the port of entry.
If you have already submitted an application and received a BIL, you cannot simply provide those biometrics when entering Canada. You need to use one of the appropriate biometric service providers instead.
This distinction is particularly important if you are also reading about a Port of Entry Letter, which is a different immigration document with a different purpose.
For the standard process, IRCC says you must bring:
IRCC also makes specific provisions for certain asylum claimants and protected persons who do not have a passport.
Make sure you use the BIL issued for your current application. IRCC warns that attempting to provide biometrics using a letter from an earlier application may cause processing delays or potentially result in the current application being refused.
Before attending, check your letter and the collection site’s requirements in case there are any additional local instructions.
Biometrics must normally be provided in person.
At the appointment, the collection process generally involves:
IRCC provides specific guidance to help ensure that fingerprints and photographs can be captured properly. For example, your face must be clearly visible, tinted glasses are not permitted for the photograph, and temporary injuries to the fingers should be healed before biometrics are taken.
If sufficiently high-quality fingerprints cannot be collected, IRCC notes that you may need to provide biometrics again later.
Do not simply ignore the deadline.
IRCC currently states that applicants who cannot provide their biometrics before their BIL expires should use the IRCC web form to explain why they need additional time.
If the issue is that you could not obtain an appointment before the deadline, IRCC asks applicants to provide details such as the appointment date and evidence of the appointment confirmation.
The instructions contained in your own letter remain important, so check them carefully and act as early as possible if you anticipate a problem.
It depends on what you are applying for.
For temporary residence applications, biometrics are generally valid for 10 years. This can apply to applications for visitor visas, study permits and work permits.
Permanent residence is different. IRCC currently states that most permanent residence applicants must provide biometrics each time they apply, subject to certain special cases.
Therefore, do not assume that previous biometrics automatically remove the requirement for your current application.
If IRCC sends you a new BIL, follow the instructions for that application.
IRCC provides an online biometrics status checker that applicants can use to determine whether previous biometrics remain valid and when they expire.
This can be particularly useful for temporary residence applicants who have previously provided fingerprints and a photograph.
Keep in mind that IRCC cannot issue a temporary visa or permit extending beyond 10 years from the date your biometrics were last provided.
Providing biometrics does not complete the entire immigration application.
Once IRCC receives the biometrics, processing continues according to the requirements of the immigration program and the applicant’s circumstances.
You may receive further communications during processing.
For example, IRCC could ask for additional supporting information, request a medical examination where applicable, or continue assessing the application before reaching a final decision.
Applicants who want to understand information recorded on an application that has been processing may, in appropriate circumstances, also consider requesting GCMS notes.
The important point is that completing biometrics is one processing requirement rather than the final decision.
No. The two communications serve different purposes.
An acknowledgment of receipt generally relates to IRCC confirming receipt of an application in processes where an AOR is issued.
A BIL has a specific purpose: it tells you that you need to provide biometrics and gives you instructions for arranging the appointment.
Depending on your application, you may encounter several different IRCC letters and notifications during processing. Always identify what a communication is asking you to do rather than assuming that every IRCC letter represents the same stage.
No.
The biometric instruction letter deals specifically with providing fingerprints and a photograph. It does not replace the forms, supporting evidence or other visa documents required for your application.
Earlier in the application process, for example, some applicants may need to provide detailed background information through IMM 5669 Schedule A or disclose relevant trips through IMM 5562 Travel History.
Each document serves a different purpose within the immigration process.
Receiving a BIL usually comes with a relatively straightforward set of instructions, but applicants can still create unnecessary problems by misunderstanding the process.
Common mistakes to avoid include:
Read the instructions carefully before booking and keep the letter available for your appointment.
If you receive a biometric instruction letter, your immediate priority should be practical rather than trying to interpret it as a sign of whether your application will succeed.
Check the deadline, locate an official collection site, book your appointment and prepare the documents you need to bring.
If you have previously given biometrics, confirm whether they can be reused for the type of application you are making rather than assuming that the same rules apply to temporary and permanent residence.
Once your biometrics have been provided, continue monitoring your IRCC account and communications for any further instructions.
If you are preparing or following the progress of a Canadian immigration application, these related resources can help you understand other forms and processing stages:
It means IRCC requires you to provide biometrics for your current application. The letter confirms the requirement and provides instructions for arranging your appointment.
No. A BIL is an instruction to complete the biometrics requirement. Your immigration application still needs to go through the applicable assessment and processing stages.
IRCC currently states that applicants generally have 30 days from receiving their BIL to provide biometrics. Always check the deadline and instructions in your own letter.
For the standard process, IRCC requires you to bring the BIL issued for your current application and your valid passport. Specific exceptions exist for certain asylum claimants and protected persons without passports.
For temporary residence applicants, biometrics generally need to be provided only once every 10 years. Most permanent residence applicants, however, must provide biometrics each time they apply, subject to certain exceptions.
A biometric instruction letter tells you that IRCC requires your fingerprints and photograph as part of processing your immigration application.
Receiving the letter does not mean your application has been approved. Instead, it gives you a specific action to complete: read the instructions, check your deadline, book an appointment at an official collection location and bring the required documents.
Once your biometrics have been collected, IRCC can continue processing your application and may contact you if further information or steps are required.
If you need help understanding an IRCC request or navigating your Canadian immigration application, book a consultation with Canada GMC to discuss your circumstances and next steps.
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