You can only request an extension of the deadline under one condition: if the biometrics office doesn’t have any free appointments available within the 30-day deadline of your biometrics letter.
Biometrics
Do I have to give biometrics for the Working Holiday?
In 2018, Canada introduced biometrics as a mandatory step for all new applications, and are necessary when applying for a Visitor Visa, Work Permit, or Study Permit. Biometrics are also a part of the permanent residence application process. Therefore, the answer is clear: biometrics are mandatory.
The regular procedure in the IEC process:
Invitation Received: After you receive the invitation, you must upload all required documents, pay the fee, and submit the application within the deadline.
Biometric Fee: The biometrics fee is $85, and you can see it in the fee overview at the end of your application.
Biometric Instruction Letter (BIL): Within 24 hours of submitting your application, you will receive a letter with instructions on what to do next. This letter is the Biometric Instruction Letter (BIL).
Make an Appointment at the Collection Centre: You will receive a confirmation email or booking reference.
Biometrics Deadline: You have 30 days to submit your biometrics.
Visit the Collection Centre: Take your passport and the Biometric Instruction Letter to a biometrics collection center in person. At the center, they will take your fingerprints and a photo. The entire process takes less than 10 minutes.
After Submitting Biometrics: Once you’ve completed the biometrics, there’s nothing more you need to do.
Wait for Notifications: Sit back and relax while waiting for new notifications in your GCKey account.
Your Processing Time Starts: If all your other documents are in order, you will receive your approval within the 8 weeks regular processing time. This will be your > POE <, which you’ve been waiting for.
Where can I give the biometrics?
You are not required to submit your biometrics in your home country. Instead, you have the flexibility to visit any biometrics collection center worldwide. Biometrics can be submitted at the following designated locations:
- Visa Application Centres (VACs) globally
- Application Support Centers (ASCs) in the United States
- Service Canada Offices (SCOs) in Canada.
Biometrics appointments are free, don’t pay anyone to book an appointment.
Enter your country >> here << to find the city near you.
My country doesn't have a biometrics collection center
If your country doesn’t have a biometrics collection center, you will need to travel to a neighboring country or any other country that is convenient for you.
For instance, if you are from Denmark or Norway, you can travel to Sweden, where a biometrics collection center is available. Just make sure to check the nearest location and schedule an appointment accordingly.
What do I need for the biometrics appointment?
For your biometrics appointment, you must bring both of the following documents:
- your printed Biometric Instruction Letter (BIL)
- your valid passport that you used in the application
Very important information from the Government of Canada
(from the link here):
“We can’t issue your visa or permit beyond the expiry date of your biometrics. If you want a visa or permit for a longer period of time, you can extend the validity of your biometrics by giving them again when you apply, even if they’re still valid.”
Here are the steps if you gave biometrics before:
Check the Status of Your Biometrics: Use the Check Status tool to see if your biometrics are still valid. If your biometrics are still valid for the duration of your intended stay, you can ignore the following steps.
If Your Biometrics Are Expiring During Your Intended Stay in Canada:
- Pay the biometrics fee > here < and print the receipt.
- Upload the receipt in the “Client Information” spot of your application, along with an explanation that you would like to give your biometrics again.
- Submit your application.
Wait for the Biometric Instruction Letter (BIL): After submitting your application, wait for the BIL to be issued.
Book an Appointment: Once you have the BIL, book an appointment to give your biometrics at one of the VAC locations, or at certain Service Canada locations within Canada.
Give Your Biometrics: Take your Biometric Instruction Letter (BIL) and passport with you to the appointment to give your biometrics.
How long does it take for the biometrics to appear in my GCKey account?
Once you have submitted your biometrics, the collection centre will encrypt your fingerprints and photo and submit them electronically to a secure Government of Canada database. You might receive a sticker on the back of your passport, but you can safely ignore it. At this point, there’s nothing more you need to do.
Please note, it may take some time for your biometrics to be processed and assigned to your GCKey account.
This Government of Canada database:
Will share your biometrics with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to check their database.
Will share your biometrics with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to verify your identity when you arrive in Canada.
May be shared under the “Five Eyes Alliance” with the US, the United Kingdom (UK), Australia, and New Zealand, if necessary.
I am already in Canada. Can I give the biometrics in Canada?
Yes, you can give your biometrics at a designated Service Canada office.
- You must make an appointment > here < first
- To make the appointment you need the Application Number (on the top-right of your letter)
Heads up for IEC applicants applying from within Canada:
Normally, if it’s your first application, the $85 biometrics fee appears in the application fee summary, and you pay it when submitting your work permit application. However, applicants from within Canada may experience a small system glitch, as has happened in previous seasons.
In such cases, the $85 biometrics fee doesn’t show up in the application fees, and as a result, no biometrics letter is generated.
If this happens to you during the application process, here’s what you should do if the $85 are missing:
- Pay the $85 biometrics fee via the > following link < (you will need to register for this payment option).
- Once you’ve made the payment, print the receipt.
- Create an explanation letter and politely explain that the biometrics fee was not part of the application and that you would like to request the biometrics letter.
- Upload the explanation letter and receipt into the “Client Information” spot.
- Once your request is processed, you will receive the Biometric Instruction Letter (BIL).
Hopefully, this glitch will be fixed in future seasons, but in the meantime, following these steps will help speed up your application process.
If this happened to you and you noticed after you submitted the application:
- First, pay the $85 biometrics fee and print the receipt.
- Go >here< and create a webform.
- From the drop-down list, select “International Experience Canada.”
- Politely explain that the biometrics fee was not part of the application and request the biometrics letter.
- Upload the payment receipt to the webform.
- After submitting the webform, wait for the Biometric Instruction Letter (BIL) to be issued.
Can I give the biometrics beforehand to save time?
No, you can’t. Instead, you must wait until you receive a biometric instruction letter in your GCKey account. This letter, which you’ll need to bring with you to your appointment, will only be issued after you’ve received an invitation and submitted your Working Holiday application.
What if I don't give the biometrics in the 30-day deadline?
If you fail to submit your biometrics within 30 days, your Working Holiday application will be refused.
Once the 30-day deadline has passed, the Biometric Instruction Letter (BIL) will no longer be valid.
If your application is refused, you will need to reapply to the IEC pool, wait for a new invitation, and pay the fees again. However, the application fees from the previous application will be automatically refunded within 8 weeks.
If I cannot give the biometrics within 30 days can I extend the deadline?
Note, that you cannot get an extension if you give the following reasons:
- You have work commitments and can’t take time off.
- You are waiting for cheaper flights (if you need to submit biometrics outside your home country).
- You’re on a road trip or vacation.
- The biometrics office is too far away.
- Other factors that are within your control.
In such cases, you will need to ensure you submit your biometrics within the specified timeframe to avoid a refusal.
If you need a deadline extension because there are no available appointments at the collection center, follow these steps:
- Take screenshots from the appointment reservation system showing the lack of available appointments.
- Contact IRCC through the web form >here<.
- Select “International Experience Canada” from the drop-down list.
- Attach the proof (screenshots) of unavailable appointments.
If IRCC accepts your request for an extension, you will not receive a confirmation email. Instead, you will receive a new biometric instruction letter (BIL) in your GCKey account.
Can I give the biometrics at an embassy, at the airport or at the border?
No, you cannot submit your biometrics at an embassy, airport, or border for the IEC process. In fact, you are required to visit one of the designated biometrics collection centers.
I have already submitted the biometrics for another Canadian work permit. Do I have to give them again?
No, you won’t need to submit your biometrics again if you’ve already provided them for another Canadian work permit. For example, if you previously submitted biometrics for the Working Holiday permit and are now applying for the Young Professional work permit, you won’t need to repeat the process.
Biometrics are valid for 10 years. You can check >here< if your biometrics are still valid.
If my Working Holiday application is refused and I apply again, do I have to give the biometrics again?
No, as mentioned above, the biometrics are valid for 10 years. When applying, you simply answer “yes” to the question of whether you have already submitted biometrics. If your biometrics are still valid, they will be automatically linked to your application.