Pay the $85 biometrics fee with the super visa application, with a maximum of $170 for a family applying together, then wait for the biometric instruction letter and book an appointment at an official visa application centre as soon as it arrives, per IRCC’s how to give biometrics page. Bring the letter and the passport. Applicants over 79, United States nationals and visa-exempt applicants are exempt, per IRCC’s biometrics page. Fingerprints are checked again at the airport kiosk on arrival.
The appointment itself takes minutes. The delay is the time to get a slot, which is why IRCC says to book the moment the letter arrives.
What do you need before you start?
A paid application, the letter, and a passport. The fee is paid at the end of the online application; paying it then, rather than later, is what triggers the letter without delay, per IRCC’s how to apply page.
| Item | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Biometrics fee | $85 per person; $170 maximum for a family applying together | IRCC biometrics |
| Biometric instruction letter (BIL) | Sent after the fee is paid; do not reuse an old one | IRCC how to give |
| Valid passport | Required at the appointment | IRCC how to give |
| Appointment | Free to book; required at Service Canada and US centres; advisable at visa application centres | IRCC how to give |
| Exemptions | Under 14, over 79, US nationals, visa-exempt applicants, holders of an in-process PR application that collected biometrics | IRCC biometrics |
How do you give biometrics, step by step?
- Pay the fee with the application. Select biometrics in the fee section when submitting the super visa application. IRCC says paying at submission helps avoid delays.
- Watch the portal and email for the letter. The biometric instruction letter arrives after payment is processed.
- Find an official collection site. Use IRCC’s site finder for the parent’s country. Visa application centres are the sites outside Canada and the United States.
- Book immediately. Booking is free. Choose the earliest slot; some centres accept walk-ins or emergency appointments, but a booking is safer.
- Prepare for the photo and prints. No tinted or sunglasses, eyes visible, hair off the face, no henna on the hands, any hand injuries healed. Daily religious or medical head coverings are fine if the full face shows.
- Attend in person with the letter and passport. Biometrics cannot be given by proxy.
- Check the quality note. If prints cannot be captured at high quality, the centre will ask the parent to return later.
- Continue with the application. IRCC links the biometrics to the file; nothing else needs to be uploaded.
How do biometrics affect the visa validity?
A super visa cannot be valid longer than the biometrics. IRCC’s how to apply page says that if biometrics were already given, the super visa cannot be valid longer than they are, and that their validity can be extended. For a parent who gave biometrics for an earlier visitor visa, check the remaining validity before applying, since a ten-year super visa cut short by old biometrics means an earlier renewal application.
What happens with biometrics at the border?
An automatic fingerprint check at the ten major airports with primary inspection kiosks, per IRCC’s after you apply page. At smaller airports and all land crossings, the check may happen at secondary inspection with a fingerprint device. The same page says the officer may ask for the super visa application documents and proof of paid health insurance covering one year from the date of entry, so keep the certificate in carry-on luggage. The port of entry page covers what to show.
How long does it take?
The fee is paid in minutes, the letter usually follows once payment is processed, and the appointment itself is short. The waiting is for a slot, which varies by city and season. IRCC’s processing time tool includes the biometrics time in its estimate, per the processing times page.
What if something goes wrong?
If the letter does not arrive, check that the fee shows as paid in the portal and use the IRCC web form. If no appointment is available for weeks, check neighbouring cities and ask the centre about emergency slots. If the parent is over 79, no biometrics are needed and no letter will come. If the parent reused an old letter by mistake, book again with the current one and inform IRCC through the web form before a decision is made.
SuperVisaDirect is operated by Super Visa Direct Insurance Services, an independent Ontario life and accident-and-sickness insurance agency licensed by FSRA (licence [FSRA-LICENCE]), serving Ontario residents; British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba are planned for 2028. Designated licensed agent: Cameron Hayes. We arrange the insurance and do not give immigration advice. Email [email protected] or request a callback, Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 6:00pm Eastern Time. The complete checklist puts biometrics in sequence with the other steps.
Questions people ask
Does a super visa applicant need to give biometrics?
Yes, unless exempt. IRCC requires fingerprints and a photo for temporary residence applications, which includes the super visa. The exemptions that matter for parents are age over 79, nationals of the United States, and visa-exempt applicants who do not pay the visa fee. Everyone else pays $85 and attends in person.
How much does biometrics cost for parents applying together?
$85 per person, with a maximum of $170 for a family applying at the same time. IRCC's family cap covers a spouse or common-law partner and dependent children, so two parents applying together pay $170 in total. Paying the fee when the application is submitted avoids delay.
What is the biometric instruction letter?
The letter IRCC sends after the biometrics fee is paid, confirming that biometrics are required and explaining how to book. Do not use a letter from an earlier application; IRCC says that can delay or lead to refusal. Book as soon as the current letter arrives.
Where does my parent give biometrics?
At an official visa application centre in their country, found through IRCC's official site to avoid fraud. Booking is free. Booking ahead is best, though some centres accept walk-ins or emergency appointments. In Canada the sites are Service Canada offices; in the United States, Application Support Centers.
What should my parent bring to the appointment?
The biometric instruction letter and a valid passport. Eyes must be visible with no glare on glasses, hair off the face, hands free of henna and any temporary injuries healed. Head coverings worn daily for religious or medical reasons are allowed if the full face is visible. Poor-quality fingerprints may mean a second visit.
Are biometrics checked again at the border?
Yes. At the ten major Canadian airports with primary inspection kiosks, fingerprints are checked automatically against the application. At smaller airports and land crossings they may be checked at secondary inspection with a fingerprint device. The parent should also carry the paid insurance certificate at entry.
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