Author
Submitting biometrics is now a required step for certain applicants for a Canadian work permit, including those applying under the International Experience Class (IEC) program.
- Since July 31, 2018 – applicants from Europe, Middle East and Africa
- Since December 31, 2018 – applicants from Asia, Asia Pacific and the Americas
Because biometrics for IEC applicants has caused some confusion and disruption since being implemented in the summer of 2018, we have put together this guide to make sure you have the best chances of enjoying an IEC participation in Canada.
What is the IEC program?
The IEC program is a youth exchange program for international youth from more than 30 countries to spend time living and working in Canada. Through the IEC, Canada welcomes tens of thousands of working holidaymakers, young professionals and interns annually.
What are biometrics?
The biometric process involves the collection of electronic fingerprints, a digital photograph, and personal details of applicants. There is a fee of $85 CAD for individual applicants, with families applying together at the same time paying a maximum of $170.
Why has Canada expanded biometrics for IEC participants?
Submitting biometrics is not only required for IEC, it’s required for applications for a work permit (including IEC applicants), study permit, visitor visa, permanent residence, or refugee or asylum status, with a few exceptions.
Biometrics for IEC 2019 season
With the 2019 IEC season now open, the new season looks a lot like previous years. In fact, of the changes made for the 2019 iteration of the IEC program, most are positive with Portugal now added to the list of designated IEC countries, Austrian applicants now eligible to apply for the popular IEC working holiday work permit, and Australians able to apply up to the age of 35. However, if the general tone of the IEC program in 2019 remains positive, not all changes have been met with universal approval. Top of this list is the process by which biometric testing has been made mandatory for IEC applicants.
So, what’s the problem?
A lack of resources?
In principle, the introduction of mandatory biometric testing is a logical step for Canada to take. After all, over 70 countries currently use biometric testing for immigration purposes and the merits of doing so are clear with improved screening for those posing a security threat being top of this list.
However, many of the problems regarding biometrics for IEC applicants is not about the policy itself but rather the manner it which it has been rolled out. A perceived lack of resources dedicated to the processing of new applicants’ biometric data, many of whom are seeking a working holiday visa or another type of IEC work permit is causing confusion and disruption.
New Visa Application Centres (VACs)
In order to meet the increased demand for biometric testing facilities for IEC applicants, particularly in Europe, Canada has opened a number of additional Visa Application Centres (VACs). It is important to know that these centres are run by third-party companies, and their remit extends only to the collection of biometric data. IEC applications will not be accepted at a VAC.
In addition to existing European-based VACs in Dusseldorf (Germany), Warsaw (Poland), Madrid (Spain), London (United Kingdom), Paris (France), Rome (Italy) and Stockholm (Sweden), new VACs have opened in Lyon (France), Berlin (Germany), Vienna (Austria), and Athens (Greece), with a very limited biometrics collection service also available in Dublin, (Ireland) and Oslo (Norway).
In addition to these European-based VACs, centres are also present in a number of cities in other IEC designated countries. However, changes that took place in early November, 2018 resulted in the closure of some VACs in the Asia, Asia Pacific and the America regions, with new VACs opening in new locations. In addition, changes were made to whether or not applicants must make an appointment before visiting a VAC, with many VACs now making an appointment mandatory.
At present, there are VACs in Melbourne and Sydney in Australia (the Perth VAC having closed in early November, 2018), Auckland (New Zealand), Tokyo (Japan), Seoul (South Korea), Taipei (Taiwan), Hong Kong and San Jose (Costa Rica), among others.
More are expected to be rolled out in 2019.
Click the slide below to find the closest Visa Application Centre to you.
If you are an IEC hopeful living in or near one of these cities, then your application process should not be too different to those who applied for the IEC program prior to July 31, 2018. However, if you happen to be resident in a city not in close proximity to one of the aforementioned locations or worse still, a country without a VAC at all, then you are suddenly at a logistical and financial disadvantage. After all, applicants only have 30 days to submit biometric requirements following the issuing of the Biometrics Instruction Letter.
At present, many designated IEC countries do not have a VAC located within their borders, while other countries like Ireland and Norway have very limited operating hours each month. In practise, this means that an IEC applicant from Chile will have to make their way abroad (for example, to Buenos Aires in Argentina) to complete the required biometric testing in the closest VAC, while applicants from Latvia or Estonia may need to travel to Warsaw, Kiev or Moscow to complete this part of their IEC journey.
Continued below...