Canada's new biometric requirement for temporary resident visa applicants as of 2013

Starting in fall 2013, in accordance with the proposed regulations, CIC would begin rolling out a new biometric requirement for temporary resident applicants (visitors, students and temporary workers) to provide their fingerprints and photograph when applying for a temporary resident visa, work permit, or study permit.

The new requirement would be phased in over several months. In accordance with the proposed regulations, the following are the dates when mandatory collection of biometric information is scheduled to begin:
September 2, 2013: Mandatory collection will begin for nationals of the following countries: Colombia, Haiti, Jamaica
October 15, 2013: Mandatory collection will begin for nationals of the following countries: Albania, Algeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Libya, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia
December 7, 2013: Mandatory collection will begin for nationals of the following countries and territory: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Laos, Lebanon, Pakistan, Palestinian Authority, Sri Lanka, Syria, Vietnam, Yemen
The proposed dates are subject to change before the regulations are finalized.

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