Canada Will Require Foreign Students to Submit Biometric Identification Data

International students applying for study visas to Canada will be required to provide biometric identification details, such as fingerprints, within two years, according to a senior Canadian immigration official who spoke here on Wednesday at the annual conference of the Canadian Bureau for International Education.

“I’m giving you a heads up that starting in late 2011, foreign students will be required to enroll their biometrics each time they apply for a study permit before they arrive in Canada,” said Jorge Aceytuno, deputy director of the international-student branch of Citizenship and Immigration Canada, the federal department that deals with immigration issues.

The Canadian government had announced in its federal budget for 2008 that it intended to roll out a biometrics program for foreign visitors but offered little operational detail. “Canada will join other countries such as Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom, which have recognized the value of using biometrics in their immigration and border processes,” the budget stated.

It suggested that the process would involve fingerprinting and photographs, and would be carried out by Canadian officials in the students’ home countries. It’s not known whether the data will be shared with other countries.

In discussions after Mr. Aceytuno’s briefing, some delegates mentioned that the new requirement could be cumbersome and costly, forcing some student applicants to travel great distances to submit biometric information. Others commented that they hoped there would be some conversation with universities and colleges before the plan is put into effect.

The briefing also revealed that the number of study permits for international students approved this year is significantly higher than last year’s figure, and the processing of applications has been speedier. Pilot projects in India and China have also streamlined the application process, cutting the waiting time for students.

The immigration agency has also increased the use of electronic applications for some types of permits, such as student work permits, and has set up online submission of data to cut down on the paperwork required of college and university officials when, for example, students transfer between institutions or change their programs of study.

The agency also plans to accept electronic visa applications for students from some countries starting next spring. Those applications will be processed in Canada.