Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) offers biometrics exemptions or partial capture for Permanent Resident applicants with physical disabilities, severe burns, or amputations that prevent the collection of 10 digital fingerprints. You must still pay the $85 CAD biometrics fee, provide a detailed medical explanation, and attend a Service Canada or VAC appointment for a photograph and partial fingerprinting.
Applying for Permanent Residence in Canada requires navigating a strict set of security protocols, most notably the mandatory collection of biometrics (fingerprints and a digital photograph). For the vast majority of applicants, this is a straightforward visit to a Visa Application Centre (VAC) or a designated Service Canada location in cities like Montreal, Winnipeg, or Halifax. However, for individuals living with severe physical disabilities, amputations of the hands or arms, or extensive scarring from burns, capturing a complete set of ten fingerprints is physically impossible. IRCC has specific operational guidelines to ensure these applicants are not unfairly penalized or delayed.
Canadian immigration law operates on principles of fairness and accommodation. 📈 The system allows for “partial biometrics capture” or, in extreme medical cases, a complete exemption from the fingerprinting requirement. Navigating this exemption requires proactive communication with IRCC and clear medical documentation. If your PR application is at risk of being stalled due to biometric collection issues, it is highly advisable to seek counsel from a registered immigration lawyer or consultant found in our directory to advocate on your behalf.
Step-by-Step Process in Canada
Obtaining a biometrics exemption or arranging for a partial capture is not an automatic process. You must actively inform IRCC of your physical limitations and follow their procedural instructions closely so the processing of your PR application is not interrupted.
Step 1: Paying the Biometrics Fee and Submitting Your Application
Even if you know you cannot provide a full set of fingerprints, you must pay the standard biometrics fee when submitting your online PR application. The system cannot process an exemption until the fee is paid and the application is formally registered. Once your application is received, IRCC will automatically generate a Biometrics Instruction Letter (BIL), which is your official mandate to provide your data.
Step 2: Securing Professional Medical Documentation
Before attending any appointments, you must obtain a formal letter from a licensed medical professional. 📝 This letter must clearly state the nature of your physical condition (e.g., bilateral amputation, severe dermis burns, or a congenital condition) and explicitly declare that capturing digital fingerprints is physically impossible. This document should be on official clinic letterhead, signed, and dated. You will use this as your primary evidence for IRCC.
Step 3: Attending the Service Canada or VAC Appointment
Do not skip your biometrics appointment, even if you cannot provide fingerprints. You must bring your BIL, your passport, and your medical documentation to the Service Canada centre or VAC. The enrolment officer will review your medical letter and physically observe the limitation. They have the authority in the Global Case Management System (GCMS) to mark specific fingers, or both hands, as “Amputated/Bandaged/Exempt.”
Step 4: Capturing the Digital Photograph and Available Fingerprints
IRCC policy states that partial biometrics must be collected whenever possible. 📷 If you have an amputation on one hand but the other hand is intact, the officer will capture the fingerprints of the intact hand. Regardless of your fingerprint status, the officer will still take the mandatory digital photograph to complete the facial recognition portion of the biometrics requirement. This partial enrolment satisfies the BIL requirement.
Step 5: Updating IRCC via the Webform
After your appointment, the VAC or Service Canada will transmit the partial data (or the exemption notice) to IRCC. However, as a safeguard, you or your legal representative should submit an IRCC Webform. Attach a scanned copy of your medical letter and explain that a partial capture was completed due to an amputation or physical disability. This ensures the visa officer processing your PR file understands why the fingerprint data is incomplete and prevents them from mistakenly refusing the application for non-compliance.
How Much Does it Cost in Canada?
While the exemption itself does not cost money, the standard administrative fees for processing your PR and biometrics remain firmly in place.
- Biometrics Fee (Individual): $85 CAD. (IRCC rarely refunds this fee even if you are totally exempt from fingerprints, as it also covers the photograph and processing).
- Biometrics Fee (Family Maximum): $170 CAD for families applying together at the same time.
- Medical Documentation: Depending on your provincial healthcare coverage, having a doctor write a specialized medical letter may cost between $50 and $150 CAD.
How Long Does the Process Take?
You have exactly 30 days from the date on your Biometrics Instruction Letter (BIL) to attend your enrolment appointment. If you need more time to gather medical documents, you must request an extension via the IRCC Webform before the 30 days expire. Once your partial biometrics or exemption is processed in the GCMS system (usually within 48 to 72 hours of your appointment), your PR application will resume its normal processing timeline, which varies from 6 to 12 months depending on your specific immigration stream.
| Applicant Physical Condition | Fingerprint Collection Requirement | Photograph Collection Requirement |
| Single Amputation (One Hand) | Partial Capture (All available fingers on the intact hand must be scanned). | Mandatory. Digital photo will be taken. |
| Bilateral Amputation (Both Hands) | Total Exemption from fingerprints. Officer notes condition in the system. | Mandatory. Digital photo will be taken. |
| Temporary Bandages / Severe Burns | May be asked to delay appointment until healed, or granted exemption if permanent. | Mandatory. Digital photo will be taken. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do I get a refund of the $85 CAD fee if I cannot give fingerprints?
Generally, no. The biometrics fee covers the entire enrolment process, which includes identity verification, the digital photograph, and the secure transmission of your file. IRCC processes the fee even if partial or no fingerprints are collected.
Can I just mail my medical letter to IRCC and skip the appointment?
No. You must still attend the appointment at Service Canada or the VAC in person. The enrolment officer must take your digital photograph and formally log the exemption into the federal biometrics system.
Will partial biometrics delay my PR application processing?
As long as the proper medical documentation is provided and the enrolment officer correctly logs the exemption in the GCMS, it should not cause significant delays. Security screening will rely on your name, photograph, and available prints.
What if my hands are temporarily bandaged due to a recent injury?
If your condition is temporary, IRCC expects you to wait until your hands have healed to provide your fingerprints. You must submit a Webform requesting a deadline extension for your BIL, explaining the temporary injury.
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