How to Do Biometrics for Canada Visa in Philippines?

The application is submitted, and now there is a new step you cannot skip: giving your fingerprints and photo. It is simple once you know the order of things, but guessing leads to wasted trips and missed deadlines. Here is what to do and in what order.

Quick answer: To do biometrics for a Canada visa in the Philippines, submit your application and pay the CAD $85 biometrics fee. IRCC then sends a Biometrics Instruction Letter. Book an appointment with VFS Global and give your fingerprints and photo at the Canada Visa Application Centre in Manila or Cebu, within 30 days of receiving the letter.

Fact-checked by the MS International Editorial Team. Last verified against official sources: October 2026.

What Are Biometrics for a Canada Visa?

Biometrics for a Canada visa are your fingerprints and digital photo, collected to confirm your identity during the immigration process. Canada uses them to check that the person applying is the same person linked to the application, the passport and future border checks. They also help catch duplicate applications filed under different details.

You cannot give biometrics in advance. IRCC must first send a Biometrics Instruction Letter, which confirms that this step is required and lets you book an appointment. Giving biometrics does not mean your application is approved or refused. It is one part of the full review.

Who Needs to Give Biometrics from the Philippines?

Most applicants in the Philippines need biometrics when applying for a Canada visitor visa, study permit, work permit, temporary resident permit or permanent residence. Certain refugee and asylum-related applications also require them. The exact rule depends on your application type, age and whether you already gave biometrics before.

Visitor Visa, Study Permit, and Work Permit Applicants

If you apply for a visitor visa, study permit or work permit, you will usually need to give biometrics unless you are exempt or your earlier biometrics are still valid. This includes people travelling for tourism, family visits, business events or conferences. After you submit the application and pay the fees, IRCC issues the instruction letter if biometrics are needed.

Permanent Residence Applicants

Permanent residence applicants must give biometrics for each new application, even if they gave them before for a temporary visa. Wait for the instruction letter before booking. The Visa Application Centre needs the correct letter to link your biometrics to your application.

Applicants Who Previously Gave Biometrics

Biometrics for temporary resident applications are valid for 10 years. If yours are still valid, IRCC may not ask you to attend another appointment. Your visa expiring does not make your biometrics expire, but a visa or permit cannot be issued for longer than your biometrics remain valid. You can check your biometrics status with the online tool on the Government of Canada website, but always follow the instructions in your IRCC account or letter, because they apply to your current case.

Who Is Exempt from Canada Visa Biometrics?

Some applicants do not need to give biometrics, even when applying from the Philippines. Exemptions depend on age, status, passport type and the purpose of travel.

Age and Status Exemptions

Children under 14 and applicants over 79 are exempt. The upper-age exemption does not apply to asylum claims. Canadian citizens and existing permanent residents are also exempt, as are heads of state, heads of government and people applying under diplomatic or official visa categories.

Philippine Citizens Who Can Use an eTA

Philippine passport holders usually need a visa to visit Canada, but there is one exception. If you have held a Canadian visitor visa in the last 10 years, or you hold a valid US non-immigrant visa, you may be able to apply for an electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) instead when travelling by air. eTA applicants do not give biometrics. The trip must be a temporary visit, normally up to 6 months, and you must fly to or transit through a Canadian airport. The eTA fee is CAD $7. This route does not cover arrivals by land or sea.

Other Exemptions

Travellers with a valid US visa who are only transiting through Canada are also exempt. So is a temporary resident applicant who already gave biometrics for a permanent residence application that is still in progress. These cases are specific, so confirm your situation with IRCC before assuming you do not need an appointment.

Step-by-Step Process to Do Biometrics for Canada Visa in the Philippines

Apply and pay the fee, wait for the instruction letter, book your VFS appointment, attend it, and keep your receipt. Doing the steps in this order avoids most delays.

Step 1: Submit Your Application and Pay the Biometrics Fee

Submit your Canada visa application through the IRCC system or the method allowed for your visa type. Make sure your name, date of birth, passport number and contact details match your passport exactly. Pay the biometrics fee (CAD $85 per person) at the same time as your application fee. If you do not pay it, you may face delays.

Step 2: Receive Your Biometrics Instruction Letter

Once your application and payment are processed, IRCC sends the Biometrics Instruction Letter if biometrics are required. It includes your personal details, your application reference and instructions for giving biometrics. You must give biometrics within 30 days of receiving it. Do not book or attend an appointment without this letter.

If you cannot meet the 30-day deadline, you can ask IRCC for more time using the IRCC web form before the deadline passes. Explain why you need more time and, if you have already booked, include your appointment date and a screenshot of the confirmation.

Step 3: Book Your VFS Global Appointment

Book through the VFS Global Canada Philippines website. An appointment is mandatory and free. Sign in or create an account with an active email address, choose Manila or Cebu, and enter your details exactly as they appear on your passport and instruction letter. Pick a date before your deadline, then save the confirmation. Slots can fill up in busy periods, so book early. If you need an urgent appointment, VFS says to contact the VAC contact centre.

Step 4: Attend Your Appointment

Go to the centre named on your confirmation. Staff check your documents, scan your fingerprints and take your photo. Details are in the section on what happens during the appointment below.

Step 5: Keep Your Confirmation Receipt

After collection, you receive a confirmation receipt as proof that biometrics were completed. Keep it until your application is finished. You normally do not send it to IRCC unless they ask.

Step 6: Wait for the Decision

Your application then continues through IRCC review, and the Canadian visa processing time from the Philippines depends mostly on the type of application. Follow updates in your online account.

Where to Give Biometrics in the Philippines

Canada visa biometrics in the Philippines are collected at the Canada Visa Application Centres in Manila and Cebu, operated by VFS Global. You must attend the location on your appointment confirmation. If you booked Manila, do not go to Cebu unless you reschedule first.

Manila is the usual choice for applicants in Metro Manila and nearby provinces. Cebu is more convenient for applicants in the Visayas and Mindanao. Both require a confirmed appointment. If one centre has no suitable slot before your deadline, check whether the other has an earlier date, and weigh travel time and cost before you confirm. Check the VFS Global Canada Philippines page for the current address, opening hours and holiday closures, because these details can change.

You can use a Visa Application Centre in another country only if there is no Canada VAC in your own country. Since the Philippines has two, book in Manila or Cebu.

Documents Required for the Biometrics Appointment

Bring these documents, printed if possible, with digital copies on your phone as a backup:

• Original passport, with details matching your application
• Biometrics Instruction Letter from IRCC
• VFS Global appointment confirmation showing the correct date, time and location
• Biometrics fee receipt, if the payment was not already confirmed online
• Supporting documents for minors or assisted applicants, if VFS Global requires them

Do not send your passport to the VAC before IRCC asks for it with a passport request letter. Biometrics only need your passport for identity checks at the appointment.

Before leaving, recheck your full name, passport number, date of birth, appointment location and time. Small mismatches can slow down document checking. Keep everything in one folder.

Canada Biometrics Fee in the Philippines

The Canada biometrics fee is set in Canadian dollars (CAD) by IRCC. The amount you pay in Philippine pesos (PHP) depends on the exchange rate and payment method at the time.

This fee is on top of the visa fee itself. A visitor visa costs CAD $100 for one person, so a single applicant pays CAD $185 in total. You pay by card at the end of the online application, and the card does not need to be in your name. For most online applications you pay both together, and the receipt shows the biometrics fee was paid. Keep the receipt and bring a copy if the payment was not clearly confirmed online.

What Happens During the Biometrics Appointment?

VAC staff check your documents, collect your fingerprints, take your digital photo and give you a confirmation receipt. There is no visa interview. The appointment itself is usually short, but allow extra time for check-in, security and waiting.

Document Check

Staff confirm your identity and that your appointment is linked to your Canada visa application. If a required document is missing, the appointment may not go ahead.

Fingerprints

Fingerprints are taken on a digital scanner, with no ink. Wash and dry your hands beforehand and skip heavy lotion or oil. Cuts, moisture or dirt can make the scan unclear. If a finger is injured, staff will tell you what to do.

Photo

Your whole face must be visible, so remove sunglasses, tinted glasses and hats. Head coverings are allowed only for religious or medical reasons, and your face must still be fully visible. The head covering must not cast shadows on your face. If you use a wheelchair, you can place a white blanket behind your head so the edges of your face stay clear. Simple clothing helps keep the photo clear.

Arrive Early

Arrive before your slot. A late arrival may mean the centre cannot accept you for that time.

What Happens After Biometrics for Canada Visa?

After biometrics, IRCC continues reviewing your application, and you only act if IRCC contacts you. Your online account may show that your biometrics were received. This update only confirms that the step is complete.

IRCC then checks the rest of your file, such as your purpose of travel, finances, study or employment details, family ties, travel history and supporting evidence. For a conference trip, that can include your invitation letter, registration proof and travel plan. Biometrics help confirm identity, but the decision depends on the full application.

IRCC may also ask for a medical exam, police clearance or extra documents. Respond before the deadline, because late or incomplete replies slow the decision.

If your visa is approved, IRCC will ask you to submit your passport for the visa. In the Philippines, this is usually handled through the VAC or the method explained in your approval instructions. Make sure your passport is valid and has blank pages.

Common Mistakes That Can Delay Your Canada Visa Biometrics

Most delays come from missed deadlines, wrong details and incomplete documents.

Missing the 30-Day Deadline

If you wait too long to book, slots may run out before your deadline. Book as soon as the letter arrives, or ask IRCC for an extension through the web form.

Entering Wrong Booking Details

Your VFS booking must match your passport and IRCC documents. Check your name, date of birth, passport number, email, location and time before confirming.

Paying Someone to Get You an Appointment

Appointments with VFS are free, and you book them yourself. Do not pay agents or third parties who promise faster slots.

Responding Late to IRCC

Check your email and IRCC account regularly so you do not miss a request for documents, a medical exam or your passport.
From our experience at MS International: Our conference invitation letter is a separate document from the Biometrics Instruction Letter that IRCC sends, and it does not replace it. It supports the purpose-of-travel part of your visa application. We issue it within 3 to 5 business days after payment clears, so register early enough for it to be ready when you apply. Our conferences are held in person in the Greater Toronto Area. The letter supports your application but does not guarantee a visa, and fees are non-refundable.

Disclaimer

This article is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Rules, fees and processing steps change. Confirm the current requirements on the official IRCC website or with a licensed immigration consultant (RCIC) before you apply.

FAQs About Canada Visa Biometrics in the Philippines

Booking Canada biometrics at a VFS centre in the Philippines brings doubts about walk-ins, the 30-day deadline, what to wear for the photo, bringing a companion and fingerprints that will not capture clearly.

Can I walk in for Canada biometrics without an appointment?

No. VFS Global requires a prior appointment for Canada biometrics in the Philippines, and the appointment is free. Book it online after you receive your instruction letter.

How long does a biometrics appointment take?

The appointment is usually short. The total time depends on check-in, document review and how busy the centre is that day, so allow extra time.

Can I give biometrics at any VFS location in the Philippines?

No. Attend the Visa Application Centre on your appointment confirmation, either Manila or Cebu. To change location, reschedule through the VFS system.

Can I reschedule my Canada biometrics appointment?

Yes, you can usually reschedule through the VFS Global system. The new date must still fall within 30 days of receiving your letter, unless IRCC has approved an extension.

What happens if I miss the 30-day deadline?

Request more time through the IRCC web form before the deadline passes, and include your appointment date and confirmation screenshot if you have booked. If you have already missed it, check your IRCC account and the instructions in your letter, or ask an RCIC, because the outcome depends on your case.

Can Philippine citizens get an eTA instead of a visa?

Yes, in some cases. If you held a Canadian visitor visa in the last 10 years, or hold a valid US non-immigrant visa, you may qualify for an eTA (CAD $7) when flying to Canada for a visit of up to 6 months. eTA applicants do not give biometrics.

What should I wear for my biometrics photo?

Wear simple clothing and take off sunglasses and hats. A head covering worn daily for religious or medical reasons is fine if it casts no shadow on your face.

Can someone come with me to the appointment?

Minors, elderly applicants or people who need help may be allowed to bring a parent, guardian or helper. Check the latest VFS Global entry rules before bringing anyone.

Do I need to send my biometrics receipt to IRCC?

Usually not. Keep it for your records and send it only if IRCC asks for proof.

How long are Canada biometrics valid?

Ten years for temporary resident applications, counted from the day you gave them. A new permanent residence application needs fresh biometrics.

What if my fingerprints cannot be captured clearly?

Staff may ask you to scan again or adjust your hand position. Clean, dry hands help. If there is an injury, staff will guide you.

Does completing biometrics mean my Canada visa is approved?

No. It only means your fingerprints and photo were collected. IRCC still reviews your documents, eligibility and travel purpose.

Conclusion

Apply, pay the fee, wait for your Biometrics Instruction Letter, then book with VFS Global and attend within 30 days. If you are applying to attend a conference, MS International Conferences runs in-person conferences in cities across the Greater Toronto Area, has listed 864+ conferences, and provides invitation letters, notarized invitation letters and visa expedite request letters to support your visa application.