Canada Biometrics from Punjab 2026: Jalandhar and Chandigarh VAC, Fees, 10-Year Rule and Checklist
Short answer: Most Punjab applicants for a Canada visitor visa, study permit, work permit or PR must give biometrics (fingerprints and a photo). After you apply and pay the CAD 85 biometrics fee (CAD 170 maximum for a family applying together), IRCC sends a Biometric Instruction Letter, and you have 30 days to book a free appointment and attend a visa application centre (VAC). IRCC lists VACs in both Jalandhar and Chandigarh. For temporary resident applications, biometrics are valid for 10 years.
Canada biometrics from Punjab is a small step that causes big delays when it is missed. Students wait for the last week of their 30-day window, parents pay touts for "fast appointments", and some families give biometrics again when they did not need to. This guide explains who needs biometrics, the fees, where to go in Punjab and what to carry, based on IRCC's official pages.
Who Needs to Give Canada Biometrics?
According to IRCC's biometrics page, you generally need to give biometrics when applying for:
A visitor visa, study permit or work permit (temporary residence)
Permanent residence
An extension of your stay in Canada, if you are from a visa-required country such as India
Refugee or asylum status
Who is exempt
Children under 14.
Applicants over 79 (this upper age exemption does not apply to asylum claimants).
Visitor, study or work permit applicants who already gave biometrics for a permanent residence application that is still in process.
Canada Biometrics Fees
Applicant type | Biometrics fee (CAD) |
|---|---|
Individual applicant | 85 |
Family applying at the same time | 170 maximum in total |
Group of 3 or more performing artists and staff applying for work permits together | 255 maximum in total |
Transit visa | No fee |
You pay the biometrics fee to IRCC when you submit your application, together with the application fee. The VAC may charge its own separate service fees for optional services, so check the VAC website before your visit.
Where to Give Biometrics in Punjab
IRCC's where to give biometrics page lists Canada VACs in India, including Jalandhar and Chandigarh, along with New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Pune and Ahmedabad. Applicants from Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur and Nawanshahr often find Jalandhar most convenient, while those from Mohali, Patiala and Ropar may prefer Chandigarh. You can choose whichever listed VAC suits you.
Appointments are booked through the official VAC website linked from IRCC's page. IRCC says booking an appointment is free and that you should not pay anyone for an appointment.
Step-by-Step: How to Give Biometrics
Submit your application online and pay the application and biometrics fees.
Wait for your Biometric Instruction Letter (BIL) in your IRCC account. You must use the BIL issued for that specific application.
Book a free appointment at a VAC as soon as you receive the BIL. You have 30 days from receiving it.
Attend on time with the documents below. Your fingerprints are scanned and your photo is taken.
Keep any receipt or confirmation the VAC gives you, and track your application in your IRCC account.
If you cannot attend within 30 days, IRCC asks you to use its web form to explain, share your appointment date and upload a screenshot of your booking confirmation.
Document Checklist for Your VAC Visit
Your Biometric Instruction Letter (printed copy).
Your original valid passport.
Your appointment confirmation.
Any other documents listed in the "Important information" section of your BIL.
Keep fingertips free of cuts, henna or mehndi where possible, since clear prints help avoid repeat visits.
The 10-Year Rule: Do You Need to Give Biometrics Again?
For temporary residence, IRCC says biometrics are valid for 10 years. If you gave them in the last 10 years, they are usually attached automatically to your new visitor visa, study permit, work permit or extension. Your visa or permit cannot be valid beyond your biometrics expiry date, so you can choose to give them again if they are close to expiring.
IRCC also says biometrics stay valid for 10 years even if your application is refused. If you reapply after a refusal, give biometrics again only if IRCC sends you a new BIL. You can check whether your biometrics are still valid, and when they expire, using IRCC's online check status tool.
For permanent residence applications, follow the instructions in your own BIL and IRCC account, as PR requirements can differ from temporary applications.
Tips for Families and Parents Applying Together
Apply together to use the family fee cap. The CAD 170 maximum applies only when family members apply at the same time, so submitting together can lower the total biometrics cost.
Book adjacent slots. If several family members need biometrics, try to book them on the same day at the same VAC to save repeat trips from your town.
Check each person separately. A parent who visited Canada a few years ago may still have valid biometrics while a younger sibling may not. Use the check status tool for each applicant.
Older parents. Applicants over 79 are exempt, so confirm ages before paying fees for grandparents on a visitor or Super Visa application.
Common Biometrics Mistakes Punjab Applicants Make
Waiting until the last few days of the 30-day window, then finding no slots.
Paying agents or touts for appointments that are free to book.
Using an old BIL from a previous application.
Giving biometrics again unnecessarily, instead of checking validity first.
Forgetting the passport or BIL on the appointment day.
Plan Your Canada Application with World Immigration Terminal
Biometrics is one step in a longer timeline that can also include a Canada medical exam and a police clearance certificate. Book a consultation with World Immigration Terminal in Jalandhar and we will help you plan your full document timeline for a Canada student visa, visitor visa or PR application.
Last verified: November 2026, using IRCC's official biometrics pages. Fees, VAC locations and procedures can change. Always confirm the latest information on canada.ca or consult World Immigration Terminal before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Canada biometrics fee?
IRCC charges CAD 85 per person, with a maximum of CAD 170 for a family applying at the same time. The fee is paid to IRCC when you submit your application.
Where can I give Canada biometrics in Punjab?
IRCC lists Canada visa application centres in Jalandhar and Chandigarh, among other Indian cities. You can book at any listed VAC through the official VAC website.
How long do I have to give biometrics after getting the instruction letter?
You have 30 days from receiving your Biometric Instruction Letter. IRCC advises booking as soon as you receive it.
How long are Canada biometrics valid?
For visitor visas, study permits, work permits and extensions, IRCC says biometrics are valid for 10 years, and they stay valid even if an application is refused.
Do children need to give biometrics for Canada?
No. Children under 14 are exempt, and so are applicants over 79, except asylum claimants.
Is the biometrics appointment free?
Yes. IRCC says booking a biometrics appointment is free and you should not pay anyone for an appointment. The CAD 85 biometrics fee is paid to IRCC with your application.
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