Canada Visa Application Centres now open in these countries

Kareem El-Assal
Published: June 28, 2020

In recent weeks, more Visa Application Centres (VACs) around the world have been re-opening to provide services to those looking to come to Canada.

VACs enable individuals to submit their biometrics as part of the requirements outlined by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Individuals provide their fingerprints, photos, and pay a fee as part of the biometrics collection process. Canada obtains biometrics to make it easier and safer to travel into the country.

Since March, VACs have been closed as part of global measures to contain the coronavirus.

Find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs

The list of open VACs is constantly being updated on IRCC’s website so the following list may not contain every VAC that is currently opened:

Australia

Melbourne
Sydney

Austria

Vienna

Bahrain

Manama

Barbados

Bridgetown

China

Beijing
Chengdu
Chongqing
Guangzhou
Hangzhou
Jinan
Kunming
Nanjing
Shanghai
Shenyang

Fiji

Suva

France

Paris

Germany

Berlin
Düsseldorf

Ghana

Accra

Greece

Athens

Iraq

Erbil

Israel

Tel Aviv

Italy

Rome

Japan

Osaka
Tokyo

Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur

New Zealand

Auckland

Romania

Bucharest

Serbia

Belgrade

Spain

Madrid

Sri Lanka

Colombo

Thailand

Bangkok

The Netherlands

The Hague

Trinidad and Tobago

Port of Spain

United Arab Emirates

Abu Dhabi
Dubai

If your local VAC is closed

IRCC continues to provide updates to those who are unable to submit their biometrics at this time.

It will not refuse the application of an individual who is unable to provide their biometrics. IRCC will leave their applications open by providing them with automatic extensions on their biometrics deadlines. Individuals do not have to give their biometrics until VAC sites re-open and they do not need to contact IRCC to request an extension on their deadline.

Temporary foreign workers (TFWs) are exempt from providing their biometrics overseas if their local VAC is closed and they are set to work in Canada as truck drivers, or in the health care or agriculture sectors. If they have not provided their biometrics to Canada before, exempt TFWs can do so when they get to Canada.

IRCC has also indicated they are considering additional reforms to help individuals complete the biometrics process more easily during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs

© 2020 CIC News All Rights Reserved

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