Canada to introduce biometrics to identify foreigners, cut fraud

The Canadian government intends to utilize biometric systems to verify foreigners who enter the country.

As an initial step, the Canadian government is planning to require visa applicants to submit a photo and electronic fingerprints before they enter the country. The applicant’s data will be forwarded and examined against Royal Canadian Mounted Police databanks, which will then be used to verify the visa holder when they arrive in the country.

In the interest of full disclosure, visa applicants are advised that upon applying for visa, biometric information will be collected.

Standards will also be established on how long the Canadian government will keep the confidential information and when it should be destroyed. The government will also examine developing memorandums of understanding between the citizenship and immigration ministry, RCMP, and the border services agency to determine if additional privacy and security provisions may be required.

The Canadian government has said it strongly believes that utilizing biometrics will efficiently strengthen border security and thus considerably lessen the risks of identity fraud.

Furthermore, they affirm that implementing biometrics will bring Canada in line with other countries such as United Kingdom and United States that are currently implementing the use of biometrics for immigration and border security purposes.

Will the introduction of biometrics reduce immigration fraud?

Article Topics

biometrics  |  border control  |  fingerprint verification  |  fraud  |  government  |  law enforcement  |  privacy  |  security