If you need to give your biometrics, IRCC sends a biometric instruction letter to you either by mail or through your account when you apply. You must bring a paper copy of this letter with you to a visa application centre (VAC) or application support centre (ASC) when you go in person to give your biometrics. The letter contains bar codes that must be scanned by the VAC or ASC before you can give your biometrics. 

Examples of the types of bar codes in a biometric instruction letter:

Officers of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), a federal government agency, who have the legal authority to decide who can enter and remain in Canada. These officers have many of the same powers as police officers, including the right to conduct searches, make arrests, and seize documents or goods.

A program that helps trained workers address the gap between the knowledge and experience they have and what they need to work in their preferred job or field.

Before 1947, people born or naturalized in Canada had the status of British subjects. British subject status is relevant in determining Canadian citizenship under the 1947 Canadian Citizenship Act.

See Naturalization.

A private sector enterprise engaged in the pursuit of profit.

A category that includes investors, entrepreneurs and self-employed people. A person may become a permanent resident in this category based on his or her ability to economically establish in Canada.

The applicant’s spouse or common-law partner, and the applicant’s dependent children, are also included in this category.

Business experience is a term used when applying to immigrate as an entrepreneur to describe:

• at least two one-year periods of experience in the period from five years before the application date to the day a decision is made on the application.

Experience must have to do with:

• managing and controlling a percentage of equity in a qualifying business

Or when applying to immigrate as an investor to describe:

• at least two one-year periods of experience in the period from five years before the application date to the day a decision is made on the application.

Experience must have to do with:

• managing and controlling a percentage of equity in a qualifying business; or

• experience managing at least 5 full-time job equivalents per year in a business; or

• a combination of one year managing and controlling a percentage of equity in a qualifying business and one year of experience managing at least 5 full-time job equivalents in a business.

A person who:

• comes to Canada to take part in international business or trade activities,

• has no intent to enter the Canadian labour market, and

• works for and is paid by a company outside Canada or by a foreign government.

In Quebec, an educational institution that offers pre-university classes (two years) taken between secondary school and university, or technical career programs (three years) that prepare students to enter the job market.

An immigration category that allows foreign workers or recently graduated international students working in Canada to apply for permanent residence.

The Canadian standard used to describe, measure and recognize English language ability of adult immigrants and prospective immigrants who plan to live and work in Canada, or apply for citizenship. The Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) is used to assess abilities in the French language.

An organization that:

• is incorporated under Canadian or provincial law and has an ongoing operation in Canada, or

• has an ongoing operation in Canada that can generate revenue, is run for profit, and has a majority of voting or ownership interests held by Canadian citizens, permanent residents or Canadian businesses, or

• was created by the laws of Canada or a province.