Dhaka – Visitors to Canada from several countries, including Bangladesh, will be required to provide fingerprints and a digital photograph when they apply for a visitor visa, study or work permit.This new requirement will become effective from December 11, according to a Canadian High Commission media release issued on Thursday.
“This new requirement will not only help protect the safety and security of Canadians while helping facilitate legitimate travel, it will also protect prospective visitors by making it more difficult for others to forge, steal or use an applicant’s identity to gain access to Canada,” it said.
It will put Canada in line with other countries which are already collecting this information from visitors, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, countries in the European Union Schengen Zone, and Japan.
In the long run, the use of this information will make entry to Canada easier by providing a reliable tool to readily confirm a person’s identity.
Applicants will need to go in person to a visa application centre (VAC) to submit their applications and give their fingerprints and have their photograph taken. – UNB
