Program delivery update: Open work permits for vulnerable workers – Biometric exemption
This section contains policy, procedures and guidance used by IRCC staff. It is posted on the department’s website as a courtesy to stakeholders.
December 6, 2019
A public policy has exempted certain in-Canada applicants from providing biometrics, including applicants for an open work permit for vulnerable workers. The public policy has now been lifted, and those not eligible for the 1 in 10 exemption will now be required to give biometrics.
Migrant workers applying for the open work permit for vulnerable workers are not specifically exempt from the biometrics requirement or from paying the biometrics fee. Therefore, in order to alleviate undue hardship on migrant workers applying for this work permit, officers are encouraged to consider the use of the impossible or not feasible exemption under section 12.8 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR) to exempt them from both the biometrics requirement and the fee.