Privacy Impact Assessment Summary: Temporary Resident Biometrics Project

The Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) report is an update to the Interdepartmental Privacy Impact Assessment conducted in 2012 on the Temporary Resident Biometrics Project, which is a joint CIC, CBSA and RCMP project. The objectives of the PIA are to provide an update on the privacy risks and mitigation measures identified in the 2012 Temporary Resident Biometrics Project Privacy Impact Assessment as well as to identify and provide recommendations on any new risks associated with the Temporary Resident Biometrics Project since completion of the previous Report.

The goal of the Temporary Resident Biometrics Project is to improve the quality of information provided to CIC and CBSA officers to allow them to make more informed decisions relating to an applicant’s admissibility. Through biometrics, the identity of a Temporary Resident Visa, study permit, or work permit applicant will be established at the time of application, authenticated through checks with Canadian criminal and immigration databases, and verified by CBSA Border Services Officers when the individual arrives at a Port of Entry. 

The PIA report describes all of the privacy risks identified throughout the development and implementation of the Temporary Resident Biometrics Project, and the robust measures taken to mitigate these risks.