Canada Biometrics Appointment in Pakistan: BIL, Booking and What to Bring

You can book a Canada biometrics appointment in Pakistan only after you apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), pay the biometric fee and receive your Biometric Instruction Letter (BIL). You then book an appointment at a Canada Visa Application Centre (VAC). At the time of writing there are centres in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi, but confirm the current list on canada.ca. On the day, you bring the letter and your passport and give your fingerprints and photo.

Based on official guidance from IRCC (Canada.ca). Last updated October 2026. Visa rules, fees and waiting times change, so always confirm on the official site before you apply, or ask us on WhatsApp for the latest checklist.

Related guides on our site: Canada Visitor Visa from Pakistan: Requirements and Tips (2026).

Key points

• You cannot book a Canada biometrics appointment before you receive your BIL.
• The BIL has a deadline. Book your appointment as soon as it arrives.
• Bring your printed BIL and the same passport you used in your application.
• Book your appointment in advance and check the official VAC website before you go, rather than planning to walk in.
• Giving biometrics is only one step. The visa decision is made by IRCC.

Step 1: Apply online and pay the biometric fee

Most applicants in Pakistan apply online through their IRCC account. This is the same for visitors, students and workers. Pay the biometric fee at the same time as the application fee. If you pay it later, your application can be delayed.

Fees change from time to time, so check the current amount on canada.ca before you pay. If you are still preparing your file, read our Canada visit visa guide for Pakistani applicants or, for students, our Canada study permit guide from Pakistan.

Do you need to give biometrics at all?

Most Pakistani applicants do. Children under 14 and applicants over 79 are usually exempt (asylum claims follow different rules).

If you gave biometrics for an earlier visitor, study or work application, they are generally valid for 10 years, so you may not need to give them again for a new visitor, study or work application. Permanent residence applicants usually have to give biometrics again, even if they gave them before. Check on IRCC's official biometrics page before you pay the fee a second time.

Step 2: Get your Biometric Instruction Letter (BIL)

If you applied online, IRCC puts the BIL in your online account, not in the post. Log in regularly and also check your email, including the spam folder, for a message telling you that something new is in your account.

Your BIL usually shows:

• your full name and date of birth
• your IRCC application number
• a bar code that the centre scans
• the deadline to give your biometrics
• where you can give your biometrics

Read the letter carefully. If your name or date of birth is wrong, contact IRCC through its official web form before you go to the centre. A small spelling mistake can cause problems later.

Step 3: How to book a Canada biometrics appointment in Pakistan

At the time of writing, the Canada Visa Application Centres in Pakistan are run by VFS Global, a private company authorised by IRCC. There are centres in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi, and you can choose any of them. If you live in Islamabad or Rawalpindi, the Islamabad centre is the closest. Confirm the current centres on IRCC's find a visa application centre page.

IVS – Islamabad Visa Services is an independent consultancy. We are not part of VFS Global, IRCC or any government.

1. Open the official VAC website for Canada in Pakistan. You can reach it from IRCC's page above.
2. Create an account with an email address you check every day.
3. Enter your details exactly as they appear on your BIL and passport, including the reference number from your BIL.
4. Choose the city, date and time that suit you.
5. Save and print the appointment confirmation.

You pay the biometric fee to IRCC when you apply. Check the official VAC website and canada.ca for any other charges. The centre may also offer optional services, such as photocopies, SMS updates and courier delivery. These are your choice and have no effect on the visa decision.

At the time of writing, the centres in Pakistan ask applicants to book in advance. Check the official VAC website before you go rather than planning to walk in. In a real emergency, such as the death or serious illness of an immediate family member living in Canada, the centre may offer an emergency appointment. Check its website for the current rules.

Booking tips

• Book on the day your BIL arrives. Dates can fill up in busy seasons, such as before student intakes.
• If there is no suitable date in Islamabad, check again later or look at Lahore or Karachi.
• Book only one appointment per person.
• Family members can usually be booked together, but each person who gives biometrics needs their own BIL.
• If you cannot attend, reschedule or cancel online before the appointment date. Do not simply miss it.
• Book only on the official website. Never pay anyone who promises a "special slot".

Step 4: What to bring on appointment day

• Your Biometric Instruction Letter, printed.
• Your valid passport. It must be the same passport you entered in your application.
• Your appointment confirmation.
• Applicants under 18 must come with an adult, usually a parent or guardian.

If you applied online, you normally do not need to bring supporting documents such as bank statements, because they are already in your application. The centre may ask you to sign a consent form, so check the "what to bring" list on the official VAC website before you go.

Usually only the applicant (and one parent or guardian with a child) can go inside. Other family members may have to wait outside. Travel light, because there is a security check at the entrance.

Tips for clear fingerprints and photo

• Your hands must be free of henna (mehndi). Avoid it before the appointment, because it can stop your fingerprints from being taken.
• Cuts or cracks on your fingers should be healed first.
• Religious head coverings are allowed, but your face must be clearly visible. Keep your hair off your face.
• You can wear glasses if your eyes are clearly visible and there is no glare. Staff may still ask you to remove them.
• Arrive a little early so you are not stressed or rushed.

What happens at the centre

First, staff check your passport, BIL and appointment confirmation. Then you go to a booth where they scan all ten fingerprints and take a digital photo. The process is usually short.

Keep any receipt or confirmation the centre gives you. Your biometrics are sent electronically to IRCC, and your online account should later show that they were received.

After your biometrics: what comes next?

IRCC continues to process your application, and you can follow progress in your online account. Processing times change, so check the current estimate on IRCC's processing times page rather than relying on what friends tell you.

IRCC may ask for more documents, a medical exam or an interview. If a visa is approved, IRCC usually asks you to submit your passport so the visa can be placed in it. In Pakistan this is usually done through the same visa application centre.

What if you miss the deadline?

Do not ignore it. If you cannot give biometrics by the date in your BIL, contact IRCC through its official web form as soon as possible and explain why. Without biometrics, IRCC may not be able to finish processing your application, and it can be refused.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Waiting too long to book after the BIL arrives.
• Bringing a new passport that is not the one in your application. If your passport has changed, tell IRCC first.
• Different spellings of your name on the BIL, the booking and the passport.
• Paying an unofficial person for an appointment.
• Thinking that giving biometrics means the visa is approved.

Applying to Australia as well? Its biometrics step starts with a different letter; see our Australia visa biometrics appointment guide.

How IVS helps

IVS has helped 2,000+ clients since 2022 from our office in F-10 Markaz, Islamabad. For Canada visa applications, we can:

• review your documents and point out gaps before you submit
• explain the official IRCC checklist and help you organise your documents
• guide you through booking your biometrics appointment on the official website
• help you prepare if you are asked for an interview

Licensed RCICs on our panel

For Canada applications, IVS works with licensed Canadian immigration consultants (RCICs) on our panel, who work with us as part-time contractors. When your application needs an authorised representative, a licensed RCIC from our panel handles the representation with IRCC, and our Islamabad team helps you gather and organise your documents. IVS itself is not an RCIC. You can ask us for your consultant's name and licence number and check it on the CICC public register.

Only IRCC decides on your visa. Our job is to help you prepare a complete and consistent file. You can also see our other North America visa services or contact our Islamabad office.

More visa guides from IVS

• UK Visit Visa Invitation Letter for Parents: What to Include (With Sample)
• Canada Visitor Visa Refused? Common Reasons and How to Reapply from Pakistan
• Which Schengen Country Should You Apply To from Pakistan?
• Turkey Visa for Pakistanis: e-Visa or Sticker Visa?
• UK Visit Visa Documents Checklist for Pakistanis (2026)
• US Visit Visa Interview Tips for Pakistanis (B1/B2, 2026)
• Canada Visitor Visa from Pakistan: Requirements and Tips (2026)
• Spain Visa Requirements for Pakistanis: 2026 Checklist
• Australia Visitor Visa (Subclass 600) from Pakistan: 2026 Guide
• New Zealand Visitor Visa for Pakistanis: 2026 Guide
• Thailand e-Visa for Pakistanis: How to Apply in 2026
• Malaysia Visit Visa for Pakistani Citizens: 2026 Guide
• Indonesia Tourist Visa for Pakistani Citizens (2026 Guide)
• Canada Study Permit from Pakistan: Step-by-Step Guide for 2026
• How to Apply for a Canada Visit Visa from Pakistan: Step by Step

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I book a Canada biometrics appointment in Pakistan?

Wait until IRCC sends your Biometric Instruction Letter (BIL) to your online account, then book on the official visa application centre website (at the time of writing, run by VFS Global), which you can reach from IRCC's "find a visa application centre" page on canada.ca. Confirm the current centres there and book in advance rather than planning to walk in.

Where do I pay the Canada biometric fee in Pakistan?

You pay the biometric fee to IRCC when you apply. Check the official VAC website and canada.ca for any other charges. Optional extras such as courier delivery do not affect the visa decision.

What documents should I bring to my Canada biometrics appointment?

Bring your printed BIL, the same valid passport you used in your application, and your appointment confirmation. If you applied online, you normally do not need to bring supporting documents such as bank statements, because they are already in your application.

Do I need to give biometrics again for a new Canada visa application?

Not always. Biometrics given for a visitor, study or work application are generally valid for 10 years for new temporary applications, but permanent residence applicants usually have to give them again. Check IRCC's official guidance on canada.ca before paying the biometric fee a second time.

What happens if I miss the deadline in my Biometric Instruction Letter?

Contact IRCC through its official web form as soon as possible and explain why. Without biometrics, IRCC may not be able to finish processing your application, and it can be refused.

Does IVS work with a licensed Canadian immigration consultant (RCIC)?

Yes. IVS has licensed RCICs on its panel who work with us as part-time contractors. When a Canada application needs an authorised representative, one of these licensed consultants handles it, and you can ask for their licence number to check on the CICC public register.

Can anyone sell me a Canada biometrics slot in Pakistan?

No. Biometrics appointments are booked only on the official visa application centre website after you receive your BIL. No one can guarantee your visa either: only IRCC decides. IVS can review your file and guide you through booking.