Chapter 3 · Additional investments - A more affordable life
Enhancing biometrics collection for immigration screening
Program spending
$68M net impact on the budgetary balance over five years, 2026-27 to 2030-31.
The cost line
| Line | 2026-27 | 2027-28 | 2028-29 | 2029-30 | 2030-31 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enhancing biometrics collection for immigration screening | … | 15 | 15 | 30 | 30 | 90 |
| Less: Projected revenues | — | −6 | −6 | −5 | −5 | −22 |
| Net fiscal impact | — | 9 | 9 | 25 | 25 | 68 |
… no change to existing funding or no fiscal implication · – a further extension will be considered later · 0* less than $0.5 million. Positive numbers cost the budget (spending or forgone revenue); negative numbers improve it.
What the budget says
“Funding proposed for IRCC to expand screening checks using fingerprints and facial images to more travellers. This would include a new requirement for visa-exempt travellers applying for an electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), an online travel authorisation required before flying to Canada, to submit a facial image remotely to verify their identity and reduce fraud.”
Budget 2026, p. 220 (PDF p. 234)
Also in this section
- Administration of the First Home Savings Account$62MProgram spendingHousing
- Asylum processing$63MProgram spending
- Extending support for the Vaccine Impact Assistance Program$18MProgram spendingHealth
- Migrant Worker Support Program$82MProgram spending
- Supporting the Autism Framework and Strategy$6MProgram spendingHealth
- Projected Employment Insurance premium revenues for measures included in Budget 2026−$2.19BSavings or revenue