Biometrics Locations in Nepal for UK, Australia and Canada

Biometrics means giving your fingerprints and a digital photo so the visa office can confirm who you are. If you are in Nepal and applying to Australia, Canada or the UK, you will most likely do this in Thapathali, Kathmandu. This guide gives the address, opening days and fee for each centre, what to bring, and how to book. Read it with our guides to study in Australia from Nepal and study in Canada from Nepal, which show where this step fits in the whole journey.

What Are Biometrics, and What Is a VAC in Nepal?

Biometrics are your 10 fingerprints and a face photo, and a VAC (Visa Application Centre) is the office that collects them.

VFS Global runs these centres in Nepal for all three countries. VFS staff take your fingerprints and photo and send them on. They do not decide your visa, and giving biometrics does not mean you are approved. The decision comes from Home Affairs for Australia, IRCC for Canada and UKVI for the UK.

Australia calls its office an Australian Biometric Collection Centre. Canada and the UK call theirs a Visa Application Centre. The visit works in much the same way, but each country has its own booking, letter and rules.

Where Are the Biometrics Locations in Nepal for Each Country?

All three countries have a centre in Thapathali, Kathmandu, and Australia and the UK also offer Pokhara on set days.

The three Thapathali offices are close, but check the building name. Canada and Australia list the LS building, on the ground floor. The UK centre is in a different building, the Rotary Complex.

Your appointment letter always gives the final address, date and time. Follow the letter if it differs from anything you read online, including this page.

Where Is the Australian Biometric Collection Centre in Kathmandu?

The Australian Biometric Collection Centre in Kathmandu is on the Ground Floor, LS Building, Thapathali-11, and it opens Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 16:00.

When people search for VFS Global in Thapathali for Australia, this is the office they need. Older listings still show a Trade Tower address, so use the one on the VFS Kathmandu centre page instead. Then check it against your appointment letter.

The same page lists these charges:

• Biometric collection service fee: Rs 2,331, paid by demand draft.
• Who the draft is for: VFS Global Services Nepal Pvt. Ltd., payable at Kathmandu. You can get it from any commercial bank.
• Walk-in service (optional): Rs 8,500 more, paid in cash, if you come without a booked slot.

VFS has changed this fee more than once, so check the page again before you buy the draft. This charge is separate from the visa fee, which our guide to the Australia student visa fee covers.

Is There an Australian Biometrics Centre in Pokhara?

Yes, a pop-up centre opens at Hotel Barahi in Lakeside, Pokhara, on some Wednesdays, every second week.

The address is Ground Floor, Hall Fewa Baithak, Hotel Barahi, Lakeside, Street No. 13, Pokhara-6. It opens from 09:00 to 16:00 and closes on public holidays. Pop-up means it runs on fewer days and hours than a full centre.

The VFS Pokhara centre page links to the list of opening days, and the fee is the same as in Kathmandu. Students from Kaski and nearby districts can save a trip to Kathmandu if a date fits. VFS gives dates in AD, so use our Nepali date converter if your family plans in BS.

Who Needs Biometrics for an Australian Visa in Nepal?

All applicants in Nepal must give biometrics for each visa application, unless they are excluded or exempt.

That is the rule on the Australian Embassy in Nepal visa page. It covers each new application, so a second application can mean a second visit. If you need help with the application itself, see how to apply for an Australian student visa and the full Australia student visa requirements.

The steps are simple:

1. Lodge your Student visa application in ImmiAccount.
2. Wait for the Biometrics Requirement Letter from Home Affairs.
3. Check that the personal details on the letter match your passport.
4. Book through VFS, and get your demand draft ready.
5. Attend in person. No one can go for you.

The Home Affairs biometrics page says the department will tell you whether to attend a centre or whether you can use the Australian Immi App instead. It does not say which Nepal applicants can use the app, so go by your own letter. After this step you can follow your file with our guide on how to check your Australia student visa status.

What Should You Bring to the Australian Biometrics Centre?

Bring your appointment letter, your Biometrics Requirement Letter, your original passport and the service fee.

This is the VFS what-to-bring list for Australia. An electronic or paper copy of each letter is fine. If the details on your letter do not match your passport, VFS cannot collect your biometrics. Fix this first: update ImmiAccount and ask the Global Service Centre for a new letter.

Check that your passport is the one linked to your visa application. If you are renewing it, read our Nepal passport guide first. A student under 16 must come with a parent or guardian, who brings the birth certificate and their own ID.

Where Is the Canada VAC in Nepal for Biometrics?

The Canada Visa Application Centre is on the Ground Floor, LS Complex, Thapathali-11, Kathmandu, and it is the only Canada centre in Nepal.

It opens Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 17:00, as shown on the VFS Canada Kathmandu page. Canada works differently from Australia, because the biometric fee is paid to IRCC and booking is free.

• Fee: IRCC charges CAD 85, about Rs 8,500, when you apply. A family applying together pays at most CAD 170. See today’s figure with our CAD to Rs forex converter.
• Letter: After you pay, you get a Biometric Instruction Letter (BIL). It says that you need biometrics and how to book.
• Booking: IRCC says appointments are free, so do not pay anyone for one.
• Time limit: You have 30 days from getting your BIL. If you can’t make it, use the IRCC web form to ask for more time.

You usually need biometrics between ages 14 and 79. The IRCC page on who needs to give biometrics lists the other exemptions. Biometrics stay valid for 10 years, so you may not need them again if you gave them recently. Your full file is on our page about Canada student visa requirements, and the order of steps is in the Canada application process.

What Should You Bring to the Canada VAC?

Bring your BIL, your valid passport, your appointment printout, two copies of your passport bio page and two copies of the VFS consent form.

The passport needs at least 2 pages that are blank on both sides. Also carry your payment receipt if you paid online. The VFS Canada what-to-bring list has the full details.

VFS says a prior appointment is mandatory for biometrics, so don’t plan to walk in. Aim to arrive 30 minutes early. Only you may enter, plus one parent or caregiver if you are under 18. Canada may also ask for a medical exam in Nepal, which is a separate visit to a different place.

Where Do You Give UK Visa Biometrics in Nepal?

UK applicants who are told to attend a centre go to VFS Global on the 2nd Floor of the Rotary Complex Building, Thapathali.

Apply online first. GOV.UK sends Nepal applicants to VFS and says you must apply before you book. As part of your application, you will find out whether you can prove your identity with the UK Immigration: ID Check app or must go to a centre.

If you attend a centre, the VFS UK Kathmandu page lists the address and hours. Take your passport, as GOV.UK says on its Student visa page. The VFS UK what-to-bring list also asks for your appointment confirmation, your document checklist printout, and any supporting documents that you have not uploaded.

There is also a Pokhara Premium Application Centre at Hotel Barahi, which costs extra and opens on set dates. It does not speed up your visa. For the rest of the file, see our UK student visa requirements.

What Happens at a Biometrics Appointment?

Staff check your papers and passport, scan all 10 fingers, and take a digital photo of your face.

The scanner uses no ink and leaves no mark. Your face must be clearly visible, so you may be asked to remove glasses or adjust your hair. If you wear a religious head covering and must remove it, Home Affairs says this can be done in private with someone of the same gender.

A few simple steps help the scan work:

• Avoid mehndi on your hands before the visit, as it can stop the scanner reading your fingers.
• Come with clean, dry hands, and take off your rings.
• If you have a cut or burn on your fingers, wait until it heals. For Australia, upload a written request for more time to ImmiAccount.
• Keep your phone on silent.
• Come alone if you can, as the centres let in only applicants and people assisting a child or someone who needs help.

VFS also asks you to arrive 15 minutes early for Australia. For the UK, come a few minutes before your slot. If you arrive late, you may have to book again.

Are Biometrics the Same as a Visa Interview?

No, biometrics only confirm who you are, and staff don’t ask about your plans.

Officers judge your plan from your file. For Australia, this means your 4 answers under the Genuine Student requirement. An officer may ask for an interview in some cases, but that is a separate step with its own notice.

Giving biometrics also doesn’t mean you have the visa. If you are worried about your chances, we have guides for both countries. For Australia, read the student visa rejection reasons and the visa success rate. For Canada, read the student visa refusal guide.

Do You Need to Visit the Embassy for Biometrics?

No, you give biometrics at the VFS centre, not at the embassy.

The VAC and the embassy are separate places. For Australia, the embassy is in Bansbari and the biometrics centre is in Thapathali, so don’t go to the wrong one on the day.

Home Affairs also says that VFS does not answer questions about visa applications. VFS can help with your booking, fee and visit. For a question on your Australian visa after you apply, use the Global Service Centre on +61 2 6196 0196, from Monday to Friday. For Canada and the UK, use the contact details in your online account.

What Mistakes Should You Avoid at a Biometrics Centre?

Most problems come from going to the wrong building, or from missing a letter, passport or demand draft.

• Going before your letter comes: Wait for your Australian letter or Canadian BIL before you book.
• Using an old address: Old posts and map pins can be wrong. Go by your appointment letter.
• Bringing cash for the Australian fee: The service fee is paid by demand draft. Get it from the bank the day before.
• Paying for a free Canada slot: If someone asks for money to book your Canada appointment, say no.
• Travelling on a holiday: Centres close on public holidays such as Dashain and Tihar. Check the holiday list on the centre page first.
• Doing everything on one day: Medical checks and police reports are separate. Our guides to medical exams and TB tests and the police clearance report explain each one.

How Can Goreto Help With Your Biometrics Visit?

A counselor can check your letter, papers and dates, so you don’t lose a trip to Kathmandu.

Goreto counselors help you put your visa file in order and explain each step to your parents. This is useful if you are coming from outside the valley. Our branches are in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Chitwan, Itahari and Pokhara, and you can talk to a Goreto counselor at any of them. If you are still comparing agents, see our pages on the best consultancy for Australia and the best consultancy for Canada.