With North America hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2026, Canada is reminding foreign fans—especially those planning to attend matches in Toronto or Vancouver—that even minor criminal records can trigger inadmissibility. A November 14 advisory from immigration law firm Cohen & Company outlines how offences such as past DUIs, petty theft or assault charges may block entry unless travellers secure a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) or qualify for deemed rehabilitation.
The rules apply equally to business visitors who intend to combine client meetings with match attendance. TRPs are discretionary and require evidence that the applicant’s need to enter Canada outweighs public-safety concerns. Processing can take 30 days or more, and fees stand at CAD $239.75. Travellers from visa-exempt countries must still obtain the permit via consular channels; U.S. citizens can apply at the border but risk same-day refusal.
![World-Cup Travellers With Criminal Records Face Extra Hurdles to Enter Canada]()
For mobility and travel managers coordinating corporate hospitality events around the tournament, the guidance is clear: vet guest lists early. Legal teams should request police certificates or sworn declarations from invitees, budget time for TRP processing and consider legal-opinion letters to clarify rehabilitation status.
Failure to plan could see VIP clients or key partners turned away at Pearson or YVR, damaging relationships and branding opportunities during the most-watched sporting event ever held in Canada.
The rules apply equally to business visitors who intend to combine client meetings with match attendance. TRPs are discretionary and require evidence that the applicant’s need to enter Canada outweighs public-safety concerns. Processing can take 30 days or more, and fees stand at CAD $239.75. Travellers from visa-exempt countries must still obtain the permit via consular channels; U.S. citizens can apply at the border but risk same-day refusal.
For mobility and travel managers coordinating corporate hospitality events around the tournament, the guidance is clear: vet guest lists early. Legal teams should request police certificates or sworn declarations from invitees, budget time for TRP processing and consider legal-opinion letters to clarify rehabilitation status.
Failure to plan could see VIP clients or key partners turned away at Pearson or YVR, damaging relationships and branding opportunities during the most-watched sporting event ever held in Canada.
