With excitement building for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, fraudsters in India—especially in Punjab—are pushing a so-called “FIFA visa,” claiming Canada will waive normal visitor-visa rules for football fans who submit emotional letters about their passion for the sport. Canada-based immigration consultant Mandeep Lidher took to social media on 19 January 2026 to debunk the myth, stressing that no special visa category exists. Visitors will still need a regular Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), and standard admissibility and financial-ties checks will apply. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
Lidher noted that refusal rates for Indian TRV applicants remain high because of automated risk triage and weak documentation. “No letter—no matter how heartfelt about football—overrides finances, travel history or ties,” he said. He urged applicants to avoid unlicensed agents promising guaranteed entry and warned that submitting false information can trigger a five-year ban. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
![IRCC expert warns of ‘FIFA visa’ scam targeting World Cup fans]()
Prospective travelers who wish to avoid misinformation altogether can use VisaHQ’s online platform to check real-time Canadian entry requirements, generate application forms and even book courier pickup for their passports. The service, available at https://www.visahq.com/canada/, guides users through the proper Temporary Resident Visa or eTA steps and connects them with licensed experts—eliminating the need for risky middlemen.
IRCC’s official guidance confirms there is no World-Cup-specific visa and that match tickets do not influence visa approval. Fans from visa-required countries must follow normal application channels and should apply early, given expected processing backlogs in 2025-26. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
For Canadian event organizers and employers planning hospitality staffing for World-Cup venues in Toronto and Vancouver, the episode is a reminder to use authorized immigration representatives and provide clear instructions to overseas recruits. Businesses found to be complicit in fraud risk hefty fines and reputational damage. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
Lidher noted that refusal rates for Indian TRV applicants remain high because of automated risk triage and weak documentation. “No letter—no matter how heartfelt about football—overrides finances, travel history or ties,” he said. He urged applicants to avoid unlicensed agents promising guaranteed entry and warned that submitting false information can trigger a five-year ban. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
Prospective travelers who wish to avoid misinformation altogether can use VisaHQ’s online platform to check real-time Canadian entry requirements, generate application forms and even book courier pickup for their passports. The service, available at https://www.visahq.com/canada/, guides users through the proper Temporary Resident Visa or eTA steps and connects them with licensed experts—eliminating the need for risky middlemen.
IRCC’s official guidance confirms there is no World-Cup-specific visa and that match tickets do not influence visa approval. Fans from visa-required countries must follow normal application channels and should apply early, given expected processing backlogs in 2025-26. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
For Canadian event organizers and employers planning hospitality staffing for World-Cup venues in Toronto and Vancouver, the episode is a reminder to use authorized immigration representatives and provide clear instructions to overseas recruits. Businesses found to be complicit in fraud risk hefty fines and reputational damage. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
