With 13 World Cup matches slated for Canadian venues in June and July 2026, Ottawa announced on February 2 a package of temporary border-security measures designed to discourage asylum claims and irregular migration during the event. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) will introduce stricter visa screening, expand airline carrier liability for improperly documented passengers and deploy additional officers to major airports and land crossings.
Officials emphasised that possession of a match ticket will not guarantee entry and warned that visitors overstaying their authorisation could face future visa bans. Canada processed more than 173,000 asylum applications in 2024, and policymakers fear a spike if travel rules remain unchanged during the tournament.
![Canada to tighten border controls ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup matches]()
To support tournament logistics, IRCC will continue granting short-term work permits to foreign technicians, broadcasters and officials, but employers must demonstrate that no qualified Canadian is available and that positions are directly tied to FIFA-sanctioned events. The government also confirmed that its November 2025 public policy exempting certain FIFA-accredited workers from permit requirements remains in force until July 31, 2026.
If you need practical help navigating these evolving Canadian entry rules—whether for match-day spectators, temporary staff or accredited FIFA personnel—VisaHQ offers streamlined visa guidance, document reviews and application support at https://www.visahq.com/canada/
Businesses in tourism and hospitality should advise incoming staff and guests to double-check visa requirements early; processing times are expected to lengthen once applications surge in late spring.
Officials emphasised that possession of a match ticket will not guarantee entry and warned that visitors overstaying their authorisation could face future visa bans. Canada processed more than 173,000 asylum applications in 2024, and policymakers fear a spike if travel rules remain unchanged during the tournament.
To support tournament logistics, IRCC will continue granting short-term work permits to foreign technicians, broadcasters and officials, but employers must demonstrate that no qualified Canadian is available and that positions are directly tied to FIFA-sanctioned events. The government also confirmed that its November 2025 public policy exempting certain FIFA-accredited workers from permit requirements remains in force until July 31, 2026.
If you need practical help navigating these evolving Canadian entry rules—whether for match-day spectators, temporary staff or accredited FIFA personnel—VisaHQ offers streamlined visa guidance, document reviews and application support at https://www.visahq.com/canada/
Businesses in tourism and hospitality should advise incoming staff and guests to double-check visa requirements early; processing times are expected to lengthen once applications surge in late spring.
