IRCC has introduced a temporary public policy exempting certain foreign nationals invited by FIFA from providing biometrics when applying for Canadian Temporary Resident Visas between 25 November 2025 and 20 July 2026. The measure, announced on 19 February, aims to streamline accreditation for athletes, officials and corporate partners travelling to Canada for World Cup-related events.(economictimes.indiatimes.com)
Under normal rules, applicants must attend an in-person appointment to submit fingerprints and photographs—a step that can delay visa issuance by several weeks. By removing this requirement for a narrowly-defined cohort, Ottawa projects faster processing times and reduced administrative burden on visa-application centres in key markets such as South America and Europe.
![Canada waives biometrics for FIFA-invited visitors ahead of 2026 World Cup]()
For anyone navigating these updated requirements, VisaHQ offers an easy-to-use portal that consolidates the latest Canadian visa information, personalised document checklists and live application tracking. Whether you qualify for the new biometrics waiver or need a standard Temporary Resident Visa, their team can guide you through each step and help prevent costly errors. Explore their Canada services at https://www.visahq.com/canada/
The biometrics waiver complements earlier policies granting work-permit exemptions for FIFA-accredited individuals and signals Canada’s readiness to handle the logistical surge expected ahead of the June 2026 kick-off. Border officials will still conduct admissibility checks on arrival, and the exemption does not override any other visa conditions.
Event organisers and multinational sponsors should ensure that their invitees carry official FIFA invitation letters and meet standard admissibility criteria (e.g., security and medical). IRCC warns that applications filed without the correct documentation will be refused despite the biometrics waiver.
Under normal rules, applicants must attend an in-person appointment to submit fingerprints and photographs—a step that can delay visa issuance by several weeks. By removing this requirement for a narrowly-defined cohort, Ottawa projects faster processing times and reduced administrative burden on visa-application centres in key markets such as South America and Europe.
For anyone navigating these updated requirements, VisaHQ offers an easy-to-use portal that consolidates the latest Canadian visa information, personalised document checklists and live application tracking. Whether you qualify for the new biometrics waiver or need a standard Temporary Resident Visa, their team can guide you through each step and help prevent costly errors. Explore their Canada services at https://www.visahq.com/canada/
The biometrics waiver complements earlier policies granting work-permit exemptions for FIFA-accredited individuals and signals Canada’s readiness to handle the logistical surge expected ahead of the June 2026 kick-off. Border officials will still conduct admissibility checks on arrival, and the exemption does not override any other visa conditions.
Event organisers and multinational sponsors should ensure that their invitees carry official FIFA invitation letters and meet standard admissibility criteria (e.g., security and medical). IRCC warns that applications filed without the correct documentation will be refused despite the biometrics waiver.
