In a surprise move aimed at easing pressure on visa-processing centres ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Canadian government has introduced a temporary biometrics-waiver programme for anyone travelling on an official FIFA invitation. The policy—which runs from 25 November 2025 to 20 July 2026—covers key individuals such as footballers, coaching and medical staff, match officials, accredited media and selected commercial partners. Switzerland is specifically listed among the 22 European countries whose nationals will be able to skip the normally mandatory fingerprint and photo capture when applying for a Canadian Temporary Resident Visa (TRV).(travelandtourworld.com)
Background. Canada’s biometrics requirement was first rolled out globally between 2018 and 2019 to strengthen border security and speed up repeat entries. Although the system has generally worked well, appointment backlogs of several weeks have persisted in smaller European markets, including Switzerland, where visa applicants usually have to travel to centres in Geneva, Zurich or Munich. By exempting FIFA-invited personnel, Ottawa hopes to avoid a last-minute surge that could overwhelm consulates during the tournament’s final preparations.
For Swiss travellers looking to capitalise on the waiver, VisaHQ can streamline the process end-to-end. Through its Swiss portal (https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/), the firm offers real-time guidance on Canada’s TRV requirements, clarifies whether an applicant truly qualifies for the biometrics exemption and helps prepare paperwork for accompanying family members who still need fingerprints and photos—saving organisations time and avoiding costly errors.
![Canada Waives Biometrics for FIFA 2026 Personnel—Swiss Players, Coaches & Media to Benefit]()
Practical implications for Swiss businesses. The Swiss Football Association, production crews from SRG SSR, and sponsorship activation teams for Swiss multinationals such as Credit Suisse and Nestlé will be able to move staff to Canada much faster. Employers should still file TRV applications early—Canadian authorities will continue to run security and admissibility checks—but they no longer need to schedule biometrics appointments or budget for associated travel costs.
Compliance considerations. The waiver applies only to applicants holding an official FIFA invitation letter and meeting Canada’s general admissibility rules (no serious criminality, security concerns or prior immigration violations). Family members and accompanying staff who are not on FIFA’s accredited list must still provide biometrics. Organisations should therefore review invitation lists carefully and ensure that any non-exempt travellers schedule biometrics well in advance.
Looking ahead. Immigration advisers expect Canada to process several thousand Swiss applications under the waiver. If the pilot is successful, it could become a model for future large-scale sporting or cultural events hosted by countries with stringent entry requirements. For now, Swiss corporates and media houses have a valuable window to streamline their logistics for North America’s biggest ever football spectacle.
Background. Canada’s biometrics requirement was first rolled out globally between 2018 and 2019 to strengthen border security and speed up repeat entries. Although the system has generally worked well, appointment backlogs of several weeks have persisted in smaller European markets, including Switzerland, where visa applicants usually have to travel to centres in Geneva, Zurich or Munich. By exempting FIFA-invited personnel, Ottawa hopes to avoid a last-minute surge that could overwhelm consulates during the tournament’s final preparations.
For Swiss travellers looking to capitalise on the waiver, VisaHQ can streamline the process end-to-end. Through its Swiss portal (https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/), the firm offers real-time guidance on Canada’s TRV requirements, clarifies whether an applicant truly qualifies for the biometrics exemption and helps prepare paperwork for accompanying family members who still need fingerprints and photos—saving organisations time and avoiding costly errors.
Practical implications for Swiss businesses. The Swiss Football Association, production crews from SRG SSR, and sponsorship activation teams for Swiss multinationals such as Credit Suisse and Nestlé will be able to move staff to Canada much faster. Employers should still file TRV applications early—Canadian authorities will continue to run security and admissibility checks—but they no longer need to schedule biometrics appointments or budget for associated travel costs.
Compliance considerations. The waiver applies only to applicants holding an official FIFA invitation letter and meeting Canada’s general admissibility rules (no serious criminality, security concerns or prior immigration violations). Family members and accompanying staff who are not on FIFA’s accredited list must still provide biometrics. Organisations should therefore review invitation lists carefully and ensure that any non-exempt travellers schedule biometrics well in advance.
Looking ahead. Immigration advisers expect Canada to process several thousand Swiss applications under the waiver. If the pilot is successful, it could become a model for future large-scale sporting or cultural events hosted by countries with stringent entry requirements. For now, Swiss corporates and media houses have a valuable window to streamline their logistics for North America’s biggest ever football spectacle.
