With just four months until the first whistle of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Ottawa has removed one of the biggest administrative hurdles facing hundreds of officials, athletes and support staff who need to shuttle in and out of Canada during the tournament.
Under a public policy issued on February 25, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is exempting foreign nationals who hold an official invitation letter from FIFA from the usual requirement to give fingerprints and a photo when applying for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV). The exemption applies retroactively to any eligible TRV filed on or after November 25 2025 and will remain in force until July 20 2026—the day after the final match in Vancouver.
For travelers who still need a TRV—or who want expert help confirming whether they qualify for the new waiver—VisaHQ can streamline the entire process. The company’s online platform provides real-time updates on Canadian entry rules, double-checks documentation, and submits applications on behalf of individuals or corporate groups. More information is available at https://www.visahq.com/canada/
![Canada waives biometrics for FIFA-invited travelers ahead of 2026 World Cup]()
Biometrics collection has been one of the main pain-points for large event organisers since it can add weeks (and sometimes months) to visa processing if applicants have to secure scarce appointments at overseas Visa Application Centres. Removing the requirement for a narrowly-defined group—FIFA-invited guests, accredited media, some diplomats and government officials—gives Canada’s co-hosting cities (Vancouver and Toronto) a practical edge as they compete with U.S. and Mexican venues for side-events and delegate traffic.
For corporate mobility managers the message is clear: anyone travelling on a standard fan or business visit still needs to supply biometrics, but executives who can secure a FIFA invitation letter can now fast-track a TRV entirely online. Employers should therefore audit their World Cup travel lists early and, where possible, leverage FIFA’s official invitation process to avoid bottlenecks.
The policy also provides a valuable precedent for other high-profile events. Immigration lawyers note that Canada used a similar waiver during the 2015 Pan-Am Games and that IRCC may deploy the tool again for the 2027 Winter Universiade in Quebec City. Companies planning large group travel to Canada around future sporting or cultural gatherings should watch for comparable public policies and be ready to pivot their application strategies accordingly.
Under a public policy issued on February 25, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is exempting foreign nationals who hold an official invitation letter from FIFA from the usual requirement to give fingerprints and a photo when applying for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV). The exemption applies retroactively to any eligible TRV filed on or after November 25 2025 and will remain in force until July 20 2026—the day after the final match in Vancouver.
For travelers who still need a TRV—or who want expert help confirming whether they qualify for the new waiver—VisaHQ can streamline the entire process. The company’s online platform provides real-time updates on Canadian entry rules, double-checks documentation, and submits applications on behalf of individuals or corporate groups. More information is available at https://www.visahq.com/canada/
Biometrics collection has been one of the main pain-points for large event organisers since it can add weeks (and sometimes months) to visa processing if applicants have to secure scarce appointments at overseas Visa Application Centres. Removing the requirement for a narrowly-defined group—FIFA-invited guests, accredited media, some diplomats and government officials—gives Canada’s co-hosting cities (Vancouver and Toronto) a practical edge as they compete with U.S. and Mexican venues for side-events and delegate traffic.
For corporate mobility managers the message is clear: anyone travelling on a standard fan or business visit still needs to supply biometrics, but executives who can secure a FIFA invitation letter can now fast-track a TRV entirely online. Employers should therefore audit their World Cup travel lists early and, where possible, leverage FIFA’s official invitation process to avoid bottlenecks.
The policy also provides a valuable precedent for other high-profile events. Immigration lawyers note that Canada used a similar waiver during the 2015 Pan-Am Games and that IRCC may deploy the tool again for the 2027 Winter Universiade in Quebec City. Companies planning large group travel to Canada around future sporting or cultural gatherings should watch for comparable public policies and be ready to pivot their application strategies accordingly.
