The government of Canada has announced a new biometrics exemption policy for football fans ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
This policy, introduced through a temporary public policy by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), allows certain FIFA-invited foreign nationals to bypass the usual biometrics collection requirement when applying for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), easing entry for key participants ahead of the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup.
The biometrics exemption policy, effective from November 25, 2025, through July 20, 2026, targets individuals holding a valid official letter of invitation from FIFA.
These “FIFA-invited applicants” include essential personnel such as match officials, team staff, broadcast crews, commercial partners, and other delegates critical to the tournament’s operations.
Canada expects around 7,000 such invitees, part of the broader anticipation of up to one million visitors during the event.
This was made known in a press statement issued by Lena Metlege Diab, Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship.
Diab explained that the biometrics exemption for football fans ahead of the 2026 World Cup addresses a common bottleneck in the visa system, where providing fingerprints and photos typically requires an in-person appointment at a Visa Application Centre.
Normally, visa applicants must visit a biometric collection centre to give fingerprints and a photo. That step can take time, especially when appointments are limited. By removing this requirement for eligible applicants, Canada is trying to reduce delays ahead of the tournament.
To benefit from this temporary measure, applicants must:
- Apply for a Temporary Resident Visa between November 25, 2025, and July 20, 2026
- Hold a valid invitation letter issued by FIFA
- Be otherwise admissible to Canada under immigration rules
The policy applies to both new applications and those already in process as of November 25, 2025.
The statement reads: “Canada expects up to one million visitors (mostly fans), with approximately 7,000 of those travellers to be considered ‘FIFA-invited applicants.’ To be considered a FIFA-invited applicant, a person must hold an official FIFA Letter of Invitation. These individuals are critical to the success of the 2026 Men’s World Cup.
“FIFA also intends to invite diplomats and government officials, travelling on a diplomatic or official passport.
“Hosting the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup is expected to generate an estimate $3.8 billion in economic output for Canada, including $2 billion to the Canadian gross domestic product, and the creation or preservation of 24,000 jobs across the country.
“This temporary public policy recognizes the significant national interest of co-hosting the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup 2026, and seeks to safely simplify processing for FIFA delegates and invitees.
“As such, I hereby establish that, pursuant to my authority under section 25.2 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (the Act), there are sufficient public policy considerations that justify the granting of an exemption from certain requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (the Regulations), to foreign nationals who meet the conditions (eligibility requirements).”
Recall that in 2025, Canada rolled out special rules to support the 2026 FIFA events. Foreign nationals travelling for short-term, FIFA-related work may not need a standard work permit.
This temporary work permit exemption is designed to make entry simpler for those helping organise and manage the tournament.
Canada is not the only host country making travel easier for World Cup visitors. The United States, which will also host matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, has introduced a faster visa interview option for eligible ticket holders.
Travellers who purchased their match tickets directly from FIFA can now request priority visa interview appointments through FIFA PASS.
To use this option, ticket holders must first opt in to FIFA PASS on FIFA’s official website. Once enrolled, they can request a prioritised U.S visa interview slot as part of their visa application process.
