Good news The Canadian government has just given in on the 2026 World Cup. Ottawa has decided to skip the biometrics and work permits stage altogether, to speed things up..
But don't get your hopes up. The rules are absolutely not the same if you're a VIP invited by FIFA or a fan who has broken his piggy bank for a match ticket. Here's a practical breakdown of what's really changing.
The red carpet for FIFA guests
If you've received an official invitation letter from FIFA (whether you're a player, referee, staff member, member of the media or even a volunteer), Canada makes life much easier for you.
The big change we've just made is total exemption from biometrics. In concrete terms, from November 25, 2025 to July 20, 2026, you won't need to run to a Visa Application Centre (VAC) to have your photo and fingerprints taken.
It's a monstrous time-saver when you consider the interminable waiting lists in some countries. What's more, if you already had a visa application in progress on November 25, the same rule applies. You don't have to send anything back. What's more, guest workers are simply exempt from work permit requirements.
The agency's advice: Apply for your TRV (Temporary Resident Visa) or ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) and simply slip your FIFA invitation letter into the file. Frankly, it was the least Canada could do to avoid an organizational fiasco.
Supporters: a cold shower
Got your ticket to see a game in Toronto or Vancouver? Great. Except that, as far as Canadian immigration is concerned, you're just another tourist. Don't expect any special treatment.
Here's the reality for fans:
- No “Special Mondial Visa“. It doesn't exist, so don't look for it.
- No biometric exemption. You'll need to make an appointment to give your fingerprints. Plan months in advance.
- The match ticket guarantees nothing. Immigration officers don't give a damn if you miss the kick-off if your financial file doesn't hold up, or if your ties in your home country are deemed too weak.
The only official “hack” that IRCC (Immigration Canada) asks you to do is to type exactly the words FIFA World Cup 26 in the «Tell us more about what you'll do in Canada» of your visa application, or in the substantive questions of the AVE. It's just for statistical purposes, not to give you priority.
Apply for your visa now. Don't wait until 2026.
The “100% guaranteed” visa scam”
Every major sporting event has its share of crooks, and we see it every day at the agency. You're bound to come across guys on WhatsApp or shady agencies on Facebook promising you entry to Canada “100% guaranteed” because it's the World Cup.
It's not true.
Nobody can guarantee an AVE or a visa except the Canadian government. And if a pseudo-agent fills out your file with false information to “boost” your chances, you risk a 5-year inadmissibility. Run away.
Fill in a file from AVE Canada
English 
Français 
Deutsch 
Italiano 
Español