Canada temporarily waives visa biometrics for FIFA‑invited delegates and diplomats for 2026 World Cup (Nov. 25, 2025–July 20, 2026)

Canada temporarily waives visa biometrics for FIFA‑invited delegates and diplomats for 2026 World Cup (Nov. 25, 2025–July 20, 2026)

Summary: Canada has introduced a time‑limited immigration measure that exempts certain FIFA‑invited applicants—including diplomats—from the biometrics requirement for temporary resident visas to support the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup. Ottawa — 2026-03-03 — The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has enacted a temporary public policy to exempt specific FIFA‑invited applicants attending the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup from the requirement to provide biometrics for a Temporary Resident Visa (Program: TRV). The policy is aimed at facilitating official tournament participation while maintaining inadmissibility screening. Key details
- Exemption: Waiver of the biometrics collection requirement under IRPR paragraph 12.1(d).
- Legal authority: Public policy established under IRPA section 25.2.
- Source: IRCC. Eligibility (must meet all listed conditions)
- Category 1 (FIFA‑invited applicants):
- Applied for a TRV between November 25, 2025 and July 20, 2026.
- Hold a FIFA Letter of Invitation.
- Not associated with adverse information that may result in inadmissibility under IRPA ss. 34, 35, 35.1, 36(1), 37; or under s. 42 where the family member’s inadmissibility is based on those grounds.

- Category 2 (Diplomats/government officials):
- Applied for a TRV between November 25, 2025 and July 20, 2026.
- Hold a diplomatic or official passport.
- Hold a FIFA Letter of Invitation.
- Not associated with adverse information that may result in inadmissibility under IRPA ss. 34, 35, 35.1, 36(1), 37; or under s. 42 where the family member’s inadmissibility is based on those grounds. Timing and scope
- Start: November 25, 2025 (applies to new and pending applications as of that date).
- End: July 20, 2026.
- The policy may be revoked at any time, without prior notice. Context and rationale
Canada will co‑host the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup with Mexico and the United States, staging 13 matches (June 11–July 19) and hosting the FIFA Congress in Vancouver in April. Authorities anticipate up to 1 million visitors, including approximately 7,000 FIFA‑invited applicants viewed as critical to tournament delivery. The event is projected to generate $3.8 billion in economic output, contribute $2 billion to GDP, and support 24,000 jobs in Canada. Signatory
- The Hon. Lena Metlege Diab, P.C., M.P., Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship.
- Dated at Ottawa, February 10, 2026. Independent analysis
- Positive impacts: The targeted waiver should streamline processing, reduce pressure on biometric collection capacity, and support timely entry of essential personnel and diplomats, aligning with the event’s significant economic and diplomatic benefits.
- Risks/constraints: Waiving biometrics for a defined cohort may raise security and equity concerns; however, the continued application of inadmissibility checks and the narrow eligibility window mitigate risk. The ability to revoke the policy without notice provides operational flexibility if threat environments change. Closing
This narrowly tailored, time‑bound waiver aims to balance facilitation for official FIFA participants with Canada’s security framework. No changes were announced for other travelers, and the exemption ends on 2026-07-20 unless revoked earlier.

Tags: Canada immigration, IRCC, TRV, biometrics exemption, FIFA 2026, World Cup Canada, diplomats, public policy, IRPA s.25.2, IRPR 12.1(d), Vancouver FIFA Congress, Canadian visas, temporary resident visa