The Government of Canada has formally published a temporary public policy exempting certain FIFA-invited foreign nationals from the standard biometric collection requirement when applying for a Temporary Resident Visa to enter Canada for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Under the policy, foreign nationals who apply for a TRV between November 25, 2025, and July 20, 2026, hold a valid letter of invitation from FIFA, and are otherwise admissible to Canada may be exempt from providing biometrics – the fingerprints and photograph ordinarily required as part of the visa application process. The exemption applies to both new and pending applications as of November 25, 2025.
Biometric collection requires a personal appearance at a designated collection point, and appointment availability can cause significant processing delays. The exemption is designed to ease those timelines for eligible applicants ahead of the tournament, which will see Canada host matches alongside the United States and Mexico.
This is the second temporary public policy Canada has issued in connection with the 2026 World Cup. An earlier measure introduced work permit exemptions for eligible FIFA-invited foreign nationals. The new biometric exemption is a separate, distinct carve-out administered by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
The policy is notable because Canada has been moving to expand biometric collection requirements, not contract them. IRCC’s Forward Regulatory Plan for 2025–2027 calls for extending mandatory biometric data collection to citizenship grant applicants, a population currently exempt. The FIFA exemption represents a deliberate, time-limited reversal of that direction for a specific class of visitor.
The policy will remain in force until July 20, 2026, unless revoked earlier without prior notice. It is separate from the broader biometric screening systems expected to be deployed at World Cup venues and border entry points during the tournament itself.
Sources: Government of Canada, Fragomen
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By the ID Tech Editorial Team
