Canada | Certain work permit exemptions granted for 2026 FIFA World Cup

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada announced it will extend certain work permit exemptions to select foreign nationals coming to Canada to perform time-limited work associated with the 2026 FIFA Congress and World Cup.

Key Points:

• Delegated officers may grant an exemption from certain work permit requirements if the foreign national:
  • Requests to enter and depart Canada between Dec. 1, 2025, and July 31, 2026
  • Holds a letter of invitation from FIFA certifying they are either an employee of FIFA or one of its affiliates, or they are contracted for goods and services
  • Is performing work that is directly related to and critically supports an official FIFA-organized event
  • Is listed on the FIFA microsite as having received a letter of invitation from FIFA
• The exemption will apply until July 31, 2026.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group.

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