Planning to Visit Canada for the 2026 FIFA World Cup? What You Need to Know If You Have a Criminal Record
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaching, Canada is preparing to welcome thousands of international fans. However, travellers with any form of criminal history—whether recent or long past—are being reminded that they may be denied entry under Canada’s strict admissibility rules.
Canada’s immigration laws classify many offences as grounds for refusal, even if the incident happened years ago, resulted in no conviction, or was considered minor in another country. As excitement builds for the tournament, legal experts are urging travellers to assess their admissibility well ahead of their planned visit.
Why Travellers Can Be Denied Entry
Canadian immigration officers evaluate a traveller’s record by comparing the foreign offence to the equivalent offence under Canadian law. Any past issue that aligns with Canadian criminal law can trigger inadmissibility, including:
- Offences committed without formal charges
- Charges that were withdrawn or unresolved
- Cases with pending court dates
- Convictions—minor, major, or first-time
Common examples that may lead to refusal include impaired driving, theft, assault, dangerous driving, and drug-related offences.
Even if your home country treats the incident as a low-level offence, Canadian law may classify the equivalent crime as more serious. Impaired driving is one of the strongest examples: in many countries it is considered a misdemeanor, but Canada upgraded impaired driving to a serious criminal offence in 2018.
How Officers Assess Your Record
Immigration authorities categorize offences under:
1. Criminality (less severe)
A traveller may be inadmissible if they were:
- Convicted of a crime treated as an indictable offence in Canada
- Convicted of two summary offences
- Involved in an act abroad that is considered criminal in Canada
2. Serious Criminality (more severe)
This applies if the equivalent Canadian offence:
- Carries a maximum sentence of 10+ years, or
- Resulted in a jail sentence of more than 6 months
3. Hybrid Offences
These are offences that can be prosecuted as either summary or indictable. For immigration screening, Canada always treats hybrid offences as indictable, increasing the risk of inadmissibility.
What You Can Do if You Have a Criminal Record
Travellers hoping to attend any of the Toronto or Vancouver World Cup matches in 2026 should act early. Processing for admissibility applications is expected to surge closer to match dates.
There are three main pathways to resolve criminal inadmissibility:
1. Temporary Resident Permit (TRP)
A TRP allows an inadmissible traveller to enter Canada temporarily for a justified purpose. Approval is based on whether the traveller’s need outweighs any risk to public safety.
Important notes:
- Attendance at a sports event may not always qualify as a compelling reason
- TRPs are discretionary and can be refused even with strong documentation
- Validity ranges from one day to up to three years
- Processing begins after a complete application is submitted
2. Deemed Rehabilitation
Travellers may be automatically considered rehabilitated if:
- Enough time has passed since completing their entire sentence
- The offence falls under non-serious criminality
Time thresholds:
- Ten years for a single indictable offence
- Five years for summary offences
There is no application form; officers assess admissibility at the border or visa office. Many travellers seek a legal opinion letter to strengthen their case.
3. Criminal Rehabilitation (Individual Rehabilitation)
This is the most permanent solution. An approved rehabilitation application clears the offence for Canadian admissibility.
Eligibility:
- At least five years must have passed since completing all parts of the sentence
- Applies to both serious and non-serious offences
Processing can take one to two years, which is why early preparation is essential.
Travellers applying late in 2025 or early 2026 may not receive a decision before the World Cup. However, having a rehabilitation application in progress can support a TRP request.
Why Early Action Matters
With millions expected to travel and only 13 games hosted in Canada, demand for visas, TRPs, and legal assessments will rise sharply. Travellers with any past offence should begin their evaluation well in advance to avoid being turned away at the border.
For a consultation about Immigration options, reach out to the CAD IMMIGRATION today!
