Canada Braces for Visa Processing Delays Ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup

Immigration agency faces staffing cuts and surging application demand as it prepares to host 13 tournament matches.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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Canada's Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) agency is warning of potential visa processing delays as the country prepares to host 13 matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The challenges are exacerbated by recent staffing reductions within IRCC, which is facing increased demand across multiple application categories while attempting to streamline operations and reduce costs.

Why it matters

The surge in visa applications for the high-profile FIFA World Cup event comes at a time when IRCC is already struggling with backlogs and extended processing times across various immigration categories. The delays could impact businesses, disrupt family reunification plans, and potentially deter future immigration to Canada as the country seeks to attract skilled workers and address labor shortages.

The details

IRCC has cut 20% of its staff, raising concerns about the agency's capacity to handle the increased workload from the World Cup. Processing times for work permit extensions are currently exceeding 200 calendar days, and there have been delays in other categories like federal skilled worker applications, permanent resident cards, and super visas. While IRCC maintains that citizenship application processing times remain at 13 months, the agency's estimates for citizenship certificates have increased to 10 months, up from 9 months in December.

  • Canada is scheduled to host 13 games during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is expected to draw a significant influx of international visitors beginning in June.
  • IRCC has cut 20% of its staff in recent reductions.

The players

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)

The Canadian government agency responsible for managing immigration, refugee, and citizenship programs.

Rick Lamanna

A partner at Fragomen Immigration Law who has observed massive jumps in certain application types, such as spousal sponsorship and work permit extensions.

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What they’re saying

“We saw massive jumps in certain application types. One, for example, was spousal sponsorship. Those jumped almost double — in some cases, tripled. Another one is work permit extensions.”

— Rick Lamanna, Partner, Fragomen Immigration Law (newsdirectory3.com)

What’s next

The Canadian government's efforts to balance fiscal responsibility with the need to efficiently process applications are now under scrutiny, and the situation will likely require a multi-faceted approach, including potential temporary measures to increase processing capacity, streamlined application procedures, and clear communication with applicants regarding expected timelines.

The takeaway

The challenges facing IRCC underscore the complexities of managing immigration flows during major international events. The FIFA World Cup is expected to generate a substantial increase in visitor visa applications, placing further strain on an already burdened system and highlighting the need for the Canadian government to adapt its immigration processing procedures and allocate resources accordingly to ensure a successful hosting of the tournament.