Canada Sports Visas
Canada Sports Visas
Update October 2026
Visa-exempt athletes and coaches need an eTA (CAD $7), others a visitor visa (CAD $100 plus CAD $85 biometrics). Professional athletes and coaches on Canadian teams can often get LMIA-exempt work permits (CAD $155). Canada plans fewer temporary workers in 2026, so apply early. See our Canada work permits guide.
Individuals without Canadian citizenship or permanent residency will require a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) in order to enter Canada for the purpose of participating in organised sport.
Depending on the nature of the sporting activity, you may also require a separate work permit.
It is important to ensure that you secure the right visa and, if appropriate, work permit before making plans to travel to Canada, as you can be refused entry at the Canadian border if you do not have the correct paperwork in place.
Not sure which applies to you? Book a consultation and we will confirm the right visa, eTA or work permit for your season or event.
Visas and Work Permits
A Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) (sometimes called a Visitor Visa) authorises individuals who are not Canadian citizens and do not have any other form of permanent residency in Canada to enter the country on a time-limited basis.
To be eligible for a TRV, you will need to prove that:
- you intend to leave Canada before your TRV expires
- you have sufficient funds to support yourself and any family members while in Canada
- you are not a risk to Canada’s security or public order
A TRV can be issued for a single entry or multiple entries and may be valid for several years, up to the expiry of your passport, but each stay is usually limited to six months unless the border officer allows longer.
Individuals from certain countries may be able to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) instead of a TRV. An eTA can be issued for up to five years, though usually with the caveat that no single visit lasts longer than six months.
Do I need a Visa and Work Permit to play sport in Canada?
Unless you hold Canadian citizenship or permanent residency, you will need either a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) to enter Canada. Whether you require a visa or eTA will depend on your nationality and other personal factors, including whether you have had a visa application denied previously.
If you intend to work as an athlete or in some other capacity for a Canadian sports team or other sporting organisation, you will need a work permit.
If you intend to work as an athlete or in some other capacity for a foreign sports organisation while in Canada, for example, in a competition or as part of an organised tour, you will usually not require a work permit.
If you intend to visit Canada as an amateur sportsperson, for example, to train or to participate in an amateur competition, you will usually not require a work permit.
Which document do you need? Find your situation
The right entry document depends on who you play or work for, whether you are paid and how long you will stay. Choose the situation that matches yours.
If you are an athlete, coach or team member of a foreign-based team coming to Canada to compete, you generally do not need a work permit. The same usually applies to individual athletes based abroad who are entering a Canadian event, such as a race, tournament or trial.
You still need the right entry document for your nationality:
- an eTA (CAD 7) if you are from a visa-exempt country and flying to Canada
- a visitor visa (CAD 100 plus CAD 85 biometrics) if you are from a visa-required country
Carry a letter from your team or the event organiser that confirms your role, the dates of the event and who is paying for your trip.
Professional and semi-professional athletes and coaches who are employed by a Canadian-based team generally need a work permit. In many leagues the permit is exempt from the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) under the reciprocal employment rules, because Canadian athletes and coaches have similar opportunities abroad.
The team submits the job offer through the IRCC Employer Portal and pays the CAD 230 employer compliance fee, then you apply for an employer-specific work permit (CAD 155). Read our full guide to Canada work permits for athletes and coaches.
Amateur players joining a Canadian team, including at junior levels, are generally treated as visitors rather than workers, so a work permit is usually not needed. If you will stay for a whole season, a visitor record is recommended so your status covers the full period.
If you will receive a salary, accommodation or other benefits that look like pay, check your situation with us first, because you may be treated as working.
Judges, referees and similar officials at an international amateur competition, and essential support staff of a foreign team or athlete (such as coaches and grooms), generally do not need a work permit. You will need an eTA or visitor visa and a letter confirming your appointment or role.
Staff employed by a Canadian team, such as physiotherapists, analysts or equipment managers, are different. They usually need a work permit and may not fall under the athlete and coach reciprocal exemption.
Your spouse or common-law partner and children can usually come with you as visitors, students or workers, depending on their own eligibility. Open work permits for spouses of foreign workers were narrowed in January 2025, and most athlete and coach roles sit in TEER 3 of the National Occupational Classification, so check spouse work rights carefully before you move. Minor children of a work permit holder can generally attend primary and secondary school in Canada without a study permit, but check the rules for your family before you move.
Entry documents and fees at a glance
| Document | Who it is for | Government fee (Oct 2026) | Key points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) | Visa-exempt nationals (for example Australians, New Zealanders and UK citizens) flying to or through Canada | CAD 7 | Linked to your passport; usually valid for up to 5 years or until your passport expires. Not needed if you arrive by land or sea |
| Visitor visa (Temporary Resident Visa) | Nationals of visa-required countries | CAD 100 plus CAD 85 biometrics | Can be valid for several years (up to the expiry of your passport), but each visit is set by the border officer, usually up to 6 months |
| Employer-specific work permit | Athletes and coaches employed by a Canadian team | CAD 155 (employer pays CAD 230 compliance fee) | Usually LMIA-exempt for reciprocal employment; otherwise a positive LMIA is needed first |
| Visitor record | Visitors who need a longer or clearly defined stay, such as amateur players for a full season | Fee applies | Sets the date your visitor status ends |
Fees change from time to time, so we confirm the current fee before you apply. For a comparison with Australia, New Zealand, the UK and the USA, see Sports visa costs compared (2026).
Planning a season or event in Canada
- Confirm who you are playing or working for
Foreign-based team, Canadian team, or individual entry: this decides whether you need a work permit at all.
- Check your entry document
Find out whether your passport needs an eTA or a visitor visa, and whether any past refusal or criminal record could affect you.
- Canadian teams: submit the offer
If you are joining a Canadian team, the team submits the LMIA-exempt offer of employment and pays the compliance fee, then gives you the offer number.
- Apply online and give biometrics
Lodge your eTA, visitor visa or work permit application with your contract or event letter, and give biometrics if asked.
- Arrange family documents
Apply for your partner and children at the same time so everyone can travel together.
- Travel with your papers
Carry your approval letter, contract or invitation and proof of funds. A work permit is issued by the border officer when you arrive.
Common mistakes
These are the problems we see most often with athletes, coaches and teams heading to Canada.
Assuming a tournament visit never needs a work permit
The foreign team exemption only applies when you play for a team or organisation based outside Canada. If a Canadian club is paying you, you are usually working and need a permit.
Forgetting the eTA when transiting
Visa-exempt travellers need an eTA to fly to or through a Canadian airport, even for a connection to another country.
Leaving the employer steps too late
A work permit application cannot go ahead until the Canadian team has submitted the offer of employment and paid the compliance fee. Ask the team to do this early in the signing process.
Not declaring a past refusal or conviction
A previous visa refusal or a criminal record (including some driving offences) must be declared and can make you inadmissible. Get advice before you apply, as special permission may be needed.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an eTA if I drive into Canada from the USA for a game?
No. The eTA is only required when visa-exempt travellers fly to or through Canada. If you arrive by car, bus or train you need your passport, and nationals of visa-required countries still need a visitor visa.
How long can I stay in Canada as a visiting athlete?
Visitors are usually allowed to stay for up to 6 months, but the border officer decides the length of your stay. If you need longer, or a stay that matches a full season, ask about a visitor record or extension.
Can I sign with a Canadian club while I am visiting?
You can usually take part in meetings and trials as a visitor, but you cannot start working for a Canadian team until you hold the right work permit. Plan for the team to submit the offer of employment before the season starts.
Do coaches need a work permit?
Coaches of foreign-based teams competing in Canada generally do not. Coaches employed by a Canadian team generally do, and many can use the same reciprocal LMIA exemption as athletes. See Canada work permits for athletes and coaches.
Can a criminal record stop me entering Canada?
Yes. Canada can refuse entry for some offences, including impaired driving. Depending on your situation you may need special permission before you travel, so speak to us before you book.
How early should we apply?
For eTAs, apply as soon as you book travel. For visitor visas and work permits, allow several weeks or more, especially in peak seasons. Canada is planning fewer new temporary workers in 2026, so start early.
Canada sports visa guides
For the full rules on work permits for athletes and coaches in Canada, see our detailed guides.
When you need a work permit, the reciprocal LMIA exemption and what Canadian teams must do.
What clubs, academies and event organisers must do in each country.
Government fees for sports visas in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, the USA and Canada.
The documents athletes, coaches, officials and clubs usually need.
Quick answers to the most common sports visa questions.