Labour and Skills Development Principal Secretary Shadrack Mwadime chats with Canadian High Commissioner to Kenya Joshua Tabah at the University of Nairobi/HANDOUT

Kenya and Canada have issued a strong warning to Kenyans against visa scams and illegal migration schemes linked to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, stressing that there will be no special or joint World Cup visa for the global tournament.

The warning was issued during a forum on safe, orderly and regular migration organised by the Canadian High Commission in Nairobi, as Canada prepares to co-host the World Cup alongside the United States and Mexico.

Officials cautioned that major global events often trigger a spike in fraudulent job offers and fake visa schemes targeting unsuspecting jobseekers.

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Labour and Skills Development Principal Secretary Shadrack Mwadime said growing interest in travel to World Cup host nations has already attracted unscrupulous agents exploiting young Kenyans eager to seek opportunities abroad.

“As excitement builds around the World Cup, we want Kenyans to understand clearly that there is no World Cup visa and no guaranteed jobs linked to the tournament,” Mwadime said.

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“Any agent promising travel or employment in Canada through the World Cup is misleading the public.”

Mwadime warned against recruitment agencies advising Kenyans to travel on tourist visas with the promise of changing status on arrival, describing the practice as illegal and risky.

“If you travel as a tourist, you remain a tourist. You cannot legally work in Canada on a visitor visa,” he said, adding that agencies engaging in such practices are immediately deregistered.

He revealed that the government has reduced the number of licensed recruitment agencies from 1,200 to 600 following a crackdown on illegal operators, and urged Kenyans to verify recruiters through the National Employment Authority (NEA) website before making any payments.

Canadian High Commissioner to Kenya Joshua Tabah said Canada has recorded increased interest from Kenyans seeking to travel ahead of the World Cup, but warned that many continue to fall victim to scams involving fake job offers, fast-tracked visas and fraudulent online platforms.

“Major global events like the World Cup create excitement, but they also create challenges,” Tabah said.

“There is no special visa, no guaranteed entry and no automatic employment tied to this tournament.”

Marie-Pier Côté, Area Director for Sub-Saharan Africa at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, reiterated that all Kenyans wishing to travel to Canada for World Cup matches must apply through standard visa procedures.

“Having a match ticket does not guarantee visa approval or entry into Canada. All travellers must meet existing immigration requirements,” she said.

Côté added that travelling to Canada on a tourist visa with the intention of working constitutes irregular migration and could result in visa refusal, deportation or long-term bans.

Officials further clarified that the 2026 World Cup will not generate a Qatar-style construction boom or large-scale short-term employment opportunities in Canada, urging Kenyans to be cautious of claims suggesting otherwise.

Kenyans intending to travel to Canada for the World Cup were advised to apply for visas early due to expected high demand, rely only on official government sources for information, and register with the Kenyan High Commission for consular support.

Both governments urged the public to report suspected visa scams and fraudulent agents, emphasising that safe travel to Canada during the World Cup can only be achieved through existing legal immigration channels.