US waives $15,000 visa bonds for FIFA World Cup ticket holders from 50 countries
Five qualified nations among countries benefiting from new travel exemption
DUBAI – The United States has suspended visa bond requirements of up to $15,000 for eligible foreign football supporters travelling to the country for the FIFA World Cup, easing a major financial hurdle for thousands of fans ahead of the global tournament.
The move by the Trump administration applies to travellers from 50 countries previously subject to the visa deposit programme, provided they hold valid World Cup tickets and are enrolled in FIFA PASS, a system offering expedited visa processing. The World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, begins on June 11.
Five countries among those affected by the bond policy have already qualified for the tournament: Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Tunisia.
Visa bond waiver
The visa bond requirement was introduced last year as part of a wider immigration strategy aimed at reducing visa overstays and tightening security checks. Under the pilot programme, visitors from selected countries were required to pay refundable deposits ranging between $5,000 and $15,000.
According to Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Mora Namdar, eligible fans who purchased FIFA World Cup tickets and joined FIFA PASS by April 15 can now enter without paying the bond.
Players, coaches and support staff linked to participating teams had already been exempt under measures prioritising visa processing for the tournament.
The policy shift marks one of the few instances in which immigration requirements have been relaxed under the administration's broader restrictions.
Despite the exemption, immigration measures surrounding the tournament continue to attract scrutiny. Travellers from Iran and Haiti remain affected by broader entry bans, although players and official delegations connected to the World Cup are excluded from those restrictions.
Meanwhile, visitors from Ivory Coast and Senegal still face partial travel limitations under expanded measures.
Human rights organisations and advocacy groups have also raised concerns over other policies that could affect visitors, including proposals requiring travellers from certain countries to provide up to five years of social media history.
Travel advisory groups have warned of risks including increased screening, heightened surveillance and possible profiling. At the same time, hospitality industry representatives in the US have pointed to visa barriers and travel uncertainty as factors affecting international visitor demand ahead of football's biggest event.