US Waives Visa Bond Requirement for Some World Cup Fans-Here's Who Is Eligible

A visa bond program requires certain travelers to post deposits up to $15,000 per person in addition to the standard visa process. The program targets citizens from countries with high visa overstay rates and was expanded to include 50 countries. The State Department suspended the bond requirement for World Cup ticket holders traveling from countries whose teams qualified for the games. Citizens from Algeria, Cape Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, and Tunisia are exempt if they purchased official FIFA tickets and enrolled in FIFA’s expedited visa appointment system. The change follows criticism from travel industry groups, immigration advocates, and FIFA, which warned the policy could reduce attendance. The waiver is limited to qualified countries, so other ticket holders may still face additional visa costs.

"Ticket-holders from five countries-including Cape Verde and Tunisia-will no longer be required to post visa bonds of up to $15,000 to enter the US. As the US prepares to host the bulk of matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a newly expanded visa policy could make it significantly harder-and more expensive-for some international fans to attend."

"Last summer, the Trump administration launched a "visa bond" program that requires travelers from countries with high visa overstay rates to put down deposits of up to $15,000 per person in order to visit the US. The recently expanded list of 50 countries impacted by the program include a handful of nations expected to compete in this year's World Cup."

"But in a notable reversal just weeks before the tournament's kickoff, the State Department announced it would suspend the bond requirement for World Cup ticket holders traveling from nations whose teams have qualified for the games. Under the new policy, citizens from Algeria, Cape Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, and Tunisia are now exempt from the visa bond requirement, provided they've purchased official FIFA tickets and enrolled in FIFA's expedited visa appointment system."

"The move comes after months of criticism from travel industry groups, immigration advocates, and FIFA itself, all of whom warned that the policy risked suppressing attendance for one of the world's biggest sporting events. Currently, the waiver appears narrowly tailored to citizens of countries that have qualified for the World Cup, rather than a broader exemption for all ticket holders-meaning many fans could still face additional visa fees to attend games in the US."

Read at Conde Nast Traveler