International Transfer Certificates

So you want to play soccer in Canada:

Step 1:

All players coming from foreign countries over the age of 10 are required, by FIFA, to apply for and receive an International Transfer Certificate before being permitted to play soccer with a soccer club in Canada.

The Complete Process, as well as forms, can be found at 

International Transfer Certificates  

 All the documents must be placed in ONE Computer document.  All documents must be scanned

Photographs of documents are not permitted.

Note: if the player has played University or College Soccer in Canada, an International Transfer Certificate is still required (if not previously granted one) in order to play soccer under the Canada Soccer Umbrella.

Once a player has received an International Transfer Certificate, that player does not have to go through the process again in order to play soccer in Canada. If you are not competing in an event leading to a National Competition, you are free to play soccer!!!

Step 2

Eligibility for Canada Soccer Club National Competitions

I am a Foreign National and I have received my International Transfer Certificate, can I play in the local Premier Youth Leagues, Challenge Trophy, Jubilee Trophy or Eastern Canadian Masters qualifiers and can I play soccer at the Canada Soccer Club National Competitions? 

In order to be eligible to play soccer in the local  Premier Youth League, Challenge Trophy, Jubilee Trophy or Eastern Canadian Masters Qualifiers which lead to a Canada Soccer Club National Competition, a player must

1. be a Canadian Citizen; or
2. be a Permanent Resident (as defined by the Government of Canada);
3. be a Protected Person (as defined by the Government of Canada)
4. or received an Exemption from the Canada Soccer Association

How do you receive an exemption from Canada Soccer?

Youth Players

Youth players, who are not eligible to compete based on Canada Soccer Competitions Rule 4.2.2 may apply using the Exemption Eligibility Form (found at http://nlsa.ca/content/governance), through their Provincial Association, to the Canadian Soccer Association Eligibility Panel. Based on the criteria below, the Canadian Soccer Association Eligibility Panel may grant previously ineligible players the ability to participate in the National Club Championships. All decisions made by the Canadian Soccer Association Eligibility Panel are final and binding, and not subject to appeal

1) Players must currently live in Canada legally and provide proof to that effect;

2) Players must have immigrated to Canada for reasons other than to play soccer;

3) Players 10 years of age and over must have received their International Transfer Certificate from their country of origin as per the FIFA Regulations for the Status and Transfer of Players, and must be registered with their Provincial Association. Please refer to Canada Soccer website International Transfer Certificates. www.canadasoccer.com or on page one of this document

4) Players 9 years of age and under do not require an International Transfer Certificate. However a copy of an official document (Not a Passport) needs to be provided to prove the fact (e.g. school record, doctor record, etc) that the player entered Canada prior to the age of 10.

5) Players who are in Canada on Study or Student Visas are not eligible to apply.

6) The deadline for submitting the request is July 31st of the current year.

7) Exemptions need to be applied for annually.

Senior Players

Players aged 18yrs and over who are not eligible to compete based on the Regulations for National or Regional Championships may apply, through their Provincial Association, to the Canada Soccer Eligibility Panel for an exemption. Based on the criteria below, the Canada Soccer Eligibility Panel may grant previously ineligible players the ability to participate in the National or Regional Club Championships. All decisions made by the Canada Soccer Eligibility Panel are final and binding, and not subject to appeal.

1) Player must currently have Government of Canada approved right of abode in Canada and provide a copy of the appropriate paperwork that must be valid to December 31 of the current playing season or beyond. If this document cannot be provided to the Newfoundland and Labrador Soccer Association, do not submit an exemption form;

2) Player must have received an approved International Transfer Certificate;

3) Player must be registered with their Provincial/Territorial Association as of July 31st of the current playing season; in Coastal BC must be registered by March 31st;

4) Player must have arrived in Canada prior to the start of the outdoor registration;

5) The deadline for submitting the exemption request (found online at http://nlsa.ca/content/governance) is July 31st of the current year and Coastal BC is March 31st;

6) Teams can only apply for three (3) exemptions per playing season;

7) Exemptions need to be applied for annually.

All documents must be scanned.  Canada Soccer will not accept pictures of documents.