Information


Registration  

Delegate Rate

‘Early Bird’ prices are available from 30 July to 19 December 2025.

The full ‘Early Bird’ standard rate is CAD 4,130.

A special ‘Early Bird’ rate of CAD 3,150 is available to:

  • any young YMCA person under 30 from anywhere in the world

  • any YMCA person from a country listed under Groups 2 and 3 of the World YMCA Travel Subsidy Policy

  • any voting delegate whose National Movement cannot afford to pay the full ‘Early Bird’ registration fee to send him/her to Toronto

  • any member of the World Federation of YMCA Retirees who cannot afford to pay the full ‘Early Bird’ registration fee

Standard price available from 1 January to 17 June 2026

  • The ‘Standard’ rate is CAD 4,480

Spousal/Family Rate

A spouse or family member can attend World Council as a full delegate at a reduced rate. This rate includes all meals, excursions, social activities, and program attendance. We offer a room with one bed for two people:

‘Early Bird’ Rate:

  • CAD 4,130 for Delegate 1

  • CAD 1,754 for Delegate 2

  • Total for Delegates 1 and 2: CAD 5,884

Standard Rate:

  • CAD 4,480 for Delegate 1

  • CAD 2,104 for Delegate 2

  • Total for Delegates 1 and 2: CAD 6,584

Additional Information

  • The registration fee includes all meals from Dinner on Sunday 19 July 2026 through to the final Dinner on Friday 24 July 2026; transport from the airport to Toronto city centre; up to 6 nights accommodation at either the Sheraton or Marriott Hotels in downtown Toronto from Sunday 19 July 2026 to Friday 24 July 2026; excursions; and the full World Council programme. It does NOT include international travel. (These costs are for single occupancy rooms. See below for the limited possibilities around double or twin rooms.)

  • The fees are quoted and payable in Canadian dollars (CAD) only, with a link to a Currency Converter for information.

  • Rooms with two or more beds are limited, and are therefore being prioritised for subsidised delegates.

  • There will be an option at registration for delegates to choose higher class rooms or suites for payment of an additional fee.

  • National and Local YMCAs will be able to make block bookings of ‘Early Bird’ registrations. They will then be issued with a unique code which can be applied by their delegates during registration to link the booking with the ‘Early Bird’ payment received. Please contact worldcouncil@ymca.int to make this request.

Subsidies

Following its Travel Subsidy Policy, World YMCA offers travel subsidies for two representatives for a National Movement which meets the eligibility criteria. There will also be youth subsidies available through the Change Agent programme.

Visas

To enter Canada for World Council 2026, delegates will need either a visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) - except for U.S. citizens and permanent residents who are exempt from this requirement. Be sure to review this information in detail and apply early!

For those requiring a visa: Your YMCA World Council registration confirmation email includes your invitation letter.

Find out if you require a visa to enter Canada

Visit the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website to find out if you require a visa to attend World Council 2026:

Find out if you require a visa

If you do need a visa,

Your first step is to register for World Council. You cannot apply for your visa without a confirmed registration for World Council.  See below for more information about what the process involves.

Register for World Council here

If you do not need a visa, apply for an eTA to enter Canada

Visit the IRCC website at the following link to apply for an eTA:

Apply for an eTA

Process for Registering to Attend World Council and Applying for a Visa

Step 1:    Register for World Council as a delegate

Step 2:     Receive a registration approval by your National General Secretary

Step 3:     Once your registration is approved, you will receive a confirmation email. This email includes your invitation letter.

Step 4:     Login to the World Council registration portal to access visa resources for delegates, which includes helpful tips from IRCC.

Step 5:     Apply for your visa with the invitation letter, following the steps outlined by the visa resources in the World Council delegate portal.

Step 6:     After you apply, return to the World Council registration portal with your visa application number, and modify your registration to include it in your registration details.

Resources available to you

Visa Information Webinar recordings

YMCA Canada’s Visa Information Webinars were recorded and are made available to registered YMCA World Council delegates via their Registration Confirmation page.

Register for World Council today to access them, and more helpful tools!

Visa ‘Office Hours’

YMCA Canada will host a series of Office Hours to support delegates and answer visa related questions.

World Council Visa Office Hours

Join an open Q&A session to get answers to your questions if you're just starting your visa application process

Get step-by-step guidance on topics such as:

  • Create the Government of Canada login accounts required for your visa application

  • Your Visa Application Forms: How to access and package them

  • Completing your visa application documents, including the IMM5257e and Family Information form.

    December 3, 2025
    9:00-10:00 AM EST (Toronto)

    Register here

Disclaimer: YMCA Canada staff and the people presenting visa webinars and ‘office hours’ are not immigration officials or representatives of the Government of Canada. We do not claim to be experts in immigration or visa processes. These sessions are offered solely as a support resource for YMCA World Council 2026 delegates. We aim to share helpful guidance and information, and we cannot guarantee the outcome or approval of any visa application. For official immigration advice or decisions, please refer directly to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

FAQs

  • Processing times depend on the visa office and if you need to take any extra steps.

    Go to this page to check the processing time for your country: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-processing-times.html

    World YMCA and YMCA Canada recommend applying for your visa as early as possible. In some cases, visa applications can take up to 12 months to be processed. Early applications can ensure you receive an answer prior to World Council 2026.

  • Questions can be emailed to worldcouncil@ymca.int for additional support.

    • The visa application fee is $100 CAD.

    • If you need to give biometrics, the cost is $85 CAD.

    • You must pay these fees to submit your application.

    Other possible costs:

    • Travel to your local Visa Application Centre (VAC) to give biometrics.

    • A second trip to the VAC to have your visa placed in your passport.

    Important notes:

    • Make sure you are eligible for a Visitor Visabefore paying. Fees are not refundable, even if your visa is refused.

    • You may need to pay in your local currency.

    • Fees can change at any time.

    • No. The Canadian Government does not interview visa applicants.

    • Your application will be reviewed based on the documents you submit.

    • You may still need to go to an appointment to:

      • Give your biometrics

      • Have your visa placed in your passport

  • If your official documents are in a language other than French or English, you will need to have then translated.

    Learn more here: https://ircc.canada.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=018&top=4

  • If your visa application was refused you will get the decision in your IRCC account. It will explain why your application was refused.

    It is not recommended that you reapply unless there are substantive changes in your circumstances.

    If your application is refused, do not transfer your World Council Registration to another delegate. Contact World YMCA at worldcouncil@ymca.int to let them know your visa application status, and to arrange for any registration transfers or cancellations.

About your host city and country

  • Accommodations

    Your YMCA World Council registration includes 6 nights of accommodation, from Sunday 19 July to Friday 24 July, at one of two premier downtown hotels — the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel or the Marriott Downtown at CF Toronto Eaton Centre.

    Just 600 metres apart, both venues offer comfort and convenience in the heart of the city. The Sheraton Centre will host the majority of World Council events.

    To ensure every delegate enjoys equal access, shared experiences, and a strong sense of community, all accommodations are arranged within these event hotels.

    It’s more than a stay — it’s where connection and inspiration begin.

  • Toronto

    The biggest city in Canada, Toronto is a dynamic, multicultural city known for its vibrant neighbourhoods, global cuisine, arts, and major events. Beneath its modern energy lies a rich history, deeply rooted in the traditions and stewardship of Indigenous Peoples.

    Toronto is on the traditional territory of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat people. Today, it is still home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples.

    Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit, and is part of the Dish With One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, an agreement between Indigenous nations to peaceably share and care for the resources around the Great Lakes.

  • Canada

    Canada is a vast and diverse country known for its welcoming spirit, natural beauty, and multiculturalism. With over 38 million people across ten provinces and three territories, it spans six time zones and is the second-largest country in the world by land area.

    This land has been home to Indigenous Peoples for thousands of years—with rich cultures, languages, and traditions that continue to shape Canada today. Now, it continues to grow through its values of democracy, multiculturalism, and an ongoing commitment to truth and reconciliation.

    From the rugged coastlines of the Atlantic to the wide-open prairies, from the towering Rockies to the dancing Northern Lights, and from vibrant cities like Toronto to iconic natural wonders like Niagara Falls, Canada’s landscape is as beautiful and diverse as its people.