Visit Canada.
Discover what documents you need to travel to Canada, visit your family and friends in Canada, do business, or transit through Canada, and how you can extend your stay.
Measures to Help You Extend Your stay in Canada.
If you have decided to extend your temporary resident or visitor’s visa to stay longer in Canada, you will need some documents to successfully achieve that.
Visitors Record:
During your first entry into Canada, you used any of the following documents to enter:
- A visitors visa ( this is also called a temporary resident visa).
- An electronic travel authorization (eTA)
- A valid passport or travel document.
In the case of an extension, that is, if you want to extend your stay in Canada as a visitor, you need to apply for a visitor record. Note that a visitor record is not a visa.
What is a Visitor Record?
A visitor record is a document that allows you to stay in Canada longer as a visitor. It helps you stay beyond your initial visa expiry date.
It includes a new date indicating that your visa has been extended for a longer period and you can stay in Canada beyond your initial planned date for departure.
When to Apply for a Visitor Record:
For your visitor record application to be successful, you must apply before your current status or visa expires. You need to keep up to date with inform concerning your status expiration and apply at least 30 days before your current status expires. If you’re not sure when your current status expires, please check your travel document or visit the Canada immigration.
Can Visitor Record be Used to Leave and Return to Canada?
A visitor record is a Canadian immigration document that allows you to stay in Canada longer if you desire to stay beyond your initial visa status. A visitor record document does not guarantee that you can leave and then re-enter Canada with it. Please take NOTE.
If you have plans to travel outside of Canada, then you will need a valid entry document, such as a visitor visa or an eTA to return to Canada.
Who can Apply for a Visitor Record?
To apply for a visitor record in Canada, you must be in Canada. A visitor record is for individuals who want to:
- Extend their stay in Canada as a visitor.
- A student authorized to study without a study permit.
- A worker authorized to work without a work permit.
- People who intend to change their temporary resident category from study permit to a visitor or a work permit holder to a visitor.
You need a visitor record if you intend to extend your stay in Canada either as a Visitor, a Worker authorized to work without a work permit, or a student authorized to study without a study permit.
When is the Right time to Apply.
This information will help you, if you want to extend your stay as a visitor or you want to change your visa status, you should submit your application at least thirty days (30 days) before your current status expires.
Where to find Your Visa Expiry Date.
The expiry date of your visa or current status is always on the stamp in your passport. If you can’t find a stamp in your passport, the expiry date is usually 6 months from the day you entered Canada.
How to Apply for a Visitor Record in Canada:
To apply for visitor record in Canada you must first book appointment for your biometrics collection as soon as you can to avoid delay in processing time.
Your application must be submitted online if you want to extend your visitor visa, worker authorized to work without work permit and a student authorized to study without a study permit.
Once you apply online, your application is received instantly, which can help in processing your documents faster than applying on paper.
Benefits of Applying Online.
- Your application will be processed quickly
- You will be getting updates on the status of your application directly in your dashboard.
- No courier fees will be charged.
- Applying Online helps you cross-check your application and documents before submitting.
What to do After Application.
If your processing time has passed, you can always fill the web form on the application portal and select your application type.
If Your Status Expires While Waiting.
In the case you have applied to extend your stay in Canada before the date you are supposed to leave, you can legally stay in Canada until a decision is made on your application, within this period your status remains legal.
Processing time takes 7-73 working days.
