Status Extension
Visitor Record to Extend Your Stay in Canada
When you first arrive in Canada, you enter using one of these documents:
- A visitor visa (temporary resident visa)
- An electronic travel authorization (eTA)
- A valid passport or travel document
If you wish to stay in Canada beyond your initial period, you must apply for a visitor record. This document allows you to extend your stay, but it is not a visa. The visitor record will include a new expiry date, by which you must leave Canada.
You can use a visitor record to stay longer as:
- A visitor in Canada
- A worker authorized to work without a work permit
- A student allowed to study without a study permit
Application Process for a Visitor Record
Apply for a visitor record before your current status expires. To determine how long you can stay in Canada, check your current entry document. If your stay is about to end and you wish to extend it, you must submit your application in time.
Traveling Outside Canada
While a visitor record allows you to remain in Canada for a longer period, it does not guarantee re-entry if you leave the country. If you plan to travel outside of Canada (or the United States), you must hold a valid entry document like a visitor visa or an eTA to return.
Fees and Processing Time
- Fee: $100 CAD
- Processing Time: 117 days
