Extensions & Restorations

When you first come to Canada as a visitor, you use one of these documents to enter:

a visitor visa (also called a temporary resident visa)
an electronic travel authorization (eTA)
a valid passport or travel document
If you want to extend your stay in Canada as a visitor (stay in Canada longer), you need to apply for a visitor record. A visitor record is not a visa.

A visitor record

is a document that gives you status as a visitor in Canada and allows you to stay longer
includes a new expiry date
that’s the new date that you must leave Canada by

When to apply for a visitor record

You must apply for a visitor record before your current status expires. If you’re not sure when your status expires, find out how long you can stay in Canada.