About the document
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
Image of a visitor visa
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.
Image of a visitor record
A visitor record
- is a document that allows you to stay in Canada longer as
- a visitor
- a worker authorized to work without a work permit in Canada or
- a student authorized to study without a study permit in Canada
- includes a new expiry date
- That’s your new deadline to leave Canada.
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.
Leaving and returning to Canada
A visitor record is a document that allows you to stay in Canada longer. It doesn’t guarantee that you can leave and then re-enter Canada.
If you plan to travel outside Canada or the United States, you need a valid entry document, such as a visitor visa or an eTA, to return to Canada.