Visiting Canada: visitor visa, eTA and how to extend a stay

Distinguish a visitor visa from an eTA and a visitor record, understand that admission is decided at the border, and find official extension instructions.

Adapted from a guide first written for Quebec readers: passages specific to Quebec were removed. Rules in your province may differ.

A visa or electronic travel authorization (eTA) lets an eligible traveller travel to a Canadian port of entry; it does not guarantee admission. A border services officer decides whether to admit the traveller and may set the period and conditions of stay. Check current requirements for the passport and travel route with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Visa or eTA: check your passport and route

Use IRCC's official tool to find out whether you need a visa or an eTA. The answer depends on nationality, travel document and how you arrive. Do not infer the requirement from where you currently live. An eTA generally applies to eligible air travel; it does not replace a visitor visa where one is required.

Check how long you are authorized to stay

Your permitted stay is not determined simply by the expiry date printed on a visa or eTA. Many visitors are allowed to stay for up to six months, but an officer may authorize a different period. Check your passport stamp or visitor record and note the exact expiry date and any conditions. A valid document for travel does not extend a stay already authorized inside Canada.

Requesting more time

If you are already in Canada and want to stay longer as a visitor, IRCC says to apply for a visitor record. A visitor record is not a visa. Review eligibility, documents, fees and processing information and apply before your current status expires. If you leave Canada, a visitor record alone does not guarantee re-entry; check what travel document you will need to return.

Immigration forms, fees and processing times change. Use IRCC's current instructions and seek qualified legal advice for complicated status questions or a missed deadline.

Sources and limits

Sources: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), visitor visa/eTA eligibility and visitor-record instructions. Entry and extension decisions are individual; verify current requirements with IRCC.

General information based on federal and national rules; provincial rules may differ. Confirm with the official body before acting.