How long can I stay in Canada as a visitor? (2024)

FAQs

How long can I stay in Canada as a visitor? ›

Millions of people visit Canada every year, whether to see friends or family or see if it's the appropriate spot for a permanent move. A visit visa for Canada allows visitors to stay in the country for up to six months.

How long you can stay? Most visitors can stay in Canada for up to 6 months. If your passport was stamped when you entered Canada, you need to leave by the date stamped in your passport. If you received a visitor record, you need to leave Canada by the expiry date listed on the visitor record.

Multiple entry visitor visas permit the holder to travel to Canada for six months at a time as many times as they want, as long as the visa remains valid. They can be valid for up to 10 years, but the exact validity period is at the discretion of the visa officer issuing it.

If a person stays in Canada for an extended period, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) or the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) may issue a Removal Order. Removal orders will specify that you must leave Canada and cannot lawfully remain there.

While valid, a multiple entry visa will let you travel to Canada for six months at a time as many times as you want. It will be valid for up to 10 years or one month before your passport expires, whichever is shorter. You must arrive in Canada on or before the expiry date on your visa.

Unless your situation is special because of your history, US Citizens can visit Canada for up to 180 day, as often as they want.

Yes, if you are an American citizen, you may live in Canada. If your stay exceeds 180 days, you will most likely need a visa. You will also need a visa or work permit if you intend to work in Canada.

The single-entry visa will allow foreign nationals to cross into Canada once. Those with multiple-entry visas can enter and exit as often as they like within the valid duration of their visa. A visitor visa can be granted for a period of up to six months.

A visitor's visa is valid for 6 months from the date of your arrival in Canada. If you leave at 5 months from the date of arrival, then that visa wil only be valid for 1 month. If you are planning to stay longer, then you will need to get a new visitor's visa, before you return.

If they happen to overstay these 180 days, the additional time spent could be counted as unlawful presence and could harm any eventual U.S. visa and green card immigration applications down the line.

How does immigration know if you overstay your visa in Canada? ›

How does immigration know if you overstayed? Canada's immigration authorities will be aware that you have overstayed your visa if your departure date is missing or does not match up with those on your immigration documents. Random checks are another way the IRCC can determine if you have overstayed your visa.

Stay permanently

A visitor visa allows you to enter Canada and gives you temporary legal status in the country. However, you only maintain that status for as long as your visa is valid. You cannot legally stay in Canada on a visitor visa that is no longer valid.

Most visitors can stay for up to 6 months in Canada. If you're allowed to enter Canada, the border services officer may allow you to stay for less or more than 6 months.

Can I sponsor my friend to come to Canada? Canada does not offer any program for a permanent resident or citizen to sponsor a friend. If your friend is interested in immigrating to Canada, they may be eligible under another immigration program.

The application processing fees of a visitor visa for Canada is CAN$100. If you are applying for a visitor visa of Canada from India, the processing time for your application is about 21 days.

Length of stay

If you wish to stay longer than 6 months, you must apply for an extension at the nearest U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office once you are in the United States and before the expiry of your initial authorized stay.

If you entered Canada and you did not need a visa but want to stay longer, you must apply for an extension and pay a fee. This must be done from inside Canada. You should apply for an extension at least 30 days before your status expires – usually 6 months from the day you entered Canada.

There is no limit on how often a person can extend visitor status. How much does it cost to extend a Visitor Visa in Canada?