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$100
Application fee
90 days
Restoration window
6 mo
Typical extension
Implied
Status while waiting
VMC prepares your extension quickly - before the deadline.
Book your Expert Consultation →A Visitor Record is an official IRCC document that extends or defines the conditions of your stay in Canada as a visitor. It is not a visa - it is issued to people who are already inside Canada.
When you entered Canada, the border officer authorized you to stay for a specific period - typically 6 months, though the exact date is stamped in your passport or noted on your entry record. If you need to stay beyond that authorized period, you must apply for a Visitor Record before your status expires.
Common reasons people extend their visitor status include: a family member is ill and you need to stay longer, your travel plans changed, you want to spend more time with family or grandchildren, or you have a medical situation of your own that prevents departure.
The key rule: apply before your status expires. If you apply in time, you receive implied status and may remain in Canada legally while IRCC reviews your application - sometimes for many months.
You must apply before your current authorized stay expires. If you miss this deadline, you may overstay - which has serious consequences for future Canadian immigration applications. Restoration may be possible within 90 days of expiry.
Implied status is your legal right to remain in Canada while IRCC reviews your extension application - but only if you applied before your status expired.
Implied status ends the moment you leave Canada. If you depart - even briefly to the US - your pending application is effectively abandoned. You would need a valid TRV or eTA to return, and your extension application would no longer protect you.
Always consult VMC before traveling while on implied status.
If your visitor status has already expired, you may apply to restore your status as a visitor, provided you apply within 90 days of the date your status expired. After 90 days, restoration is no longer available.
A restoration application requires you to explain why you failed to apply before your status expired, demonstrate that you still meet all visitor requirements, and pay a restoration fee of CAD $200 (plus any applicable extension fee).
Contact VMC immediately if your status has expired.
Most visitors in Canada can apply to extend their stay. The key requirements are the same as for your original visitor status.
The application is submitted through the IRCC secure account portal. Here is the step-by-step process.
Go to canada.ca and sign into your IRCC secure account. If you don't have one, create it before you begin.
Choose the correct application type. Do not confuse this with a work or study permit extension.
Answer all questions honestly. Provide your current immigration details, reason for extension, and travel history.
Upload passport copy, proof of funds (3-6 months bank statements), reason for extension letter, and home-country ties evidence.
The application fee is CAD $100. Pay online by credit or debit card. Fees are non-refundable.
After submission, save your application number. Your implied status begins. Do not leave Canada until you receive a decision.
CAD $100
Per application
CAD $200
If status already expired
Online Only
IRCC secure account portal
A complete application prevents delays and reduces the risk of refusal. VMC reviews every document before submission.
Additional documents may be required depending on your situation - for example, a medical certificate if you are extending for health reasons, or a death certificate if staying for a family bereavement.
VMC's licensed RCICs prepare complete Visitor Record applications before your deadline - protecting your implied status and your future immigration options.
Processing times vary and can range from a few weeks to several months. Implied status protects you while you wait.
IRCC publishes current processing times on their website. Visitor Record extensions typically take 30 to 180+ days, though times change frequently. Always check IRCC's official website for the most current estimate before applying.
A complete, well-prepared application processes faster than an incomplete one. VMC's document review prevents unnecessary delays caused by missing information.
A Visitor Record extends your stay as a visitor only. It does not allow you to enter the Canadian labour market or study full-time.
Still have questions? Our licensed RCICs answer within 24 hours.
Book your Expert ConsultationGTA or anywhere in Canada: temporary status, PR strategy, employer files, or refusal review. We outline the plan before forms multiply.