Citizenship and Immigration Canada
www.cic.gc.ca
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Visiting Canada: Extending your stay
Changing your status after coming to Canada as a visitor
After you arrive in Canada, you may want to change the conditions of your visit. This is possible in special cases.
Most visitors are allowed to stay in Canada for no more than six months but, in some cases, visitors can stay longer. The date that you must leave Canada will be stamped in your passport. If you have a study permit or a work permit, the same expiry date will also be stamped in it.
If you decide you want to stay longer, you can apply for an extension. You must send your application to extend your stay at least 30 days before your Temporary Resident Visa expires. If you stay longer than you are allowed by your visa, you will lose your temporary resident status and you could be asked to leave Canada.
You must apply to extend your stay if you want to:
- visit, study or work longer in Canada
- change the type of your permit (for example, from studying to working in Canada) or
- change the conditions of your stay (for example, if you are studying or working in Canada, and you want to change schools or jobs).
How to apply to extend your stay
- Obtain an application package.
- Read the guide.
- Complete the application form and attach the necessary documents.
- Pay the fee and get the necessary receipt.
- Mail the application form and documents.
1. Obtain an application package.
The package includes the application guide and all the forms you need to fill out. Download and print the application package.
2. Read the guide.
Read the guide carefully before you complete the application form. The fee for processing your form is not refundable, so make sure you are eligible to extend your stay before you apply.
3. Complete the application form and attach the necessary documents.
The application form contains instructions. Read those instructions, and be sure to provide the required documents. If information or documents are missing, your application may be delayed.
Make sure you explain why you want to extend your visit to Canada. Collect all the documents you need. See the Application Guide for more information.
4. Pay the fee and get the necessary receipt.
The fee is $75.
You can pay fees:
- at most banks. If you use this method, you must get an original receipt of payment (form IMM 5401) to bring with you when you pay. This form is not available online. You must have it mailed to you. See Order a receipt of payment (IMM 5401) under Related Links at the bottom of the page.
- online through Pay my application fees in the I Need To… section on the right-hand of this page. Once you have paid your fees online, you must print a receipt of payment form and include it with your application. Be sure to print the actual receipt, not the “payment confirmation form” page. See Payment of fees on the Internet under Related Links at the bottom of the page for more information.
5. Mail the application and the necessary documents.
Mail your completed application to the address given in the application package. Make sure you include the fee receipt and all the necessary documents.
You can find information on how long it will take to process your application in the I Need To… section on the right-hand side of this page. You can also check the status of your application by contacting the CIC Call Centre.
Becoming a permanent resident of Canada
If you wish to stay in Canada as a permanent resident, you must leave the country and apply from outside Canada. To become a permanent resident, you must meet the requirements for immigration to Canada. You can find more information about becoming a permanent resident in the Related Links section at the bottom of this page.
However, you can apply to become a permanent resident from inside Canada if you are:
- a refugee or a protected person
- a spouse or common-law partner of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- a live-in caregiver or
- you hold a valid Temporary Residence Permit (formerly called a Minister’s Permit).
Working or studying in Canada
Most visitors to Canada are not allowed to work or study in Canada without permission.
You must apply for a work permit or a study permit before coming to Canada. If you are visiting Canada and you want to apply to work or study, you must leave Canada and apply from your home country. However, in some cases, working without a permit or studying without a permit is allowed.
