Almost all visitors can stay for a maximum of 6 months once they have entered Canada. However, this is not a universal rule. The length of your stay is at the sole discretion of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) once you enter Canada.
NOTE: The validity of a tourist visa has no relation to how long a person can stay in Canada: the validity of a visa is a permit to board a plane or cross the Canadian border only, and does not affect how long someone can stay in Canada.
In what case should visitors leave within 6 months?
CBSA will ask questions of each person entering Canada. If the person is a visitor, CBSA may determine that they are only allowed to stay for a certain period. This period may be less than 6 months if the CBSA officer believes the visitor will not leave Canada when they are required to.
If the application to extend their status is filed on or before the expiration date of their status, the person may continue to remain legally in Canada until a decision is made on their extension application. This is called an implicit or maintained state.
When can visitors stay in Canada for more than 6 months?
If the extension request is filed on or before the expiration date of their status, the person may continue to remain legally in Canada until a decision is made on their extension application. This is called an implicit or maintained state.
Super Visa
If the visitor is the holder of a Super Visa for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents, then they are allowed to enter Canada for up to 2 years at a time instead of up to 6 months at a time. They can also apply for an extension of up to 2 years from within Canada.
Request a visitor record from Canada
Regardless of how long you have been allowed to enter Canada as a visitor, you can always submit an application to extend your status. As long as you apply for an extension before your status expires, then you are still legally in Canada.
In order for a visitor extension application to be approved, the applicant must be able to demonstrate why they need to stay in Canada longer and that they have the money to stay out of work, as well as meet the other eligibility requirements.
If your application to extend visitor status is approved. You can then apply to extend your status as a visitor again if necessary; you can continue to request to extend your status as a visitor indefinitely until the request is rejected.
Please contact us if you need to extend your visitor status.
