Visitor Record & Restoration of Status Guide
Want to stay in Canada longer, or worried your status has run out? Here's how extensions and restoration work, in plain language.
Last verified against official sources: 2026-11-05
Extending your stay
Most visitors can stay up to six months, unless the officer at the border wrote a different date in your passport or on a document. To stay longer, you apply online for a visitor record before your current status ends.
- Apply at least 30 days before your status expires.
- Show why you want to stay longer and that you can support yourself.
- Show ties that will bring you home, such as a job, family or property.
- Keep proof that you applied. If you applied on time, you can usually stay under your current conditions while you wait.
The application form is IMM 5708. Find it in our immigration forms hub.
If your status has expired
If your visitor, work or study status has ended, you may be able to restore it. You must apply within 90 days of losing status and still meet the requirements of the status you held. You pay the restoration fee plus the fee for the status you want back. Check IRCC's fee page for current amounts.
While you wait, you are allowed to remain in Canada, but you cannot work or study. If the 90 days have passed, restoration is no longer possible, and you should get advice right away.
Common questions
What is a visitor record?
A visitor record is a document IRCC issues when you extend your stay or change your conditions as a visitor in Canada. It shows your new end date. It is not a visa and does not let you re-enter Canada.
When should I apply to extend my stay?
Apply before your current status expires. IRCC recommends applying at least 30 days before your end date. If you apply on time, you can usually stay under the same conditions while IRCC decides (often called maintained status).
What if my status has already expired?
You may be able to apply to restore your status within 90 days of losing it, as long as you still meet the requirements of your original status and have not breached other conditions. After 90 days, restoration is no longer available.
Can I work or study while I wait for restoration?
No. While a restoration application is in process, you cannot work or study, even if you held a work or study permit before.