Visitor record extensions are taking approximately 306 days as of April 29, 2026 — up 145 days since January 2026. The fee is $100 CAD. Apply before your authorized stay expires using Form IMM 5708. If you apply on time, maintained status lets you stay legally in Canada throughout the wait.
Extending your visitor status in Canada is straightforward — but the consequences of missing the deadline or misunderstanding maintained status are serious. With processing times now past 10 months, the timing of your application has never mattered more.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Processing time (as of April 29, 2026) | ~306 days |
| Change since January 28, 2026 | +145 days |
| Application fee | $100 CAD per person |
| Biometrics fee (if required) | $85 per person |
| Restoration fee (if status already expired) | $229 CAD |
| Form required | IMM 5708 |
| Application method | Online via IRCC account |
| Typical extension granted | Up to 6 months |
Visitor record processing time increased by 145 days in just four months (January to April 2026). If you are planning an extended stay in Canada, apply for an extension as early as possible — ideally 60 to 90 days before your authorized stay ends.
When you enter Canada as a visitor, you are typically authorized to stay for up to 6 months. This authorization is not a physical document — it is the officer's decision at the port of entry. A visitor record is the official document IRCC issues when you apply to extend your stay from inside Canada.
The visitor record sets a new authorized stay date. It is different from a visitor visa (TRV), which is what you use to enter Canada at the border. A TRV can be valid but not allow you to stay longer than your visitor record specifies.
You can apply for a visitor record extension if you:
Maintained status (also called implied status) is what allows you to legally remain in Canada while IRCC processes your application — even after your original 6-month authorization has expired.
Condition: You must submit a complete application before your authorized stay expires.
Effect: Under Section 183(5) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR), you may remain in Canada under the same conditions as your original authorization until IRCC makes a decision.
Limitation: Maintained status preserves your right to stay — it does not grant work or study authorization unless those were already conditions of your original status.
With processing times at 306 days, most applicants will be on maintained status for close to a year after their original authorization expires. This is legally valid — provided the application was submitted on time and is complete.
Maintained status preserves visitor conditions only. You cannot work or study in Canada on maintained visitor status unless you had authorization to do so before your original status expired. Do not confuse maintained status with an open work permit.
Check your passport for the entry stamp, or your entry record online, to find your authorized stay end date. If no specific date was given, the default is 6 months from your entry date. Apply at least 30 days before this date — ideally 60 to 90 days earlier given current timelines.
Go to ircc.canada.ca and sign in. Visitor record applications are submitted online. Paper applications are no longer the recommended method and take significantly longer.
Fill in your personal details, travel history, reason for extending your stay, financial information, and ties to your home country. Attach supporting documents: passport copy, proof of funds (bank statements), letter of explanation, and proof of ties to home country (employment letter, property documents).
Pay online by credit or debit card when prompted. If biometrics are required (check IRCC's biometric requirement tool based on your nationality), pay the additional $85. The $100 fee is non-refundable.
Once IRCC receives your complete application before your status expires, you are on maintained status. Save your confirmation of submission. Do not leave Canada while your application is processing — departing cancels your maintained status and you would need a new TRV to re-enter.
If you did not apply before your authorized stay ended, you are in Canada without legal status. You have two options:
If your status expired within the last 90 days, you can apply to restore it. You pay the $100 visitor record fee plus a $229 restoration fee. You must prove you met the eligibility conditions throughout your stay and that you did not violate any conditions.
If more than 90 days have passed since your status expired, restoration is not available. You should leave Canada voluntarily. Overstaying and being found by CBSA can result in a removal order and a ban from entering Canada for years.
Overstaying is not a minor issue. It is a violation of your conditions of entry and can result in inadmissibility findings that affect all future Canadian immigration applications — including work permits, PR, and citizenship.
No. If you leave Canada while your visitor record extension application is pending, your application is automatically abandoned. When you attempt to re-enter Canada, you will be treated as a new visitor and assessed at the border. Your previous application and any maintained status end the moment you depart.
If you need to travel while waiting, consult an immigration consultant before leaving to understand your options.
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