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What’s the difference between a visitor visa and a visitor record?

A visitor visa (also known as a temporary resident visa) is an official document citizen from visa-required countries need to get to travel to and enter Canada as a visitor for up to 6 months.

Visitor visa will be added to your passport. It shows that you meet the requirements to enter Canada. It includes the date by which you must arrive in Canada. The date is not an expiry date for your stay in Canada.

If you apply for a study or work permit for the first time, you’ll automatically get a visitor visa when we approve your application.

A visitor record is a document that a border services officer may issue to you to extend or restrict your stay in Canada. If you want to stay in Canada for more than 6 months, you have to tell the border services officer.

You may also get a visitor record after we approve your application to extend your stay or restore your status. A visitor record is issued either by the Canada Border Services Agency or Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

You need to apply for a visitor record when you first arrive at the port of entry and you know you want to stay longer than 6 months; or you’re in Canada and decide you want to stay longer. You must apply at least 30 days before your authorized stay in Canada expires. It’s an independent document (not placed in your passport). It includes an expiry date for your stay in Canada. That’s the date by which you must leave Canada.

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