Canada, the premier land for incredible opportunities, the accomplishment of dreams with a touch of natural beauty. Thousands of people visit Canada every year, and it is a hot destination for international students. As a result, a Canadian visa is in high demand among citizens from developing and emerging nations. However, after a certain time frame, you will need to renew Canadian visa inside canada.
Here’s everything you need to know to renew canadian visa. But before dwelling deep into the renewal process, it is important to get familiar with what a Canadian visa is and the types of Canadian visas.
Canadian Visa and its Types
A Canadian visa is an official document that allows you to travel within Canada’s borders. It will enable you to travel, work or stay in Canada for a specific time. The visa can be obtained through consulates or embassies in your native country. To acquire a Canadian visa, you must meet the eligibility requirements, which include:
- authentic travel documents
- having no criminal convictions
- and being financially stable
The Canadian government offers four types of visas i.e. temporary resident visas, study permits, work permits, and permanent resident visa.
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Temporary Resident Visa
A temporary resident visa, often known as a visitor visa, is obligatory for entering Canada. You must apply for a visitor or a temporary residence visa to live like a tourist, which offers you a six-month stay in Canada and comes under the process of renew canadian visa inside Canada.
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Study Permit
An international student can study at a designated learning institution (DLI) in Canada with a study permit or student visa. As a student, you must provide proper evidence to support your visa application in Canada. You’ll also require an electronic travel authorisation (eTA) to enter Canada.
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Work Permit
If you are a foreign national, you must get a work permit to work in Canada. Depending on your needs, you must renew canadian visa inside Canada for either an employer-specific work permit or an open work permit.
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Permanent Resident Travel Document
You must apply for a permanent resident travel document if you belong to Canada’s permanent resident (PR) category. It is required to have an authentic PR card to prove your citizenship.
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Super Visa for Parents and Grandparents
The super visa for parents and grandparents is the best option for having your family in Canada. It is a multi-entry visa with a maximum validity of ten years. You can stay in Canada for two years on every visit with a super visa. Under Canada’s family sponsorship scheme, you could potentially sponsor your parents and grandparents for permanent residency.
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Transit Visa
On your way to another nation, you’ll require a transit visa from Canada. It is necessary for the following situations:
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- While flying to another country, your international flight makes a stop in Canada.
- You have to connect international flights at the airport in Canada.
- Within 48 hours, you will pass through Canada.
- You do not have a valid visitor visa.
Validity for Different Types of Canadian Visa
Visas do come with an expiry date. So, if you think that your visa will last long, it won’t. The below-depicted table indicates the validity of different types of Canadian visas.
| Types of Canadian Visa | Validity Period |
| Temporary visa or /Visitor visa | For 6 months |
| Transit visa | 48 hours (at a maximum) |
| Super Visa | 2 years |
| Study Permit | Determined by the duration of the course plus 90 days |
| Work permit | Based upon the occupation and its duration |
When you are familiar with the types of visas and their validity, the very next vital thing you must be aware of is how to renew a Canadian visa once it expires.
Extend Your Visitor Stay Through Visitor Record
A visitor record is a necessary document for anyone planning to extend their stay in Canada as a visitor. For example, if you are in Canada on a study permit, you can convert your permit to a visitor record, changing its permission type.
Regardless of how you entered Canada, whether with a visitor record, an eTA (electronic travel authorisation), or another document, you will require a visitor record to extend your stay and renew canadian visa inside Canada.
If you want to extend your visitor stay or change the type of stay (for instance, from an international student or worker to a visitor), you must apply for a visitor record at least 30 days before your existing stay expires.
The expiry date of your stay is usually mentioned in
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- The passport stamp, but if there is no stamp, then the expiry date will be 6 months from the date you moved to Canada.
- The study permits
- The work permit
- The visitor record, in case you extended your stay earlier.
How to Apply for a Visitor Record
To extend your stay in Canada as a visitor, you should consider applying online.
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Online Application
When you apply online, the government officials receive the renewal application immediately, allowing them to process it quickly. You do not need to resubmit your application on paper if you have already applied.
When you apply online for the extension of your visitor record, you unlock the following benefits:
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- You don’t have to pay any courier fees
- The application will be sent instantly, and no waiting will be required for the mail to arrive
- Quick processing as everything will be available in one place
- You get to know beforehand that you have provided everything required before submitting the same
- If needed, you can quickly deliver the said documents by uploading their scanned copies
- Timely updates associated with your application are provided directly to the online account.
Follow up on the mentioned steps to apply for a visitor record in Canada.
Step 1: Be prepared with essentials
To apply online, secure a scanner or even a camera. These will be required to create digital copies of the said documents. Beforehand, prepare the debit or credit card through which you will be making the payment.
Step 2: Go through the instruction guide carefully
Regardless of the medium you have opted to extend your Canadian visa, go through the instruction guide. This guide enlists information to fill every field present in the online application form.
Step 3: Prepare your answers
Before filling in and uploading the form, you will have to answer a set of questions. The government officials use the entered answers to create a personalized checklist of documents for the applicant.
You will have to provide answers to the following questions through the online tool:
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- ‘What would you like to do in Canada?’ From the drop down, select ‘Visit.’
- “What is your current country/territory of residence?” From the drop down, select “Canada.”
Step 4: Create an online account or sign in
To make an online payment, you must create an online account. This account can be used for various other purposes, such as submitting the application, checking the status of your application form, and much more.
Note: if you can’t apply through the online portal, you will have to specify your reason for the same.
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Offline applications are accepted in two case scenarios:
- The applicant is specially-abled and can’t apply through the online portal.
- Problems encountered with the online application.
Once you are done with the application submission, wait for the provided processing time. If your processing time passes and you don’t receive any updates, get in touch with the officials through a web form. When asked for the type of inquiry, you will have to select a temporary residence.
How to Renew Your Work Visa in Canada
The Canadian government has a preset renewal process to extend work visas. First, you must know whether you are eligible for the extension of your work visa or not. The applicant must adhere to the requirements to renew canadian visa inside Canada. Possibilities are you can avail of an open work permit if you are a spouse of an individual working in Canada on a work visa. You have to follow the mentioned steps to renew your work visa in Canada. Initially, be prepared with your offer letter and work permit. Next to this, choose any of the following options:
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- Highly skilled workers
- Low-skilled workers
- Temporary Agricultural Workers
- Domestic Assistance
Your work permit should be in the appropriate category. After selecting the appropriate option, you will have to complete the questionnaire. Once you have completed the online questionnaire, an official will contact you. You will be guided through the further procedure only by the officials.
Just make sure that you begin with the process of renewing your Canadian visa inside Canada in advance before your existing one expires. This will help you eliminate the hassles associated with the visa expiration date.
Apply for a Canada Study Permit Extension
If you want to extend your study permit, you must begin the application process at least 30 days before expiration. You can apply online or send your documents in the mail. You are encouraged to apply online to make the procedure quick and easy. If you choose to apply through offline mode, you must move forward considering the below procedure.
The following steps should be followed for renewing a Canadian visa inside Canada:
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- IMM 5709: Fill out this form if you want to change the conditions, extend your stay, or want to remain in Canada as a student.
- IMM 5409: This form acts as a Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union. Fill out this form if you have a common-law partner willing to stay with you in Canada.
- IMM 5646: It is termed a Custodian Declaration form. You need to fill out this form if you have a child pursuing their studies in Canada (in the custody of other people).
- IMM 5476: You need to fill this form in case you are opting for a representative for your application purpose.
The application form requires you to write down the document number from your study permit. This is also known as a Unique Client Identifier (UCI), and it can be found on your study permit or any correspondence from the Canadian government.
You May Also Read
| How to Apply for Canada Visitor Visa? | Guide to Apply for Canada’s PR Visa |
| Temporary Worker Visa in Canada | Complete Guide on Canadian Visa |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
To renew a Canadian visa, you must apply at least 30 days before the status expiration date.
Yes, you can stay in Canada after your visa expires, but you will have to apply for status restoration within 90 days of the expiration. If you fail to do so, you will have to leave the country.
In general, a visa renewal requires 10 business days if you have applied in person to the passport office. If you submit the same at the service point or send it via mail, it will take 20 business days to renew canadian visa inside Canada.
If you decide to overstay in Canada after your visa expires, you will have to face revocation of your visa. Additionally, you will be deported from the country and face a ban of at least five years. Furthermore, getting a Canadian visitor visa for the next time will be difficult. How long before an expired visa can I renew in Canada?
Can I stay in Canada after my visa expires?
How long does it take to renew a visa in Canada?
What is the penalty for overstaying in Canada?
