Everything you need to know about the visitor record
If you are in Canada on a legal status like a work permit or a visitor status that is about to expire, you can stay in Canada legally, by applying for the visitor record. The application must be done before the current status expires.
First and foremost, one important thing that must be pointed out for IEC participants:
There is no maintained status between two IEC participations.
If you are in Canada under an IEC work permit like the Working Holiday, and you apply for another Working Holiday because your country allows this, then you will not have maintained status while you wait for the processing of the new IEC.
You must apply for visitor record if your current work permit expires soon. While the visitor record application is being processed, you are in maintained visitor status and can stay in the country legally as a visitor until a decision is made or until you activate a new work permit, whichever comes first.
You have to stop working on the day your work permit expires and can start working again when the new work permit is activated.
Find out how to apply for the visitor record > here <
I would like to go on a road trip after the Working Holiday
Road trip time, yay! Yes, you can do a road trip to explore Canada after you finish the Working Holiday. If you would like to stay in Canada as a visitor after the Working Holiday, you must apply for a visitor record online and from within Canada.
This is the easiest way to extend your stay. The good news is that the visitor record will be mailed to the address you provide in your application, so there’s no need to go to the border to activate it.
However, keep in mind that the Canadian government is strict about maintaining legal status at all times. Therefore, you must apply for the visitor record before your current status expires. Once your current status expires, you will be in maintained visitor status and can legally stay in Canada until a decision is made on your visitor record application.
Many third-party blogs or other travellers recommend to go to the US border to flagpole and get the visitor record there. Those blogs are outdated because this flagpoling option has been ended by the Canadian Government starting December 24, 2024.
What is a visitor record? What is the difference to a 'visitor visa'?
This is where the most confusion comes up. The terms have very different meanings and purposes.
Visitor record
A visitor record is a document that is issued to extend your stay WITHIN Canada.
A visitor record does not authorize re-entry to Canada. It is only a document for your stay within Canada.
A visitor record is an independent paper document (not placed in your passport).
What many don’t know, it is also a document to restrict your stay in Canada. For example if you travel to Canada as a tourist and the border officer isn’t convinced about your plans in Canada…. they can decide to shorten the stay from the typically allowed 6 months to any other shorter time. For example only 2 months. They will then issue a visitor record for the duration of the approved stay.
Visitor visa
A visitor visa is a document for citizens from visa-required countries. It means those travellers cannot apply for an eTA. They need to apply for a visitor visa BEFORE travelling to Canada. It is a more extensive application that involves a personal interview and you have to send in the passport via post to get the visa sticker placed in the passport.
A visitor visa can be valid for single-entry or multiple entry.
A visitor visa is a sticker that is placed in your passport.
Can I not just apply for a new eTA that costs only $7?
Applying for an eTA from within Canada will have no effect. An eTA is simply an Electronic Travel Authorization that allows you to board a flight to Canada. That’s it.
An eTA does not guarantee entry to Canada or authorize you to stay in the country. Therefore, when you travel to Canada on an eTA, the border officers will decide on your entry and the length of your stay.
How do I apply for the visitor record?
You can apply via the same GCKey account you used for your Working Holiday application.
Find out how to apply for the visitor record > here <
When do I have to apply for the visitor record at the latest?
The government recommends that you apply for the visitor record at least 30 days before your current status expires. However, this is not mandatory. You can wait until about 7 days before the expiration to maximize your maintained visitor status. This option is especially helpful if you are waiting for the processing of another work permit.
Although you can submit the application just 2 days before the expiration, I do not recommend it. The government website often glitches. If you fail to submit the application on time, you will miss the maintained status.
What happens if I do not apply for the visitor record before the current status expires?
If the current status has expired, you are out of status (illegal) after the expiry date of the work permit and will need to apply for visitor restoration. It then costs $200 to restore the visitor status.
You must report any overstay in all future applications. Depending on how long you stayed in Canada illegally, your application could be refused, and you may receive a letter requesting you to leave. Never should anyone risk being out of status.
Did you know that five countries share immigration and security data under the Five Eyes Alliance?
Those are: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Those countries know exactly where you were and how long you spent time in a country. It means that immigration authorities in these countries can easily exchange information, including details about:
- Overstays
- Visa refusals
- Deportations
- Travel history and patterns
Keep in mind, your travel is recorded electronically:
- When you check in for a flight, your passport is scanned, and the data is shared with immigration authorities.
- When you enter or leave a country, especially through airports, your passport is scanned again.
- Even countries outside the Five Eyes alliance track this data and often share it with partner nations.
So, even if you don’t have any passport stamps it does not mean you weren’t tracked. Modern immigration systems rely on electronic records, and border officials can often see your full travel history in seconds.
Will my current work permit expire immediately if I apply for the visitor record?
Applying for a visitor record does not automatically cancel your work permit. Your work permit remains valid until its expiry date and you can keep working until the date printed on the document. After that you must stop working.
Why do I need to provide proof of financial support?
The processing agent will check if you have enough money to support yourself financially without working. They will base their decision on the amount of funds you can provide. Generally, the more you show, the better.
For example, if you want to stay for another 6 months, you should show at least $5,000 in funds. These funds must be reflected in your bank account balance. Savings accounts are acceptable, as long as the funds are not locked in investments. In other words, the funds must be readily available.
How long does it take to process the application?
You can view the current processing time >here< on the government’s official website. Usually around 3-4 months.
How long will the visitor record be granted for?
The duration for which a visitor record is granted depends on the discretion of the processing officer. It is decided on a case-by-case, but typically ranges from a few months to a year. It will depend on your financial means, and ties to your home country.
Be aware, the visitor record will only be granted until the expiry of your passport. Therefore, make sure your passport is valid for the entire length of your intended stay.
Can I extend the visitor record?
Yes, you can apply for a new visitor record before the current one expires. This will grant you another maintained status until the authorities make a decision on the new application.
However, be aware that the second visitor record application could be refused, as it might indicate that you are a risk and don’t intend to leave Canada. Therefore, you should prepare for the scenario where the visitor record is refused, and you receive a letter asking you to leave Canada.
What if the visitor record application is refused?
You will receive a letter that will tell you that you have to leave Canada by date xxx. At that moment your only option is to leave Canada or apply for the ‘visitor restoration’ within 90 days (cost $200). This can be done online in the same GCKey account.
Can I get the visitor record by e-mail?
No, you must provide a Canadian postal address where the visitor record will be sent.
The visitor record is an official document that looks exactly like your colorful, shiny Working Holiday work permit. You must always keep this document with you and present it upon request during checks (e.g., during police checks). This document proves your legal status in Canada.
What if I am travelling? I can't wait for the visitor record.
You must provide a Canadian address on your application, as foreign addresses are not accepted.
If you plan to travel later, apply for the visitor record early while you still live at the address. The process will take about 3 months or longer, so plan ahead. If necessary, you can use a friend or co-worker’s address. They can send the document to you by FedEx. While traveling in Canada, always carry this document. It proves your legal status.
Can I leave and re enter Canada with the visitor record?
No, the visitor record only extends your stay inside Canada as a visitor. It does not allow you to re-enter Canada.
Additionally, a visitor record or maintained status becomes invalid as soon as you leave Canada. When you try to re-enter, a border officer will assess your situation and decide whether to let you in.
This means there are no guarantees of re-entry, even if you previously held a valid visitor record. The decision is entirely at the discretion of the officer at the border, who will evaluate your situation based on your travel history, ties to your home country, purpose of visit, and supporting documents.
Tips to improve your chances at the border:
- Have a return flight booked within six months.
- Bring proof of sufficient financial support for your stay, such as recent bank statements.
- Be honest and be prepared to explain your reason for visiting and your ties to your home country (such as employment, property, or family).
- Carry proof of your travel plans, such as hotel reservations or an itinerary.
Can I take flights within Canada?
Yes you can. For domestic flights within Canada you will not pass through immigration and you won’t leave Canada.
I left Canada; if I want to re-enter Canada as a tourist, what do I need? A new eTA?
An eTA is not a visa. It is simply an electronic travel authorization that allows you to board a plane flying into Canada. Holding a valid eTA does not guarantee entry into the country, nor does it give you the right to stay in Canada.
Therefore, applying for a new eTA while still having a valid one, won’t affect your situation.
Unfortunately, there is no application that guarantees re-entry into Canada. You travel with your current eTA, just like any other tourist. After that, your entry depends on the decision of the border officers.
Tip: A return flight within 6 months and proof of sufficient funds will increase your chances at the border.
I want to go home; can I leave Canada while the visitor record is still being processed?
Yes, you can leave Canada while your visitor record application is being processed. For example, if you return to your home country before receiving a decision on your application, it is permitted. However, doing so means you will lose your maintained status as explained above.
Do I need health insurance for the visitor record?
While it is not a mandatory requirement for the visitor record, it is never a good idea to be in Canada without health insurance coverage. Please be aware, if you had provincial health care because you were in Canada on a work permit, this coverage will expire at the same date as your work permit.
Usually, IEC participants can extend their IEC health insurance for the time on the visitor record. Please contact your IEC health insurance provider.
If you are not able to extend, or don’t have a health insurance, you can look into Best Quote.
Best Quote
- For all IEC countries
- Available up to 24 months
- Already Travelling policy available
- Website that helps find the best coverage
Can I cancel my application if I returned home before the visitor record was processed?
Theoretically, you can withdraw your application. However, I would not recommend doing so. Why?
You should not cancel the application if you have benefited from maintained status. This means that after your Working Holiday work permit expired, you applied for a visitor record and stayed legally in Canada using the maintained status.
If you withdraw your application, it counts as the application was never submitted. This could imply that the time between your work permit’s expiry and your departure from Canada was in “illegal” status or an “overstay.” This overstay can cause complications if you want to visit Canada in the future or apply for other Canadian work permits or permanent residency.