Visitor visas for workers and students: How to apply from inside Canada

Who can apply for a visitor visa from inside Canada

You can only apply for a visitor visa from inside Canada if you meet all of these criteria:

• already are in Canada
• hold a valid study or work permit
• want to leave and return to Canada in the near future, and
• have an existing visitor visa that’s expired, or is about to expire, or that was valid for only 1 entry

If you already left Canada and need to apply for a new visitor visa

You must follow the process to apply for a visa from outside Canada instead of the inside Canada process outlined below. There are different requirements you may need to meet since you’re outside Canada.

When to apply for your new visitor visa (in Canada)

• apply at least 2 months before you plan to leave Canada
• not leave Canada until you get your visitor visa

If you leave Canada before you get your new visitor visa

You may be subject to

• additional requirements, like biometrics (if not already on file) and/or a medical exam
• a longer processing time
• a delay in your return to Canada
  • You’ll only be able to travel back to Canada once you get your new visitor visa in your passport. There’s no guarantee that you’ll be approved.

  If you must leave Canada for exceptional reasons before you get your new visitor visa

  Complete this web form before you leave Canada.

  • We may need to transfer your file to one of our offices abroad.
  • We’ll also need to determine if you meet all the visa requirements for an applicant outside Canada.
  • If you don’t contact us, there could be a processing delay or your passport could be returned without a visa.

  If you applied online to extend your work or study permit

  If we approve your application, we send you a message in your online account and mail you your new work or study permit.

  After we approve your application to extend your permit

  As soon as we approve your application to extend your work or study permit, you can apply for your visitor visa (even before you get your new work or study permit in the mail).

  However, you must provide proof that we approved your application, such as:

  • a screenshot of the approval message we sent to your online account
  • your application number
  • any other document that proves you have a valid and approved study or work permit extension

  Venezuelan passport holders

  If the printed expiry date on your Venezuelan passport has passed

  If the printed expiry date has passed and you’re applying for a visitor visa, study permit, work permit or to extend your stay as a temporary resident in Canada, follow these steps:

  1. Add 5 years to the printed expiry date shown on your passport and enter it in the expiry date field of the application form.
  2. Include a letter of explanation with your application stating: “I am a Venezuelan national with a Venezuelan passport, which has been extended for 5 years”.

  Warning: If your passport is still expired after adding 5 years to the printed expiry date, your passport is considered expired. You’re not eligible to submit an application with that passport.

  How to apply for your new visitor visa

  You need to apply online in your IRCC secure account. If you don’t already have an account, follow these steps to register.

  You’ll need to select “Apply to Come to Canada” from your account main page to get started.

  Get the right application form

  To get the right application form, provide these answers in the online questionnaire:

  • For the first question “What would you like to do in Canada?”, select
    • “Study” if you have a valid study permit or
    • “Work” if you have a valid work permit

    The application form listed in your document checklist will be called Application for Visitor Visa (Temporary Resident Visa) Made Outside of Canada (IMM 5257). This is the form you need to fill out, even when you apply from inside Canada.

    Use your account to pay your fees and check your application status.

    If you can’t apply online because of a disability, an exceptional circumstance beyond your control or a specific situation that is not included in the IRCC secure account questionnaire, such as travelling with an alien’s passport, you can apply on paper.