I have a visitor visa. Can I leave Canada and come back?

The visitor visa is officially called a temporary resident visa. There are 2 types of visas: single-entry visa and multiple-entry visa.

If you have a single-entry visitor visa

In most cases, you’ll need a new visa if you want to leave and come back to Canada
You can ask to return to Canada on your original single-entry visitor visa only if:
- you’ll only visit the U.S. or St. Pierre and Miquelon; and
- you’ll return to Canada before the end of your approved stay in Canada.

If you have a multiple-entry visitor visa

You can leave and come back to Canada multiple times as long as your visitor visa has not expired.

If you have an expired visitor visa

You can ask to come back to Canada on your original temporary resident (visitor) visa, even if it’s expired, if:
- you’ll only visit the U.S. or St. Pierre and Miquelon, and
- you’ll return to Canada before the end of your approved stay in Canada.

Before travelling back to Canada

You must meet all the necessary requirements, including all testing and quarantine requirements. A border services officer will make the final decision at the port of entry.

Find out more about the documents you need before you travel to Canada.

Foreign students and workers who got a temporary resident (visitor) visa in Canada

If there is a V-1 code on your visitor visa

This is not an error. Due to COVID-19, we have temporary measures in place to process visitor visa applications submitted from inside Canada.

Foreign students and workers who applied for a visitor visa in Canada since July 2021 may get a V-1 visitor visa.
You can use your V-1 visa to leave and re-enter Canada – the same way you would use your S-1 or W-1 visa.
You don’t need to request a different type of visa or follow up with the processing office or client support centre. A new visa will not be issued in this case.

Validity period is different on the V-1 visa

The V-1 visa is valid until the expiration date of your passport.
- This is part of the temporary measures in place that will be in effect until further notice.
- If your V-1 visa expires, you can apply for a new visitor visa.