Leaving/Returning to Canada

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.

Must I leave Canada by the valid until date on my visitor visa?

No. The date on the visitor visa is the date by which you must arrive in Canada.

How long you can stay will be decided when you enter Canada.

Length of stay decided by a border services officer

If you see a border services officer at the port of entry, they will tell you how long you can stay in Canada in 1 of these ways:

• If the officer stamps your passport and writes a date under that stamp
  • You must leave Canada by that date
• If the officer stamps your passport and gives you a visitor record
  • You must leave Canada by the date under “Valid until” on that visitor record.
• If the officer stamps your passport without writing a date under that stamp or giving you a visitor record
  • You can stay in Canada for 6 months.

If you have a super visa

If you enter Canada on a super visa after July 4, 2022 and the border services officer puts a stamp without a hand written date in your passport, you can stay for 5 years.

Length of stay decided at a primary inspection kiosk

If you go through a primary inspection kiosk, the officer may not stamp your passport at all. In this case, you can only stay in Canada for up to 6 months from the day you first enter Canada, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.

If you need a stamp in your passport as proof of entry into Canada, you have to ask a border services officer after you finish at the kiosk.

I need to leave Canada and I do not have a permanent resident card. Can I later return to Canada without a PR card?

It depends on how you travel.

Returning by private vehicle

There are other documents you can use to enter the country.

When you return to Canada, apply for a PR card if you plan to travel outside Canada again.

Some examples of private vehicles include, but are not limited to: a car, truck, motorcycle, or recreational vehicle that you own, borrow, or rent. It is a vehicle not available for public use.

Returning by commercial vehicle: airplane, bus, train, or boat

You must apply for a permanent resident travel document. Otherwise you may not be able to travel to Canada.

You can apply for a PR card when you return to Canada.

You can apply for a PR card when you return to Canada.

If you’re traveling soon or already applied

If you know you’re travelling by commercial vehicle soon, you can ask for an urgent renewal of your PR card. If you already applied for your PR card and are still waiting for it, you can check our processing times, check the status of your application or link your application to your account to keep track of it.

Contact us if you’ve been waiting for your card for six weeks longer than the normal processing time and still haven’t received it.

I am outside Canada and do not have a PR card. How can I return to Canada?

Returning by private vehicle

There are other documents you can use to enter the country.

When you return to Canada, apply for a PR card if you plan to travel outside Canada again.

Some examples of private vehicles include, but are not limited to: a car, truck, motorcycle, or recreational vehicle that you own, borrow, or rent, and that is not available for public use.

Returning by commercial vehicle: airplane, bus, train, or boat

You must apply for a permanent resident travel document (PRTD), valid for one entry. Otherwise you may not be able to travel to Canada.

You can apply to replace your PR card when you return to Canada.

As a foreign student, can I return home or travel outside Canada while studying?

Yes. However, your study permit is not a travel document. It doesn’t give you the right to travel to or enter Canada. Along with your permit, you may need:

• a visitor visa (temporary resident visa) or
• an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)

Depending on where you’re from, you may only need your passport. Make sure you know which document you need to travel to and enter Canada.

Having the travel document you need also doesn’t guarantee you’ll be allowed back into Canada. You still must show the border services officer that you meet all the requirements before we’ll let you re-enter.

If you need a visitor visa to enter Canada

Make sure the one you have will still be valid when you return to Canada. If it won’t be valid, you must apply to extend it before you leave Canada.

Read more about travelling while you are a student.

Can I leave and come back to Canada if I have a work permit?

Yes. However, a work permit isn’t a travel document. It doesn’t give you the right to travel to Canada. Along with your permit, you need either:

• a temporary resident visa or
• an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)

Having an eTA or a visa, along with your work permit, doesn’t guarantee that we will let you back into Canada. You must show the border services officer that you meet all the requirements before we will let you re-enter.

Read more about travelling while you are a temporary worker.

I've applied to extend my study permit. Can I travel outside Canada and be able to return?

Yes. You can leave Canada and return as long as your visitor visa or Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is still valid. If your visitor visa or eTA is expired, you must apply for and receive a new one before you leave.

Exception

There’s only one exception to this. You may be able to re-enter Canada with an expired visitor visa (not an expired eTA) if:

• you only visit the United States or St. Pierre and Miquelon and
• you return to Canada before your study permit expires.

When you return to Canada

If your study permit is still valid, or we extended your permit while you were away, we may let you enter as a student.

If we’re still processing your study permit extension, we may let you enter as a visitor. In this case, you can’t study until you get your extended study permit. The officer at the port of entry may also ask you to prove you have enough money to support yourself in Canada.

A border officer may have some questions for you when you arrive back in Canada. If the officer believes there’s reason to refuse your re-entry, you won’t be able to re-enter Canada. The officer may ask you for a copy of your extension application, the fee payment receipt, or any other document to prove you applied for an extension.

If you’re from the United States, Greenland or St. Pierre and Miquelon

You can re-apply for a new study permit and pay the fees at the port of entry if you’re a:

• citizen or a permanent resident of the U.S.
• resident of Greenland, or
• resident of St. Pierre and Miquelon.

Doing this means you’ll get your study permit faster. Once you’re in Canada, you must withdraw your previous application to extend your study permit. Use our web form and select ‘Withdrawal of application’ under Type of application/enquiry.

I’m waiting for my post-graduation work permit. Can I travel outside Canada and come back with my student visa?

You can leave Canada and return, as long as your visa or Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is still valid. Your permit (study or work) is not a visa and doesn't allow you to travel back to Canada.

If your visa or eTA is expired, you have to get a new one before you return to Canada.

When you return to Canada:

• You may enter as a student if your study permit is still valid.
• If we approve your post-graduation work permit while you’re away, you may enter as a worker.
• If we’re still processing your post-graduation work permit, you may enter as a visitor, and you can work without a work permit until we make a decision on your application.

A border officer will have some questions for you when you arrive back in Canada. The officer may ask you for proof that you applied for a post-graduation work permit, such as a copy of your application or the fee payment receipt.

If the officer believes there is reason to refuse your re-entry, you won’t be able to enter Canada.

I got a new passport but I have a valid visa in my old one. Can I use the visa in my old passport?

Yes. To travel to Canada using a valid visa in an old passport, you need to bring both

• your old passport with the valid visa
  • You may need to explain why your old passport isn’t valid.
• your new valid passport or travel document

Even though you can use a valid visa in an old passport, we recommend that you get a new visa in your valid passport to avoid delays at the border.