What happens if I stay in Canada longer than my visitor status allows?
Staying in Canada beyond your authorized period — whether that is the six-month default or the date on a visitor record — means you are out of status. This is a serious matter under federal immigration law. Being out of status can make you inadmissible to Canada, affect your ability to obtain future permits or visas, and in some cases can lead to a removal order.
If you realize you are out of status, leaving Canada voluntarily before enforcement action is typically better than waiting. However, even voluntary departure may not erase the record of the overstay, which border officers and IRCC can see in future applications.
If you are out of status and have grounds to regularize your situation — for example, through a restoration of status application within 90 days of losing it — acting immediately with legal help gives you the best chance of a positive outcome. Ignoring the problem does not make it go away and almost always makes your situation worse.
Key takeaways
- Staying past your authorized date is a federal immigration violation
- An overstay can result in inadmissibility and affect all future Canadian applications
- Voluntary departure is generally better than waiting for enforcement
- Status restoration within 90 days may be possible — get legal help immediately