Travellers can now stay in Canada for longer periods without repeated extensions after Ottawa’s new visitor-visa policy took effect on 5 January 2026. While the six-month default rule remains in law, border officers have been instructed to grant longer authorised periods—typically up to one year—when applicants demonstrate sufficient funds and a clear exit plan.
The reform addresses complaints from families and tourism bodies that frequent extension applications clogged IRCC’s workflow and discouraged long-haul travel. It also aligns Canada with peer destinations such as Australia and New Zealand, which routinely grant 12-month stays to genuine visitors.
Key compliance rules stay in place. Visitors may not work or study without separate authorisation, and officers can still trim or cancel a stay if they suspect abuse. IRCC has warned that the relaxed policy does not create an automatic right to remain; holders must still respect the date written in their passport or electronic travel record.
![Longer stays for tourists: Canada relaxes visitor-visa rules effective 5 January 2026]()
For travelers navigating the new framework, VisaHQ’s Canadian portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) streamlines the process. Its step-by-step wizard clarifies eligibility, calculates the minimum funds required for a one-year stay, and lets clients order supporting documents or travel insurance in one checkout. The agency’s licensed consultants can also advise when a separate study or work permit is necessary, reducing the risk of costly mistakes.
For businesses, the change simplifies hosting relatives of international assignees and allows longer look-and-see trips for potential transferees. Travel managers should update invitation-letter templates to request the desired stay length explicitly and budget for extended medical-insurance coverage.
Hotels and destination-management companies are already promoting multi-season packages aimed at snowbirds and digital nomads who previously left the country every six months to reset their status.
The reform addresses complaints from families and tourism bodies that frequent extension applications clogged IRCC’s workflow and discouraged long-haul travel. It also aligns Canada with peer destinations such as Australia and New Zealand, which routinely grant 12-month stays to genuine visitors.
Key compliance rules stay in place. Visitors may not work or study without separate authorisation, and officers can still trim or cancel a stay if they suspect abuse. IRCC has warned that the relaxed policy does not create an automatic right to remain; holders must still respect the date written in their passport or electronic travel record.
For travelers navigating the new framework, VisaHQ’s Canadian portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) streamlines the process. Its step-by-step wizard clarifies eligibility, calculates the minimum funds required for a one-year stay, and lets clients order supporting documents or travel insurance in one checkout. The agency’s licensed consultants can also advise when a separate study or work permit is necessary, reducing the risk of costly mistakes.
For businesses, the change simplifies hosting relatives of international assignees and allows longer look-and-see trips for potential transferees. Travel managers should update invitation-letter templates to request the desired stay length explicitly and budget for extended medical-insurance coverage.
Hotels and destination-management companies are already promoting multi-season packages aimed at snowbirds and digital nomads who previously left the country every six months to reset their status.
