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Visas

• Visa Requirements
  
• Visa Renewals or Change of Status

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You need a visa to enter many foreign countries. The requirements and processing times for your visa will depend on what you intend to do while you are abroad: visit, study or work. This section provides the information you need to determine whether you need a visa, how to obtain one before your departure, and how to renew or change the status of your visa while you are abroad.

Visa Requirements

Before your departure, consult the following sources for country-specific visa information:

• The Tourist Visa Requirements page lists the countries that require travellers to obtain visas before entry.
  
  
• The Country Travel Reports contain country-specific visa information.
  
  
• The embassy or consulate of the country you plan to visit can always be able to provide definitive information on visa requirements. For contact information, consult the list of Government Offices Accredited to Canada.
  

Visa Renewals or Change of Status

To extend your stay in a country beyond the period permitted by the visa you currently hold, or to change the status of your visa (for example, from a visitor visa to a work visa), contact the nearest Canadian government office abroad and consular officials will refer you to the proper authorities in that country.

Related Links

• FAQs on Visas