Canada Visitor Visa: Overstay Rules in Germany

"If your Canadian visitor visa expires while you are in Germany, you will not face any legal issues in Germany. Your stay in Germany is governed solely by German immigration laws, not Canadian visa validity. Germany does not take action based on the status of another country’s visa.

However, an expired Canadian visa can affect you only in relation to Canada:

1. If you did NOT overstay inside Canada

If you left Canada before your authorized stay ended and the visa simply expired later:

This is not considered an overstay.

There is no penalty.

It does not affect future Canadian visa applications.

2. If you DID overstay while physically present in Canada

If you remained inside Canada beyond the permitted stay:

Canada records the violation.

Future Canadian visa or eTA applications may be refused.

You may be asked to explain the overstay.

It can negatively impact future study, work, and visitor visa applications.

Key Point

Your legal status in Germany remains unaffected. The consequence applies only with Canada, depending on whether the overstay occurred inside Canada.

If you would like, I can help you evaluate whether your situation counts as an overstay and how to present it in future Canadian visa applications."