I received a peer-review request but need more time. Can I extend the review time?

When to extend the deadline

• Before you accept a review request, you can select in the peer-review form a later deadline (sometimes this will not be possible, e.g., if the paper is fast-tracked).
• After you accepted a review request, you can use the blue Extend/Cancel button (see screenshot) to see if the deadline can be extended 

Once the extend/cancel button is clicked, the extend/cancel options are revealed. Sometimes it is not possible to extend the deadline because the paper is fast-tracked or for other reasons.

Considerations:

• If you are late with your review and the editor already made a decision, it will tell you on the review form, and you won't be able to amend/extend the deadline
• Note that you will receive negative karma points if you are over the deadline or do not deliver a review by the deadline, hence extending the deadline is important;

See also:

• What does the JMIR Review Form look like?
• I agreed to review an article but realized I have a conflict of interest. How can I cancel?
• I agreed to review an article but after opening the submission I realized I am not qualified at all to review the paper