Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) data indicates that approximately 1.4 million work permits are set to expire by December 2026, with over 314,000 expiring in the first quarter alone. Processing volumes of this scale are expected to extend standard timelines significantly. Temporary residents facing permit expiry must act in advance of that date, not after.
Apply at minimum 30 days before your work permit expires. Given current processing volumes in 2026, IRCC recommends applying 45 to 60 days before expiry wherever possible.
If you intend to continue working for the same employer under the same conditions, applying to extend your work permit before expiry is the most straightforward path. Under IRCC’s maintained status provisions, applicants who submit an extension before their permit expires are legally authorized to continue working under their original conditions while the application is processed. Maintained status ends the moment a decision is issued or if the applicant departs Canada.
If you only have one year remaining on your current permit, read our guide on what to do when left with one year on your work permit.
Applying for a study permit before your work permit expires is a recognized and legally sound strategy to maintain status and build toward PR eligibility. Enrolling in a designated learning institution (DLI) program supports potential eligibility under Express Entry healthcare, trades, or education categories.
Critical rule: once your work permit expires, you must cease all work immediately, even if the study permit application is still pending. You cannot begin studying until the study permit is formally issued. If you are enrolled in an eligible Master’s Degree program, your spouse or common-law partner may qualify for a Spousal Open Work Permit for the duration of your studies.
A Visitor Record (VR) is a legal mechanism to maintain your physical presence in Canada after your work permit expires. It does not authorize work or study under any circumstances. Applications must be submitted before the work permit expires to trigger maintained status.
Two 2024 policy changes make this option significantly more limiting than previously. The temporary public policy allowing inland work permit applications from visitor status was terminated on August 28, 2024. The practice of flagpoling at land border crossings was formally ended in December 2024. A visitor in Canada who secures a job offer requiring an LMIA-based work permit must now apply for that permit through consular processing outside Canada.
Once you hold a Visitor Record, you generally cannot apply for a new work permit or study permit from within Canada. You may be required to leave Canada to do so.
If a permit has already expired and no application was filed before expiry, IRCC provides a 90-day restoration window. During restoration, the applicant cannot work, study, leave Canada, or re-enter. The restoration fee is $246.25 per person, in addition to the applicable standard permit fees. For restoration as a worker with a new work permit, the total is $401.25 before biometrics. After 90 days without action, restoration is no longer available and departure from Canada becomes legally required.
Yes, provided you applied to extend your work permit before it expired. Under maintained status, you may continue working under the exact same conditions as your original permit until IRCC renders a decision.
You may remain in Canada under maintained status if you submit the study permit application before your work permit expires. However, maintained status does not allow you to keep working after your work permit expires. You must stop working on the expiry date of your work permit and may only begin studying once the study permit is formally approved and issued.
Generally, no. The temporary inland work permit policy ended August 28, 2024. Visitors who secure a job offer with an approved LMIA must apply for the work permit through consular processing outside Canada.
No. IRCC formally ended the practice of flagpoling in December 2024. Temporary residents can no longer use a trip to a land border to obtain or renew a work permit at the Port of Entry.
IRCC provides a 90-day restoration window from the date of expiry. The restoration fee is $246.25 per person. If restoring as a worker and applying for a new work permit, the total government fee is $401.25 before biometrics.
Potentially yes. If you are enrolled in an eligible master’s degree or equivalent program at a designated learning institution, your spouse or common-law partner may qualify for a Spousal Open Work Permit.
Not directly. However, ceasing employment means work experience accrual stops, which may affect your CRS score and eligibility for category-based Express Entry draws. A Visitor Record is a short-term legal bridge, not a PR strategy.
IRCC recommends submitting any extension or change-of-status application at least 30 days before your current permit expires. Given the volume of expirations projected for 2026, applying 45 to 60 days before expiry provides greater protection against processing delays.
Disclaimer: This document is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) or licensed immigration lawyer prior to submitting any application.
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