Short answer: if you hold a Canadian work permit and want to keep working after it expires, you generally apply to extend (renew) it before the expiry date, online, through your IRCC secure account, on form IMM 5710. The government fee is $155 CAD for a work permit, plus an extra $100 open work permit holder fee if you are applying for an open permit (so $255 in total for an open permit). IRCC recommends applying at least 30 days before your permit expires, though applying earlier is wise because processing times vary. The single most important thing: as long as IRCC receives a complete extension application before your current permit expires, you keep "maintained status" and can keep working under your existing conditions while you wait. This guide walks through timing, maintained status, how to apply, the bridging open work permit, employer changes, and what happens if your permit lapses. It is educational, not legal advice, and an officer ultimately decides every application.
Calculate Your Work Permit Fees
A work permit extension is $155 CAD; open work permits add a $100 holder fee ($255 total). Use our fee calculator to see all IRCC fees in one place.
Open Fee CalculatorWhen Should You Apply to Extend Your Work Permit?
IRCC recommends that you apply at least 30 days before your current work permit expires. In practice many applicants apply much earlier than that, because processing times vary and applying early gives you a buffer. The one rule that really matters is this: IRCC must receive your complete extension application before your permit expires. For online applications, that means submitting before midnight Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) on the day your permit expires. Apply in time and you gain the protection of maintained status (explained below), which lets you keep working under the same conditions while your application is processed. Miss the deadline and your options narrow sharply.
Why Apply Early?
Work permit extension processing times can range from weeks to several months, depending on the work permit stream, whether a new Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is involved, and IRCC's overall workload. Applying well ahead of the 30-day minimum gives you the best chance that your new permit is approved before the old one expires, and it provides a cushion if IRCC asks for additional documents. What this means for you: do not wait for a reminder. Check the IRCC website for the current processing-time estimate for your specific permit type before you decide when to file, and treat that estimate as a moving target rather than a guarantee.
⚠️ Critical: IRCC Must Receive Your Application BEFORE Expiry
If your work permit expires and IRCC has NOT received an extension application, you generally lose your status and your authorization to work in Canada. You cannot simply file a late extension. Instead, you would usually need to apply to restore your status (a separate, more involved process with an extra fee, available for a limited window) or leave Canada and apply for a new permit. Working after your permit has expired, without authorization, can jeopardize future applications, so stop working and seek advice from a licensed representative if this happens to you.
Implied Status: What It Is and What It Lets You Do
Under IRPR s.183(5)-(6), if IRCC receives your application to extend your work permit before your current permit expires, you may remain in Canada and continue working under the same conditions as your expiring permit while your application is processed. IRCC now officially calls this maintained status; you will still see the older term implied status used widely online and by lawyers, and they mean the same thing. A concrete example: your permit expires June 30 and you submit a complete online extension on June 20. From July 1 onward, even though your physical permit has lapsed, you keep working for the same employer under maintained status until IRCC decides. One practical limitation worth knowing: while on maintained status with an expired physical permit, provincial bodies may not renew documents like a driver's licence or update your SIN expiry until your new permit is issued.
✓ What You CAN Do
- • Continue working for the same employer under the same conditions as your expiring permit
- • Remain in Canada legally
- • Continue to accumulate work experience for PR purposes
✗ What You CANNOT Do
- • Change employers (unless permitted by your permit type)
- • Leave and re-enter Canada (you would not be re-admitted under implied status)
- • Work for a different employer if your permit is employer-specific
Important: If you leave Canada while in implied status, you lose implied status and cannot re-enter Canada until your new work permit is approved and you hold the actual document. Do not travel outside Canada if your permit has expired and your extension is pending.
How to Apply to Extend Your Work Permit
Work permit extensions are processed online through IRCC's secure portal in most cases. Paper applications are available for those who cannot apply online, but online is strongly preferred and generally faster.
- 1Confirm your permit type and employer: Determine whether your work permit is employer-specific (closed) or open. Extensions for employer-specific permits typically require a new LMIA or LMIA-exempt justification from your employer.
- 2Gather supporting documents: Typically includes a copy of your current work permit, employment letter or contract, recent pay stubs, LMIA (if applicable), and identity documents. Use our Document Checklist for your permit category.
- 3Complete and submit the application online: Log into your IRCC secure account and submit the extension application. In-Canada extensions use form IMM 5710 (Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Worker), and IRCC publishes companion instructions in Guide 5553. Ensure all information is accurate, because errors can cause delays or a refusal.
- 4Pay the application fee: The work permit fee is $155 CAD per person. If you are applying for an open work permit, add the $100 open work permit holder fee, for $255 total. Biometrics ($85 per person, to a $170 family maximum) may also apply. Verify the current fees on the IRCC website before you pay, as fees can change.
- 5Await a decision: IRCC will process your application and either approve (issuing a new work permit) or refuse. If approved, you may receive a Port of Entry Letter of Introduction to collect your permit when you next cross the border, or it may be mailed.
Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP)
If you have applied for permanent residence through a federal economic immigration program (Express Entry, PNP, etc.) and your work permit is expiring while your PR application is in process, you may be eligible for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP).
A BOWP is an open work permit, meaning you can work for any employer in Canada, that bridges the gap between your expiring employer-specific work permit and the anticipated approval of your permanent residence application.
BOWP Eligibility Requirements
- ✓ You currently hold a valid employer-specific work permit
- ✓ You have an active permanent residence application in a qualifying program (Express Entry, most PNPs, Atlantic Immigration Program, etc.)
- ✓ Your PR application has passed the eligibility screening stage (you have received an AOR: Acknowledgment of Receipt)
- ✓ Your current work permit expires within the next 4 months (or has already expired if you are in implied status)
Because a BOWP is an open work permit, the fee is the $155 work permit fee plus the $100 open work permit holder fee, for $255 CAD total. A BOWP is generally valid for a set period and bridges you toward a decision on your PR application, check IRCC for the current validity terms. Note that if your provincial nomination ties you to a specific employer, you are generally not eligible for a BOWP; confirm your program and nomination conditions with IRCC or a licensed representative.
What Happens If Your Employer Changes?
If your work permit is employer-specific (closed) and you change employers, you generally cannot simply transfer your permit, you need a new work permit for the new employer before you start working for them.
LMIA-Required Jobs
Your new employer must obtain a new Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) before you can work for them. You cannot start working until you have a work permit in the new employer's name.
LMIA-Exempt Jobs (CUSMA, ICT, etc.)
If the new position qualifies for an LMIA exemption, your new employer submits the appropriate compliance fee and employer-specific information through IRCC's employer portal, and you apply for a new work permit. Again, you must have the new permit before starting work.
Open Work Permit Holders
If you hold an open work permit (including a BOWP), you may change employers freely without a new work permit application, as long as your open work permit remains valid.
What Happens If Your Work Permit Expires Without an Extension?
If your work permit expires and you did not apply to extend before the expiry date, you lose your status and your right to work in Canada immediately. Your options become significantly more limited:
Restoration of Status
You may apply to restore your status as a worker within 90 days of losing it, under IRPR s.182. As of June 2026, IRCC lists "restore your status as a worker" at $401.25 CAD total, which is the $246.25 restoration fee plus the $155 work permit fee (an open work permit would add the $100 holder fee). Verify these amounts on the IRCC fee list before paying, as fees change. Crucially, you cannot legally work during the restoration period, you have lost your work authorization, and maintained status does not apply once a permit has expired without a timely extension. Restoration is not guaranteed: an officer may refuse if you worked without authorization or there are other compliance concerns.
After 90 Days: Leave Required
If more than 90 days have passed since your permit expired, you are no longer eligible for in-Canada restoration. You would need to leave Canada and apply for a new work permit from abroad, or through a port of entry if you qualify. Remaining in Canada without status beyond this point is a violation that can affect future immigration applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a work permit extension cost in Canada?+
As of June 2026, the work permit fee is $155 CAD per person. If you are applying for an open work permit (including a Bridging Open Work Permit), add the $100 open work permit holder fee, for $255 total. Biometrics, if required, are $85 per person ($170 family maximum). If you missed the deadline and need to restore your status as a worker, IRCC lists that at $401.25 ($246.25 restoration fee plus the $155 work permit fee). Always verify current fees on the IRCC website before applying.
Can I extend my work permit if my current employer is the same?+
Yes, if you are staying with the same employer and the same type of work, and your employer still has a valid LMIA (or qualifies for an LMIA exemption), you can apply to extend your employer-specific work permit. Your employer may need to re-submit compliance information through the employer portal.
Can I travel outside Canada while my work permit extension is pending?+
You should not leave Canada while in implied status (after your permit has expired but your extension is pending). Leaving Canada ends your implied status, and you cannot re-enter until your new permit is issued. If your current permit is still valid and your extension is just submitted, you may be able to travel, but confirm with an immigration consultant first.
How long does a work permit extension take to process?+
Processing times vary by program and IRCC workload. Check the IRCC website for current processing time estimates specific to your work permit category. This is why applying 4+ months early is strongly recommended.
What is the difference between a work permit renewal and a new work permit?+
In practice, extending a work permit from inside Canada is processed as a new application, you are applying for a new work permit on form IMM 5710. The difference is that in-Canada extensions can give you maintained (implied) status if IRCC receives your application before your current permit expires, whereas a new work permit obtained outside Canada does not involve maintained status.
How early should I apply to extend my work permit?+
IRCC recommends applying at least 30 days before your current work permit expires. Many applicants apply earlier, because processing times vary by stream and IRCC workload, and applying ahead gives you a buffer if extra documents are requested. The hard rule is that IRCC must receive your complete application before your permit expires (for online applications, before midnight UTC on the expiry date) for you to keep maintained status. Check the current processing-time estimate for your permit type on the IRCC website before deciding when to file.
Do I need a new LMIA to extend an employer-specific work permit?+
Generally, if your work permit is employer-specific (closed) and based on a Labour Market Impact Assessment, your employer typically needs a valid LMIA to support the extension, and an expired LMIA may need to be renewed by the employer through ESDC. The standard employer LMIA fee is $1,000 per position, paid by the employer (it cannot lawfully be passed to the worker), though some LMIAs are fee-exempt. If the position is LMIA-exempt under the International Mobility Program (for example certain CUSMA or intra-company categories), your employer instead submits an offer of employment and the $230 employer compliance fee through the Employer Portal. Confirm what applies to your situation, since ESDC and an IRCC officer make these determinations.
Can I keep working if my permit expired but I applied on time?+
Generally yes. If IRCC received your complete extension application before your permit expired, you are on maintained status and may continue working under the same conditions as your expiring permit until a decision is made, even after the printed expiry date passes. This only covers continued work for the same employer under the same conditions; you generally cannot change to an employer-specific job for a new employer, and you should not leave Canada, because departing typically ends maintained status. If you were late and the permit lapsed before IRCC received your application, you are not on maintained status and must stop working.
Important: Immigration rules, fees, and processing times change. Always verify current information on the IRCC website before submitting any application. This guide is educational and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed immigration consultant or lawyer for your circumstances.
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This page is based on law and policy published by the Government of Canada.