How to Extend My Work Permit Without New Documents
Foreign workers in Canada who are racing the clock on an expiring work permit may have more breathing room than they think. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) can accept a work permit extension application even if you are still waiting for key employer documents like a new Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) and, in Quebec, a Certificat d’acceptation du Québec (CAQ).
Why these documents matter
An LMIA is the federal assessment that helps show a Canadian employer can hire a temporary foreign worker without negatively affecting the labour market. It is submitted to Employment and Social Development Canada under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
A CAQ is Quebec’s approval document for certain foreign workers and students. In many Quebec cases, employers need both the LMIA and the CAQ before a worker can receive a renewed permit.
The key deadline IRCC is watching
IRCC’s flexibility applies when your work permit expires within two weeks of the date you apply for the extension. In that situation, you may submit the extension request without the final LMIA or CAQ in hand, but you must still prove two things:
- You have a valid job offer.
- Your employer has already requested the LMIA, and the CAQ as well if you will work in Quebec.
What to upload if your LMIA or CAQ is not ready
IRCC expects evidence that the process is underway. Applicants can strengthen a file by uploading proof such as:
- Copies of the LMIA and CAQ application submissions
- Online confirmation numbers or receipts for those submissions
- Clear notes in the application form, especially in the section on intended work, stating when and where the LMIA or CAQ was submitted, the employer’s name, and any tracking or confirmation details
For Quebec extensions filed online, IRCC normally asks for the CAQ upload. If it has not arrived yet, applicants can generally upload the CAQ application or payment receipt and confirmation number instead.
The follow-up requirement many people miss
This is not a free pass to wait indefinitely. After IRCC receives the extension application, you typically have two months to provide proof of the new LMIA and CAQ, if they apply to your case. If you miss that window, the extension application can be refused.
Analysis: what this means for workers planning their status
This policy is best understood as a bridge, not a workaround. It protects workers from falling out of status because of processing delays that are outside their control. But it also shifts pressure onto the applicant to document everything carefully and respond quickly once the LMIA or CAQ arrives.
For workers, the practical takeaway is simple: apply on time, attach proof that the employer has filed, and track your two-month follow-up clock closely. In tight timelines, small documentation gaps can become the difference between maintaining status and facing a refusal.
Waiting on Your Immigration Application?
GCMS (Global Case Management System) is the system used by IRCC to track and process all immigration and visa files. GCMS notes include detailed updates, officer comments, and reasons for decisions.
If you’re unsure about your application status, apply GCMS notes to see what’s happening behind the scenes. It’s the most reliable way to understand your file.
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