Canada Work Permit Expired? Next Steps and Everything You Need to Know
Canada’s work permit rules can feel unforgiving when an expiry date is approaching, but the outcome often comes down to one factor: whether you applied before your permit ran out.
The key concept: “Maintained status” can protect you
If you submit an application to extend your work permit or change its conditions before your current permit expires, you can usually remain in Canada while Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reviews your file. This is known as maintained status.
For many workers, this is the difference between staying employed and being forced into an abrupt pause.
What you can do while waiting depends on your permit type
If you are on an employer-specific work permit, maintained status typically lets you keep working, but only under the same terms as your current permit. That means the same employer, job, and location.
If you hold an open work permit, you generally have more flexibility and can change employers or roles while your application is processed.
Changing jobs can be risky if you applied for a new employer-specific permit
Many foreign workers assume that once they apply for a new permit to switch employers, they can start the new job right away. In most cases, that is not allowed.
Even with maintained status, you are expected to keep working under the conditions of your original permit until IRCC approves the new one. Starting the new job early can put your status and future immigration plans at risk.
Expect practical headaches: SIN and provincial documents may not renew
A common surprise for applicants is that administrative systems do not always “recognize” maintained status the way immigration law does.
During maintained status, Service Canada generally will not issue a new Social Insurance Number (SIN) or extend the expiry date on an existing SIN. Provincial documents can also become complicated. Health cards and driver’s licences may not be renewable until a new permit is approved, even if you are legally allowed to stay and work.
For immigrants building a long-term life in Canada, this gap can affect everything from accessing services to maintaining uninterrupted employment records.
Employers may ask for proof, so keep your paperwork ready
If your permit expires while you are waiting, your employer may still need evidence that you are allowed to keep working.
Applicants who file online should keep the IRCC submission confirmation available. Paper applicants may need proof such as courier tracking or delivery confirmation showing when IRCC received the application.
Switching to a study permit or visitor record changes everything
If you applied to move from worker status to a study permit or a visitor record, your ability to work ends once your work permit expires. In other words, you cannot keep working simply because an application is in process.
This is a critical planning point for anyone transitioning pathways, especially those trying to bridge time between programs or maintain income while awaiting a decision.
If your permit expires before you apply, work must stop
The strictest scenario is also the most avoidable. If your work permit expires before you submit a new application, you must stop working immediately. At that point, staying in Canada and returning to work requires applying to restore your status, and you can only resume work after IRCC approves the restoration.
What this means for would-be immigrants
For many people pursuing permanent residence, a clean status history matters. Applying early is not just a best practice, it is risk management. Maintained status can keep your Canadian work experience intact, but only if you follow the conditions tied to your current permit and understand the limitations around job changes and document renewals.
The safest strategy is simple: apply before expiry, keep proof of submission, and do not make employment changes until you are sure you are authorized to do so.
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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