Can I continue working in Canada after my work permit expires?

Editorial Review: August 2026. Immigration rules change frequently and vary by profile. Use this guide to understand the process, but always confirm forms, deadlines, and eligibility on the official Canada and Quebec portals before submitting an application.

The rule in 2026: what is “maintained status”

Read this before anything else. This is the kind of subject where making a mistake costs you your right to work in Canada. The information below was reviewed in August 2026, but always confirm on the IRCC website before taking action.

The short answer is: yes, you can, as long as you applied for the renewal BEFORE it expired. This is what is called maintained status (formerly known as implied status), provided for in section R186(u) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.

How it works in practice:

• If you submitted the renewal application from inside Canada and before the expiration date of your current permit, you remain authorized to work under the same conditions (same employer, same position, same location, if it is a closed permit) until the IRCC makes a decision.
• If you submitted it after the expiration, you cannot work. Period.
• If you leave Canada while the application is pending, you may lose the authorization to continue working upon return, even if you can still wait for the decision in the country. Before traveling, check the rules applicable to your document and your means of transportation.

If you applied for the extension online, the WP-EXT letter (except PGWP) can serve as temporary proof for the employer. The date printed on the letter does not supersede the legal rule: if the application remains without a decision, the IRCC advises also presenting the official page about working during processing. Keep the submission confirmation and the payment receipt.

What if I missed the deadline? There is still a way out: you can apply for restoration of status within 90 days of the expiration, paying the restoration fee of $229 CAD plus the work permit fee. But note, you cannot work until your status is restored.

Read also: “How to contact IRCC directly regarding delays or new information on my application?”

Who can continue working in Canada after their Work Permit expires?

Getting straight to the point, only temporary workers who applied for an extension or change of work permit before their original permit concluded are eligible to continue working after their first permit ends.

Read also: “What changes for you with permanent residence in Canada”

Note! The rules regarding work permit holders applying for a study permit or visitor record differ slightly, but I’ll talk more about that later.

Important notice! I am not an immigration consultant, nor can I act as one. All information disclosed in this post can be obtained from the official government website, the IRCC. You can also clear up any doubts about the site in our FAQ.

Why can some temporary workers continue working with an expired permit?

The Canadian government understands that workers who submitted an application to extend or change a work permit (within the validity of their current permit) have the right to maintain their status until the new application is finalized.

Temporary workers in this situation can legally continue employment in this country, but to do so, the temporary worker must:

• Remain in Canada (Be in an ongoing application process for Canadian Permanent Residence)
• Work under the exact same conditions as the original work permit (open or closed permit, but with caveats)

How do the rules differ depending on your situation (Status)?

Work permit extension applicants must continue to work under the same conditions listed on their current work permit if they have an employer-specific (closed) permit.

Those who applied for a new work permit must continue to work for the employer named on their original permit until a decision is made on their latest application. Once a decision is final, the temporary worker can begin working under the conditions of the new permit, if approved.

I was fired from the company and my Work Permit was closed, can I continue working in Canada?

If you lost your job while your closed work permit was still valid and you don’t meet any of the aforementioned conditions, you can no longer legally work in Canada. In this case, the only alternative would be to get a new Job Offer, but for that, your new employer must be willing to start an LMIA process.

Canadian immigration (IRCC) has made some moves and flexibilizations to speed up the process for immigrants in this situation, but I don’t have details on it.

If you have an open work permit (OWP), things are a bit easier, as the temporary worker is free to change employers and jobs.

I’m changing my work permit to a study permit, can I continue working in Canada?

Students holding a work permit who are applying for a study permit or visitor record can only work until their original permit expires. At this point, these applicants must legally stop working, and those who applied for a study permit also cannot study until a final decision is made on their application.

Proving to your employer that you remain eligible to work in Canada

Applicants for a work permit extension, as well as those applying for a new work permit, may need to prove to their employer that they are authorized to continue working in Canada, even after the expiration of the first permit.

In both cases, the proof that a work permit holder can provide depends on whether they applied for the extension or change of the permit online or on paper.

Proof for Applicants who applied Online

Applicants for an online work permit extension or change can show their employer the following documents as proof of their ongoing eligibility to work in Canada:

• Work permit extension letter (WP-EXT, except PGWP) received by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC); this should be shown to an employer alongside their current work permit
• In the event an applicant does not receive a final decision on their work permit extension or change by the expiration date on their WP-EXT letter, they can prove they are still eligible to work by showing their employer this webpage or by contacting the IRCC

I know it’s unlikely that someone applied on paper, but you never know, right?

Proof for Applicants who applied on Paper

Applicants for a paper-based work permit extension or change can show their employer the following documents as proof of their ongoing eligibility to work in Canada:

• A copy of their work permit extension or change application
• Proof that they paid their fees for the work permit extension/change application
• A copy of the postal or courier tracking information for their application

Note: Paper applicants do not receive a WP-EXT letter because IRCC needs to ensure their application is complete and that the applicant meets the requirements to work in Canada.

Canada needs you more than you think

I know it must be very distressing to be going through this situation, so I think it’s important to leave a few words of comfort for those experiencing this right now.

Much is said about how the Canadian immigration process can be cruel, complicated in many cases, a real nightmare, but what is not written between the lines is that immigrants who have already gone through the worst part of the process—which consists of studying, working, living in the cold, and learning the language and culture, and above all, investing time and a lot of money—are the last people the Canadian government wants to kick out of the country.

Thus, even if you are facing a difficulty like the possibility of missing a deadline or even losing your current job, remember that you are on the preferential list of candidates to legally remain in Canada.

You may not be aware of this, but be sure that the government knows who you are, even though they ask for the same documents and dozens of the same pieces of information every time you apply for a permit or permanent residence. They know that making things difficult for you can be a shot in the foot, because as mentioned, you have already shown them that you want to stay.

To prove to you that I’m not talking nonsense here, spend a little more time and read these three topics listed below:

Canada’s population just surpassed 40 million and set a new record

Canada’s immigration boom may be ending, permanent resident applications plummet (This is one text among many that have already been circulating discreetly in the Canadian media, and you will soon understand why)

Why are immigrants leaving Canada? (This was a question I answered on Quora that already has nearly 100 thousand views and dozens of interactions)

Final thoughts

If you like Canada and want to stay, take a deep breath, think positive, and calm down, because your project just needs a few adjustments. Rest assured that Canadian immigration is on your side and will help you in this endeavor, because as I showed earlier, you are on the preferential list.

Well, that’s what I had to say today. Subscribe to the newsletter to receive weekly updates on how to prepare for this near-madness we affectionately call immigration.

See you in the next post! 😉