Canada Work Permit Extension: A Complete Guide

Understanding the Work Permit Extension Process

Is your Canadian work permit expiring soon? It’s a date every temporary resident watches closely. The good news is that applying for a work permit extension is a standard procedure that you can complete successfully.

This guide provides a simple roadmap to navigate the process, walking you through everything from checking your eligibility to gathering the right documents. Our goal is to replace uncertainty with a clear, actionable plan to continue your Canadian journey.

First, Can You Extend? A Simple 3-Point Eligibility Check

Before gathering documents, you must confirm you are eligible to apply for a work permit extension from inside Canada. Take a moment to confirm these three essential points:

• You are currently in Canada with valid status (meaning your current work, study, or visitor permit has not expired).

• Your passport is valid and won’t expire soon.

• You have a reason to extend your stay, such as a continuing job offer.

The first point is the most critical rule: you must apply before your current status expires. Just as importantly, a new work permit cannot be issued for a period longer than your passport’s validity. If your passport expires in 12 months, the longest work permit you can receive is for 12 months, even if your job offer is for two years. If you can check off all three points, you’re in a great position to move forward.

The Golden Window: When to Apply for Your Work Permit Extension

Timing your application is key to a stress-free process. The ideal window to submit your work permit extension application is between 30 and 90 days before your current permit expires. Applying within this timeframe shows you are organized and gives immigration officers plenty of time to review your file.

The one non-negotiable deadline is submitting your extension application before your current work permit expires. Applying even one day late means you have lost your legal status as a worker and must stop working immediately.

Applying early accounts for work permit extension processing time, which is the period Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) takes to decide on your application. These times can vary from weeks to months. Checking the official IRCC website for current processing times will give you a clearer picture and help you plan. As long as you apply on time, you are protected by a provision known as 'implied status', which allows you to legally keep working.

What is 'Implied Status'? Your Right to Keep Working Explained- Canada Work Permit Extension

Implied status acts as a legal bridge connecting your old work permit to your new one. This special status allows you to legally continue working in Canada under the exact same conditions of your previous permit while you wait for a decision on your extension application.

This protection, sometimes called maintained status, is only granted if you submit your extension application before your current work permit expires. This is the single most important rule to follow. For example, if you have a closed work permit tied to ABC Corp, you must keep working for ABC Corp and cannot start a new job until your new permit is approved.

A final word of caution on travel: if you leave Canada, you lose your implied status. Upon return, you may be admitted as a visitor but cannot work until your new permit is approved, so it is safest to postpone any trips.

Your Essential Document Checklist: What to Gather Before You Apply

Preparing your files before you start the online application is the best way to ensure a smooth process. The heart of your application is the form IMM 5710, titled 'Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Worker.'

Your employer must also provide a critical piece of information. Depending on your job, you will need either a new Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) approval letter or an Offer of Employment number, which your employer gets from the IRCC Employer Portal for LMIA-exempt positions.

IRCC requires digital copies of every single page of your passport that has a stamp or visa, not just the biodata page.

How to Apply Online: A 5-Step Walkthrough of the IRCC Portal

All applications to extend your stay from within Canada must be done through an official IRCC Secure Account. If you already have an account, you can log in; otherwise, you will need to register using either a GCKey or a Sign-In Partner.

Once logged in, you will start an Online Eligibility Questionnaire. This smart tool uses your answers to build the correct application package for you. Your answers will generate a personalized document checklist inside your account.

After the questionnaire generates your checklist, you will upload each of your prepared documents and fill out the required online forms. The final step before submitting is to pay the required fees. The portal will calculate the total cost to renew your work permit in Canada, which may include a separate fee for biometrics if new ones are needed.

Open vs. Closed Permits: Extending Your Specific Permit Type

Extending a closed, or employer-specific, work permit means proving you still have a valid job offer. Your employer must either get a new LMIA or provide you with an 'Offer of Employment' number from IRCC's Employer Portal. This number connects your extension request to your specific job.

To extend an open work permit inside Canada, the requirements depend on your original eligibility. For example, if you hold a permit as the spouse of a skilled worker, you'll need to provide proof of your spouse's continued status. Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs) are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and typically cannot be extended.

A special category is the Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP), which lets you keep working while you wait for a decision on your permanent residence (PR) application. To qualify for a BOWP, you must have submitted a qualifying PR application and received an Acknowledgment of Receipt (AOR) letter from IRCC. This letter is the key document you will need to upload.

What if It Goes Wrong? Common Refusal Reasons and Your Options

A work permit extension refusal is often due to an avoidable error, like a missing document. This is why confirming eligibility and using a checklist are so crucial.

If your permit expires before you apply, you lose legal status. You have a 90-day window to apply for Restoration of Status. You must stop working immediately and cannot resume until your status is restored and a new work permit is approved. To apply, you must submit a new work permit application, pay both the application and restoration fees, and include a letter explaining why you fell out of status.

The most serious reason for refusal is misrepresentation—providing false information—which can result in a five-year ban from entering Canada. The best prevention is total honesty and double-checking that all information on your forms perfectly matches your supporting documents.

You've Applied! Here's Your Action Plan While You Wait

Once you've submitted your application, you can link it to your IRCC secure account to check your work permit status directly. While on implied status, it is best to avoid travel outside of Canada, as re-entry is not guaranteed. Think of this quiet period as the final stretch.

When your new work permit arrives, check it for any errors and share a copy with your employer. This document is the key that officially extends your Canadian chapter. You’ve transformed a complex process into a manageable and successful part of your journey.