Work Permit Expiring in Canada? 7 Options to Stay Legally in 2026

If your work permit expiring soon, what you do in the next few weeks matters more than almost anything else. The right move depends on one thing: have you applied for something new before your permit’s expiry date?

This guide explains what you can do, what you can’t, and how each option works if you’re on a work permit visa for Canada. (Strictly, a work permit and a visa are different documents. The permit says whether you can work, and the visa lets you enter the country.)

The short answer

• If you apply to extend or change your permit before it expires, you can usually keep working under the same conditions while IRCC decides. This is called maintained status.
• If your permit has already expired, you generally have 90 days to apply for restoration. You can’t work while that application is processed.
• A PGWP usually can’t be extended, so you need a different route. Most of the options below are for that situation.

Which situation are you in?

Can I keep working if I apply for an extension?

Yes, if you apply on time. According to IRCC, if you applied to extend or change your work permit before it expired, you have maintained status and can keep working until your application is finalized, under the same conditions as your original permit. If your permit is tied to one employer, you must stay with that employer.

Timing is strict. IRCC must receive your application before your permit expires, and for online applications the cut-off is midnight UTC on the expiry day. Since UTC may be a different date from where you are, don’t wait for the last day.

How early should you apply? IRCC says to apply at least 30 calendar days before expiry. Many advisers, such as this 2026 guide, suggest roughly 90 to 120 days, because processing can take months. Check IRCC’s processing-time tool before you decide.

Things to know while on maintained status

• If you leave Canada while your renewal is pending, your maintained status and right to work end. Avoid international travel until the new permit arrives.
• You can’t apply for or renew a SIN card while on maintained status, though you can keep working.
• Maintained status ends when IRCC decides. If the extension is refused, you must stop working immediately.

7 Options to Stay in Canada Legally

1. Extend your current work permit

This suits employer-specific permits where the job, employer and eligibility haven’t changed. IRCC’s fee starts from CAD $155. For an employer-specific permit, your employer must have a valid LMIA or LMIA-exempt offer in place.

2. Apply for PR and get a bridging open work permit (BOWP)

If you’ve applied for permanent residence, a BOWP lets you keep working while you wait. According to consultancy guides, the usual requirements are:

• You must be in Canada, hold status on a work permit expiring within four months, and have applied for PR under the Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades, Canadian Experience Class or a Provincial Nominee Program.
• You need the Acknowledgment of Receipt (AOR) for your PR application.
• The permit is usually open, issued for up to 24 months or until your passport expires, whichever is shorter.

A BOWP only keeps you working. It doesn’t affect whether your PR is approved. Confirm the current rules on IRCC’s BOWP page before applying.

3. Get a new work permit through a new or existing employer

If an employer can support you, you have two routes:

• LMIA-based permit: the employer proves no suitable Canadian worker was found.
• LMIA-exempt permit: available under specific categories, such as international agreements.

Don’t start a new job until the new permit is issued. Working without authorization can lead to fines, removal and re-entry bans.

4. Get a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) nomination

A provincial nomination can strengthen your PR case. In Express Entry, a PNP adds a flat 600 points to your profile. Provinces have their own streams and rules, so check each one.

5. Apply for a study permit

Going back to school can keep you in Canada legally. You need an acceptance letter from a designated learning institution and proof of funds, and financial requirements have changed recently, so check IRCC’s current amounts. A study permit doesn’t give you the same work freedom as a PGWP.

6. Apply through a spouse, partner or family route

If you have a Canadian citizen or PR spouse or partner, sponsorship may be possible. Eligibility for open work permits for spouses of workers and students has tightened in recent years, so confirm the current criteria on IRCC’s site before relying on this.

7. Stay as a visitor or leave and reapply

If none of the above fit yet, you can apply to stay as a visitor. This lets you remain in Canada legally, but you can’t work under visitor status. Apply before your permit expires. Otherwise, leave Canada and apply for a new permit from abroad.

PGWP expiring in 2 months and no PR yet?

IRCC issues one PGWP per person per lifetime, with no general hardship exception. The main exception is that you can extend if your passport expired before the end of the full PGWP validity you were eligible for. IRCC’s PGWP page notes that language proof isn’t needed in that case. Look at your permit letter for a note about this.

With two months left, work through this order:

1. Applied for PR through Express Entry or a PNP? Get your AOR and apply for a BOWP.
2. Have a job offer? Ask your employer about an LMIA or LMIA-exempt permit now. Employer steps take time.
3. Neither ready? Consider a study permit or visitor status while you build your case.

Don’t rely on a pending PR application alone. Delays on a PR application are not grounds for extending a PGWP.

Is a CRS score of 470 good enough for PR in 2026?

It depends on which draw you’re aiming for. Recent results (Sept 2026), per this draw tracker and this September report:

• The Canadian Experience Class draw on September 15 had a cut-off of 519.
• The Healthcare draw on September 4 had a cut-off of 475. The Senior Managers draw on September 16 had a cut-off of 389, and the French-language draw on August 19 had a cut-off of 382.

So 470 is below recent Canadian Experience Class and Healthcare cut-offs. It could be competitive in French-language or Senior Managers draws, but only if you meet those categories’ requirements. Cut-offs change with every round, so treat these as snapshots. If you’re below the general range, ways to add points include a stronger language score, a provincial nomination or, for some, French-language ability.

What if my permit already expired? The 90-day restoration period

Restoration lets you apply to regain temporary status after it lapses. According to IRCC’s restoration page:

• Normally, you aren’t allowed to work until your status is restored and a new work permit is issued.
• You pay a restoration fee plus the permit fee. Check IRCC’s fee list for current amounts, because published figures differ.
• There’s no guarantee of approval, and if refused you must leave Canada.
• The 90 days count from the day your status ended. Don’t wait.

Restoration is not the same as maintained status, and the difference is being allowed to work. Maintained status lets you work. Restoration doesn’t.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying on the last day. Time zones and incomplete applications can cost you maintained status.
• Assuming a pending application lets you work. It only does if you applied before your permit expired.
• Travelling while maintaining status. This can end your right to work.
• Starting a new job before the new permit is issued.
• Working while a restoration application is pending. This can make you ineligible for restoration.

Practical next steps

1. Find your exact expiry date and count back 90–120 days.
2. Decide which of the 7 options fits your job, PR status and finances.
3. Gather documents and check IRCC’s current fees and processing times.
4. Apply before your permit expires and keep proof of submission.
5. Get advice from a licensed immigration professional if your case is complicated.

Not sure which option fits your situation? A small mistake with your work permit can cost you your right to work in Canada. Talk to Onshore Immigration’s licensed team for a review of your permit, your PR options and your timeline. Book a consultation