What to Do If Your Canadian Work Permit Has Expired

If your Canadian work permit has expired and you are still in the country, you may have more options than you realize — but a strict 90-day window applies. As of May 1, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) updated its rules to allow workers and students who have lost temporary resident status to restore that status as a visitor, without having to leave Canada first. This is a meaningful change, and for many people, it removes what used to be a costly and stressful barrier.

This post explains exactly what the new rules mean, who they apply to, and the steps you should take right now if you are in this situation.

What Changed in May 2026

Before May 1, 2026, if your work permit expired and you did not renew it in time, your restoration options were limited. You could apply to restore your status as a worker, but only if you still had a qualifying job offer. If you did not, the general expectation was that you would need to leave Canada and apply to re-enter as a visitor from abroad.

IRCC updated its officer instructions on May 1, 2026, to change this. Workers and students who have lost status can now apply to restore their temporary resident status as a visitor — even if they do not have a job offer or are no longer enrolled in school. This keeps you legally in Canada while you sort out your next steps, whether that means finding a new employer, applying for a different permit, or exploring other immigration options.

The original restoration options (restoring as a worker or student) still exist if you qualify. The visitor restoration pathway is an additional option, not a replacement.

Who This Applies To

This change applies to temporary residents in Canada whose worker or student status has lapsed. Common situations where this comes up include:

• Your work permit expired and you did not apply to renew it in time
• Your employer closed, changed your role, or stopped sponsoring your permit
• You stopped attending your study program before your permit expired
• You remained in Canada after your permit expired while waiting on another application
• You were unaware your permit had expired or that you were required to maintain status

If any of these situations sound familiar, the 90-day window is critical.

The 90-Day Rule: Why Timing Matters

To apply for restoration of status, you must submit your application within 90 days of losing your status. This means 90 days from the date your work or study permit expired — not from when you realized it had expired.

If you are unsure exactly when your permit expired, check your original permit document or your IRCC online account. Once you know that date, count 90 days forward. If you are still within that window, you can act. If the 90 days have already passed, restoration is no longer available and your options change significantly — which is why speaking with a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) as soon as possible is important.

Step-by-Step: How to Apply for Visitor Status Restoration

Step 1: Confirm your status loss date. Check your permit expiry date. This is the date your 90-day window began. Your permit document and IRCC online account are the most reliable sources.

Step 2: Stay in Canada. Do not leave Canada before your restoration application is decided. If you leave, your restoration application becomes void and re-entering will be subject to normal visitor visa and admissibility requirements, which can be much more complicated.

Step 3: Gather your documents. To restore as a visitor, you need to show that you meet the requirements for a temporary resident visitor. This typically means demonstrating that you have ties to your home country (such as family, property, or employment), that you intend to leave Canada before your authorized stay expires, and that you have sufficient funds to support yourself.

Step 4: Apply for restoration and a visitor record together. You must apply for restoration of status and a visitor record simultaneously. Both applications are submitted online through your IRCC secure account. The application fee for restoration is CAD $229, and the visitor record fee is CAD $100, for a total of CAD $329.

Step 5: Consider applying for another permit at the same time. If you already have a pathway to a different permit — for example, a new job offer that qualifies for a work permit, or acceptance at a new school — you may be able to apply for that permit at the same time as your restoration application. This is something an RCIC can assess for your specific situation.

Step 6: Do not work or study while you wait. Submitting a restoration application does not give you authorization to work or study while the application is pending. If you work without authorization, it can affect your current application and future immigration applications.

What Happens After You Apply

Restoration of status is discretionary. An immigration officer will review your application and may approve or refuse it based on your individual circumstances. There is no guaranteed outcome, which is why the strength of your application matters.

If your restoration as a visitor is approved, you will be given a visitor record with an authorized stay period. This gives you legal status in Canada while you continue pursuing your next immigration pathway — whether that is a new work permit, a provincial nominee application, or something else.

If your application is refused, you will typically be required to leave Canada.

A Note for Applicants

Before May 2026, the requirement to leave Canada and re-enter as a visitor was a significant burden for nationals. Re-entering Canada as a visitor requires a valid visitor visa (TRV), and applications from outside Canada can take weeks. There is also no guarantee of approval, and a prior status violation on your record can affect admissibility.

The new rules eliminate that step for people who are still within the 90-day window. You do not have to travel home and apply from there. You can apply from within Canada — which is a much more manageable process, especially when you are already dealing with the stress of a permit expiry.

Next Steps

If your work permit or study permit has expired and you are still in Canada, the most important thing you can do right now is check your expiry date and assess whether you are within the 90-day restoration window.

The restoration process is discretionary and the strength of your application — including how you present your ties to your home country and your intentions in Canada — can make a real difference. Working with a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant gives you the best chance of a successful outcome and helps you identify any concurrent pathways that may be available to you.

Book your free assessment to discuss your options.