Extending your stay & maintained status

Whether you are a student, temporary worker, or other temporary resident in Canada, your permit has an expiry date. Extending your stay before that date expires is essential to remain in Canada legally. This guide explains the three key steps: applying to extend before expiry, how maintained status protects you while your application is being processed, and what to do if you miss the deadline.

Apply Before Your Permit Expires

The most important rule is simple: submit your extension application before your current permit expires. Do not wait until the last day. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recommends applying at least 30 days before expiry, and many institutions and experts recommend starting 3 to 6 months in advance. This gives you a safety margin in case you need to provide additional documents or clarify information.

Your permit expiry date appears on your immigration document itself. For study permits, the date is usually the length of your program plus an additional 90 days, which gives you time to prepare to leave or apply for an extension. You must apply from within Canada—you cannot extend a work or study permit from outside the country.

Basic Timeline for Applying

1. Start gathering documents 3 to 6 months before expiry
2. Submit your online application at least 30 days before expiry
3. IRCC receives your application (for online submissions, the deadline is midnight Coordinated Universal Time, or UTC, on your expiry date)
4. Wait for processing while on maintained status

What You Will Need

Requirements vary by permit type, but typically include a valid passport that does not expire before your new permit would expire, proof of enrollment or job offer, biometrics (fingerprints and photos) if you have not submitted them in the past 10 years, and proof of financial support. Some provinces require additional documents such as a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL). Check the official IRCC website or your institution's international student or immigration office for the exact checklist for your situation.

Fees

Study permit extension: CAD $150. Work permit extension: CAD $155. Biometrics collection fee (if required): CAD $85. These fees must be paid when you submit your application. Fees are non-refundable even if your application is refused. Always check the official IRCC fee list before paying, as fees are subject to change.

Maintained Status: You Can Keep Working or Studying While You Wait

One of the most important protections in Canadian immigration law is maintained status, formerly called implied status. If you apply to extend your permit before it expires, you do not have to stop working or studying immediately when your permit expires. Instead, you can legally continue your activities under the same conditions as your previous permit while IRCC processes your application.

Maintained status is automatic—you do not need to request it or fill out a special form. As soon as IRCC receives your extension application before your current permit expires, you gain maintained status. This status continues until IRCC makes a final decision on your application (approval or refusal), or until you leave Canada.

Key Rules About Maintained Status

• You must apply before your permit expires, not after. Even one day late disqualifies you.
• You must stay in Canada. If you leave Canada, you immediately lose the right to work or study, even if your application is still pending.
• You must follow all conditions on your expired permit. If you have an employer-specific work permit, you must continue working for that employer only. If you are a student, you must remain enrolled and studying.
• Processing times can be long. As of late 2025, study permit extensions average about 171 days; work permits may take 227 days or longer.
• You cannot renew documents issued by your province or territory, such as a driver's license or health card, while on maintained status. You also cannot apply for or renew a Social Insurance Number (SIN) card until your new permit is approved.

What Happens If Your Application Is Approved

Once IRCC approves your extension, you will receive notification through your online IRCC account. A new permit will be mailed to your Canadian address. There may be a gap in the dates between your old permit's expiry and the new permit's issue date, but your new permit will note that you maintained your status during that period. This gap is not a problem for your immigration record.

If You Miss the Deadline: Restoration of Status

If your permit expires before you submit an extension application, you lose your temporary resident status and your authorization to work or study. However, Canadian law provides a grace period: you have up to 90 days from the date your permit expires to apply for restoration of status. This must be done from within Canada.

Unlike maintained status, restoration of status does not allow you to keep working or studying while your application is being processed. You must stop work and study immediately when your permit expires. Continuing to work or study without authorization after your permit has expired makes you ineligible for restoration. If you need to remain in Canada, you will apply for restoration and wait in an out-of-status state until a decision is made.

Who Qualifies for Restoration

You may be eligible to restore your status if you are physically in Canada, you apply within 90 days of your permit expiry, you continued to meet the requirements of your previous permit right up to the expiry date, and you have not violated any conditions of your permit. For students, this means you were enrolled and attending classes. For workers, this means you were complying with the terms of your work permit (employer, location, hours). Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) holders do not qualify for restoration.

The 90-Day Deadline

The 90-day clock starts on the day your permit expires, not the day you receive a decision from IRCC or not when you realize your status has lapsed. This deadline is absolute and does not extend. For online applications, you must submit before midnight UTC on day 90. For paper applications, IRCC has a limited grace period: if their mail-receiving stamp falls within seven days after day 90, your application may still be considered timely, but you should not rely on this. Mail your paper application at least eight days before the 90 days expire.

Fees and Documents for Restoration

A restoration application requires the standard extension fee for your permit type (CAD $150 for study, CAD $155 for work) plus an additional restoration fee. For students, a restoration fee of approximately CAD $246 applies; for workers, approximately CAD $401. You will also pay any biometrics fee if required. You must include a letter explaining why you did not apply before your permit expired and why you are applying now. You will need proof of your previous status, evidence of continued enrollment or employment, and proof of financial support.

Restrictions While Restoration Is Pending

• You cannot work or study. Doing so will result in refusal and may have long-term immigration consequences.
• You must remain in Canada. If you leave Canada while your restoration application is pending, your application is considered abandoned and you will lose your ability to restore status from within Canada.
• You cannot renew provincial or territorial documents such as a driver's license.
• If your application is approved, you will receive a new permit and status is restored. If it is refused, you must leave Canada.

After Restoration Is Approved

If your restoration application is approved, IRCC will restore your status and issue a new permit. You will then be able to resume work or study under the conditions of your new permit. However, unlike a gap covered by maintained status, a restoration period creates a gap in your immigration history that must be disclosed accurately on any future applications for permanent residence or citizenship. This may affect your immigration timeline and eligibility.

Special Considerations

Students: Program Completion and 90-Day Grace Period

Your study permit expires on the earliest of two dates: the date shown on your permit, or 90 days after you complete your program. Your school will notify you in writing when you have finished. If your permit expires before you complete your program, you must apply for an extension. If you plan to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) after finishing your studies, you must apply for it within 90 days of completing your program, and your study permit should be valid long enough to cover this window. Plan ahead.

Your Passport

Your new permit cannot be issued beyond the expiry date of your passport. If your passport will expire soon, renew it before applying for a permit extension. Check the expiry date and plan accordingly.

Your Social Insurance Number (SIN)

Your SIN is issued by Service Canada and may expire based on the expiry of your work or study permit. If your SIN expires while you are on maintained status, you cannot renew it until your new permit is approved. Once you receive your new permit, you can apply to renew or request a new SIN. Give your employer proof that you have applied and provide the new expiry date within 3 days of receiving it.

Provincial Health Coverage

Provincial health cards (such as Ontario's OHIP, British Columbia's MSP, or Quebec's RAMQ) are usually tied to your permit status and address. If you move provinces or your permit expires, you may not be able to renew your health card while on maintained status. Contact your provincial health ministry or your institution's international student office for guidance on what coverage remains valid during the permit extension process.

Checklist: Before Your Permit Expires

1. Check your permit expiry date and mark it in your calendar
2. Verify your passport will not expire before your new permit would expire
3. Gather all required documents (enrollment letter, job offer, proof of funds, etc.)
4. Complete the official IRCC application form for your permit type online (study: IMM 5709; work: IMM 5710)
5. Pay all fees (permit extension, biometrics if applicable)
6. Submit your application at least 30 days before expiry, ideally 3–6 months in advance
7. Save your confirmation of receipt from IRCC and keep it with you
8. After approval, update your SIN and provincial health card if necessary
9. Do not travel outside Canada while your application is processing