Work Permit Extensions and Maintained Status
If your work permit is about to expire, a timely extension application can let you keep working while IRCC decides. What maintained status is and its limits.
What maintained status is
If you apply to extend a work permit before it expires, you may be able to continue working under the same conditions while the application is processed. This is sometimes called maintained or implied status.
It is a safeguard against gaps in authorisation that would otherwise occur because processing takes time. It is not a new permit and it does not extend the permit’s terms; it keeps your existing conditions in place pending a decision.
Conditions that matter
- You must apply before the permit expires.
- You must keep to the conditions of your existing permit.
- IRCC says online applicants generally get a work permit extension letter that proves they can keep working under the same conditions, and advises applying at least 30 days before expiry.
- While on maintained status you cannot renew documents issued by your province or territory, such as a driver’s licence or health card.
- If the application is refused, IRCC treats it as losing status: you must stop working, and you may be able to apply to restore your status as a worker.
- If you leave Canada while on maintained status, IRCC says you may be allowed back as a visitor if your extension has not yet been decided, in which case you cannot work until it is approved; as a worker if the extension was approved while you were away; or you may be asked to apply for a new work permit at the port of entry. The officer may ask you to show you have enough money to support yourself.
Common mistakes
Waiting too long, applying with a missing employer document, or assuming the status automatically allows a change of employer. A change of conditions can need a new permit.
Another mistake is relying on maintained status as a long-term plan. If the application is refused, you may have to stop working immediately, so an employer should know the risk.
Planning ahead
- Note your permit expiry date and set reminders months before
- Collect employer documents early, including updated offers or contracts
- If an LMIA is required for the extension, allow time for it
- Have a contingency in case the application takes longer than expected
Frequently asked questions
- Can I travel while I am on maintained status? IRCC says you may be allowed back into Canada as a visitor if your extension has not yet been decided, and then you cannot work until you receive the extension. You may be allowed back as a worker if the officer finds your permit was extended while you were away, or you may be asked to apply for a new work permit at the port of entry. The officer may ask you to prove you have enough money to support yourself in Canada.
- Is maintained status the same as a valid work permit? No. It is a temporary authorisation that depends on a pending application made in time, and it ends if the application is refused.
- What if my employer changes? A change of employer or conditions can require a new permit rather than an extension, so do not assume maintained status covers a new job.
An illustrative example
A hypothetical worker realises two months before expiry that her permit is ending. She asks her employer for the documents needed for an extension and submits the application with several weeks to spare. Because she applied before expiry, she can continue working under maintained status while the application is processed.
A colleague in the same situation delays and submits the day after his permit expires. He is no longer in the same position and must stop working until the matter is resolved. Setting a reminder months ahead and acting promptly separates the two outcomes.
Questions to bring to your assessment
- When exactly does my permit expire, and what documents do I need to extend it?
- Will an LMIA or other employer step be needed?
- What happens if the extension is refused?
- Can I travel while the application is pending?
- Is there a better option than extending, such as a different permit?
Next step
Applying on time protects your right to keep working, so do not leave it to the last week. If your permit is close to expiring, book a free assessment now. Maintained status has conditions that Mahyar will confirm for your case.
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