What to Do If Your Canada Work Permit Expired | All you need to Know

December 31, 2024

Ishita Soni

What to Do If Your Work Permit Expired

If you’re in Canada and your work permit has expired, there are steps you can take depending on your situation.

If Your Permit Expires After You Apply

If you’ve applied to extend or change the conditions of your work permit before it expires, you’re in luck! You can stay legally in Canada until they make a decision on your application.

• What Does This Mean for You? You can continue working without a new permit as long as your application is in the system.
• What You Can Keep Doing: If you have an employer-specific permit, you can keep working for the same employer, doing the same job at the same location.
• For Open Work Permits: You have the freedom to change jobs or employers.

If You Applied to Extend Your Work Permit

Even if your work permit expires after you’ve applied for an extension, you still have the right to stay.

• Maintained Status: You won’t lose your ability to work until a decision is made on your application.
• Work Under the Same Conditions: You can continue working under the same terms as your original permit, such as the same employer, job, and work location.

However, be aware that you can’t renew other documents (like your driver’s license or health card) until your status is updated. So, always check the expiry dates of your provincial documents.

Applying for or Updating Your Social Insurance Number (SIN)

While your work permit is expired but you’re still in maintained status, you can’t apply for a new SIN or update the expiry of your current one. But don’t worry—you can continue working under the same conditions as your original permit.

So, keep your SIN info in mind and plan to update it once your status is finalized.

Proof You Can Keep Working

If you’re applying online or on paper, you’ll need to show proof that you can keep working while waiting for a decision. The type of proof will depend on your application method, so be prepared to show this to your employer.

If You Applied for Another Work Permit

If you’ve applied to change your employer, job, or work location, and your permit expires, you still have maintained status and can continue working. However, there’s a catch:

• You must keep working for your original employer until a decision is made. You cannot start under the conditions of the new work permit until it’s approved.
• As with previous points, you cannot renew provincial or territorial documents or update your SIN card while in maintained status.

What Happens If You Apply for a Study Permit or Visitor Record?

If you applied for a study permit or visitor record while your work permit is expired, you must stop working once your permit expires.

• For Study Permits: You cannot work or study until the decision is made on your application.
• For Visitor Record: You must stop working as well until your status is updated.

If Your Permit Expired Before You Applied

If your work permit expired before you had a chance to apply for a new permit, you must stop working immediately. This also applies if you applied for a study permit or visitor record.

• What Happens Next? You can’t continue working or stay in Canada until your new application is processed and approved.

What Matters Most

• Apply early to avoid gaps in status.
• If your work permit expires after applying, you can stay and keep working.
• Always check your provincial documents and SIN status to ensure they are up-to-date.
• If your work permit expires before applying, you must stop working immediately.

Get in touch with SPS Global

Receive professional advice on any of your questions regarding Canadian immigration. get in touch with us, experienced immigration consultants from SPS Canada. For additional information, contact support@spscanada.com (Canada) or support.amd@spscanada.com (Ahmedabad), or by phone at (1) 905-362-9393 (Canada) or +919586226232 (Ahmedabad).

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