What to do if your work permit expired

If you apply to extend or change the conditions of your work permit before it expires, you can legally stay in Canada until a decision is made on your application.

If you applied to extend your work permit

• maintained your status
• authorization to work without a permit until we make a decision on your application

You can keep working under the same conditions of your current work permit. If you have an employer-specific work permit, this means having the same

Open work permit holders can still change employers and jobs.

Renewing provincial or territorial documents

While you’re on maintained status, you won’t be able to renew documents issued by your province or territory, such as your

• driver’s licence
• health card

Make sure your documents are valid before your work permit expires.

Applying for or updating the expiry of your social insurance card

While on maintained status (while your work permit is expired), you can’t apply for a social insurance number (SIN) card or update the expiry date of your current SIN. You can, however, keep working under the same conditions as those on your initial work permit.

Find out what you need and how to apply for or renew your SIN card.

Proof you can continue to work

You can show employers or others proof that you can keep working while we process your application. The type of proof depends on how you applied:

If you applied for another work permit

If you applied to change either your employer, your job or your work location, and then your current permit expires, you have

• maintained your status
• authorization to work without a permit until we make a decision
  • However, you must keep working for the employer named on your original work permit until we make a decision on your application.

  You can’t start working under the conditions of your new work permit until we process your application.

  Renewing provincial or territorial documents

  While you’re on maintained status, you won’t be able to renew documents issued by your province or territory, such as your

  • driver’s licence
  • health card

  Make sure your documents are valid before your work permit expires.

  Applying for or updating the expiry of your social insurance card

  While on maintained status (while your work permit is expired), you can’t apply for a social insurance number (SIN) card or update the expiry date of your current SIN. You can, however, keep working under the same conditions as those on your initial work permit.

  Find out what you need and how to apply for or renew your SIN card.

  Proof you can continue to work

  You can show employers or others proof that you can keep working while we process your application. The type of proof depends on how you applied:

  If you applied for a study permit or visitor record

  You can keep working until your work permit expires if you applied

  • for a study permit
  • to extend your stay in Canada as a visitor (visitor record)

  If your work permit expires, you must stop working.

  If you applied for a study permit, you can’t study until we make a decision on your application.

  If your permit expires before you apply

  You must stop working if you’re still in Canada and either

  • your permit expired before you applied
    • for a new work permit
    • for a study permit
    • to stay in Canada as a visitor, or