Extend Your Status In Canada
Work Permit, Study Permit & Visitor Record Extensions and Restoration of Status
What Does It Mean To Extend Your Status In Canada?
If you are already in Canada as a worker, student, or visitor, you may be able to extend your status before it expires by applying for a new work permit, study permit, or visitor record from inside the country. This allows you to continue your activities in Canada without having to leave and re-apply from abroad.
If your authorized status has already expired, you may still be eligible to apply for restoration of status within 90 days of the expiry date, provided you meet the eligibility requirements and have not violated any conditions of your stay.
At Immisa Immigration, we help clients determine the right extension or restoration pathway, prepare a complete application, and file before critical deadlines to help maintain implied status while a decision is pending.
Types of Status Extension Applications
Extending Before Your Status Expires
Workers, students, and visitors who apply to extend their status before their current permit or record expires generally benefit from implied status, allowing them to continue their activities under the same conditions while the extension application is being processed.
This applies to work permit extensions, study permit extensions, and visitor record extensions, each with its own eligibility criteria and supporting documentation requirements.
Restoring Your Status After It Has Expired
If your status has already expired, Canadian immigration law allows a 90-day restoration window during which you may apply to restore your status as a worker, student, or visitor, provided you meet the applicable conditions.
Restoration applications must be filed together with a new permit application, and applicants generally cannot work or study while the restoration request is pending unless otherwise authorized.
Missing the 90-day window can require leaving Canada and re-applying from abroad, which is why timely filing is critical.
Who Can Apply To Extend Their Status
Workers
Individuals holding a valid or recently expired work permit who wish to continue working in Canada.
Students
Study permit holders who need additional time to complete their program or continue their studies.
Visitors
Visitors who wish to remain in Canada longer than originally authorized and need to extend their visitor record.
Step-by-Step Status Extension Process
Assess Eligibility & Timing
We review your current status, expiry date, and eligibility for either an extension or a restoration application.
Gather Supporting Documents
We help compile the evidence needed to support your continued work, study, or visitor status in Canada.
Submit the Application
The extension or restoration application is filed online with IRCC before the applicable deadline.
Maintain Status While You Wait
If eligible, you may continue your activities under implied status while the application is processed.
Receive a Decision
Once processed, you will receive a decision on your new permit or record, or on your restoration request.
WHY CHOOSE IMMISA For Status Extensions
Deadline-Focused Filing
We track your expiry dates closely to ensure extension or restoration applications are filed on time.
Restoration Eligibility Review
We assess whether you qualify for restoration and identify any conditions that could affect your application.
Complete Document Preparation
We help prepare thorough, well-organized applications to reduce the risk of delays or refusals.
Clear Communication With IRCC
We monitor your application status and respond promptly to any requests for additional information.
Our Approach to Status Extension Applications
Status & Deadline Review
Every case begins with a detailed review of your current status, conditions, and applicable deadlines.
Strategic Application Planning
We determine whether an extension or restoration application is appropriate and plan the filing accordingly.
Ongoing Case Monitoring
We track your application through to a final decision and advise on next steps at every stage.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long before my permit expires should I apply for an extension?
You should apply as early as possible, ideally 30 to 90 days before your current work permit, study permit, or visitor record expires, to allow processing time and to benefit from implied status.
What is implied status?
Implied status allows you to continue working, studying, or staying in Canada under the same conditions as your expired permit while your extension application is being processed, provided you applied before your status expired.
What happens if my status has already expired?
You may be eligible to apply for restoration of status within 90 days of your expiry date, along with a new permit application, provided you meet the eligibility requirements.
Can I work or study while my restoration application is being processed?
Generally, you cannot work or study while a restoration application is pending unless you have separately obtained authorization to do so.
What happens if I miss the 90-day restoration window?
If you miss the 90-day window, you generally cannot restore your status from within Canada and may need to leave the country and reapply from abroad.
Can I extend a visitor record if I entered Canada as a visitor?
Yes, visitors can apply to extend their visitor record before their authorized stay expires in order to remain in Canada longer.
Do I need a new job offer or LMIA to extend a work permit?
Depending on your work permit type, you may need a new or continuing job offer, and in some cases a valid LMIA, to support your extension application.
How can Immisa Immigration help with my extension or restoration application?
We assess your eligibility, help you gather the correct supporting documents, and prepare and file your extension or restoration application accurately and on time.
Ready To Take that First Step ?
If your work permit, study permit, or visitor record is expiring soon, or has already expired, the most important step is to act quickly. Contact Immisa Immigration to discuss your options for extending or restoring your status in Canada.