Your Work or Study Permit Is Expiring in Canada: What Are Your Options in 2026?
If your Canadian work permit or study permit is approaching its expiry date, waiting until the last minute can significantly limit your options.
This is becoming increasingly important in 2026. Canada has been reducing the number of temporary residents in the country, including international students and temporary foreign workers. Recent immigration data cited in national reporting showed approximately 632,000 study permit holders and 1.5 million temporary work permit holders in Canada as of June 30, while the federal government continues working toward reducing temporary residents to less than 5% of Canada's population by the end of 2027.
For people already living, working or studying in Canada, however, the most important question is much more personal:
What can you do if your permit is about to expire and you want to remain in Canada?
The answer depends on your current immigration status, whether you have already submitted another application, your eligibility for permanent residence, and how much time you have remaining.
1. Check Exactly When Your Status Expires
Start by checking the expiry date on your immigration document.
For workers, the expiry date on your work permit will generally tell you when you must stop working. If your permit expires before you submit an application to extend or change your status, you can lose your temporary resident status in Canada.
Students should pay particular attention to their program completion date. If you complete your studies earlier than expected, your study permit generally expires on the earlier of:
the expiry date printed on your study permit; or
90 days after you complete your studies.
That means the date printed on your permit may not always be the date your student status ends. If you are unsure about your current status or whether you can extend your authorization, an immigration lawyer can review your work permit options before the deadline arrives.
2. Can You Extend Your Work Permit?
Some workers may qualify to extend their work permit or obtain a different type of work permit.
The available options depend on the type of permit you currently hold, your employer, whether a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is required, whether an LMIA exemption applies, and whether you have another immigration application underway.
If you submit an eligible work permit extension application before your existing permit expires, you may have maintained status while Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) processes the application.
In some situations, this also allows you to continue working under the conditions of your existing work permit while waiting for a decision, provided you remain in Canada.
However, maintained status should not be confused with an automatic work permit extension. Whether you can continue working depends on the type of application you submitted.
3. What If Your Study Permit Is Expiring?
If you need more time to complete your studies, you may be able to apply to extend your study permit.
IRCC recommends applying before your current status expires. If you apply in time, you can generally remain legally in Canada while IRCC processes the extension application.
Students nearing graduation should also start considering what happens after their studies. Depending on your circumstances, your next step could include:
a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), if eligible;
another type of work permit;
permanent residence;
a change to another temporary status; or
leaving Canada and applying through another appropriate immigration pathway.
If you are completing your studies, learn more about Canadian study permits and post-graduation immigration planning.
If you already hold a PGWP that is approaching expiry, we have also explained the specific options in our guide: PGWP Expiring in Canada? Immigration Options to Consider in 2026.
4. Could Permanent Residence Be Your Next Step?
For some temporary residents, the better question is not simply how to extend temporary status — it is whether they may now qualify for permanent residence.
Potential pathways may include:
Express Entry;
the Canadian Experience Class;
a Provincial Nominee Program;
family or spousal sponsorship; or
another economic immigration program.
If you have already submitted a qualifying permanent residence application, you may also be eligible for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP).
For example, certain Express Entry applicants can qualify for a BOWP after submitting a complete permanent residence application, passing IRCC's completeness check and receiving an acknowledgement of receipt. Simply creating an Express Entry profile does not make someone eligible for a bridging open work permit.
You can learn more about Express Entry and Canadian permanent residence options.
5. What If Your Permit Has Already Expired?
An expired permit requires immediate attention.
If your work permit expires before you submit an extension or another qualifying application, you generally must stop working.
Similarly, if you lose your student status, you generally cannot continue studying until your status has been restored and a new study permit has been issued.
In many cases, a person who has lost temporary resident status may apply for restoration within 90 days of losing their status, provided they meet the applicable requirements.
Restoration is not automatic, and submitting a restoration application generally does not authorize a former worker to continue working while the application is being processed.
| Your Situation | Potential Next Step | Important Consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Work permit is expiring | Work permit extension or another permit | Apply before expiry if eligible |
| Study permit is expiring | Study permit extension or transition to another status | Check both your permit date and program completion date |
| Permanent residence application submitted | Potential Bridging Open Work Permit | Not every permanent residence applicant qualifies |
| Status expired less than 90 days ago | Potential restoration of status | You may need to stop working or studying while waiting |
| No conventional pathway appears available | Review permanent residence and other legal options | Individual circumstances matter significantly |
6. Could Humanitarian and Compassionate Grounds Apply?
For some people, the situation is more complicated.
You may have lived in Canada for years, established yourself here, developed close family and community ties, or have children whose interests would be significantly affected if you had to leave Canada — yet you may not qualify for a conventional permanent residence program.
Depending on the circumstances, it may be appropriate to consider whether an application for permanent residence based on Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) grounds is available.
H&C applications are highly fact-specific. IRCC can consider factors such as establishment in Canada, family circumstances, hardship and the best interests of children.
However, an H&C application is not simply another way to extend a work or study permit, and submitting one does not automatically give you temporary status or prevent removal from Canada.
Learn more about Humanitarian and Compassionate applications in Canada.
7. What If an Extension or Immigration Application Was Refused?
Sometimes a person's status problem begins with a refusal.
Depending on what was refused and the circumstances of the decision, potential legal options could include asking IRCC to reconsider a decision or seeking judicial review at the Federal Court.
Strict deadlines can apply to immigration litigation, so it is important to obtain advice quickly after receiving a refusal.
Learn more about immigration appeals and legal review options in Canada.
Don't Wait Until Your Permit Expires
One of the most important things a temporary resident can do is review their options before their current status expires.
There may be considerably more flexibility while you still have valid temporary status than after you lose it.
If your work permit or study permit is expiring and you are unsure what comes next, Ayodele Law can review your immigration history, current status and potential pathways and help you develop a strategy for remaining in Canada legally.
Book an immigration consultation with Ayodele Law to discuss your circumstances and the options that may be available.
This article provides general information about Canadian immigration law and is not legal advice. Immigration rules and policies change frequently, and the options available depend on each person's circumstances.