If you are working in Canada and want to keep working, you must apply to extend your work permit before it expires. Applying on time may allow you to keep working under maintained status while IRCC processes the extension.
If your work permit is expiring, you may need to extend it, change employers, continue under the same employer, or move to a different permit category. The correct step depends on your current permit, job offer, LMIA or exemption, and timing.
This service is for workers and employers who want to avoid gaps, missed deadlines, or inconsistent documents when extending work authorization.
If you are working in Canada and want to keep working, you must apply to extend your work permit before it expires. Applying on time may allow you to keep working under maintained status while IRCC processes the extension.
Work permit extensions require careful review of current conditions, employer support, LMIA or exemption details, passport validity, and expiry dates. RA Migration helps workers and employers understand what must be prepared before the permit expires.
We help organize job offer documents, employer records, status documents, forms, and supporting explanations. If a change of employer or permit category is involved, we help identify the correct process before filing.
If your work permit is expiring, RA Migration can help you prepare a clear extension strategy and reduce avoidable status issues.
Yes, in many situations. If you’re already in Canada with valid status as a visitor, student, or worker, you can often apply for a new work permit, change employers, or switch permit types from within Canada. The rules depend on your current status, what program you’re applying under, and whether your application falls under the International Mobility Program (IMP) or the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP, which involves an LMIA).
Common in‑Canada pathways include: PGWP for recent graduates, Spouse Open Work Permit if your spouse has eligible status, extensions when you already have a work permit, Bridging Open Work Permits for those with PR applications in process, and changes of employer for workers with existing permits. Timing matters. Always apply before your current status expires.
Don’t wait. Apply before your status expires. If you want to stay longer as a visitor, apply for a Visitor Record extension at least 30 days before your current status runs out. If you want to switch to a work or study permit from within Canada, certain programs allow that but not all, and the rules here change often.
Overstaying without taking action can lead to removal orders and future inadmissibility. This is one area where timing really matters. Call us the moment you know there’s an issue, not the week before your status ends.
Yes, if you act quickly. You have 90 days from the date your status expired to apply for Restoration of Status. During that 90‑day window, you can ask IRCC to restore you as a visitor, student, or worker, whichever status you held before, provided you still meet the original eligibility requirements.
Key things to know: you cannot work or study during the restoration period; you must pay a restoration fee in addition to the regular application fee; and IRCC’s decision is discretionary. They can refuse even if you’re technically within the 90 days. Miss the 90‑day window entirely, and restoration is no longer available. If you’re staring down the expiration date, the single most important thing is to file something before the clock runs out. Don’t wait until day 89.
Yes, this is shaping almost every part of the system. The federal government has committed to bringing the temporary resident population below 5% of the total population by the end of 2027, down from historically high levels. To get there, IRCC has been tightening: study permit caps, reduced PGWP eligibility, narrower SOWP eligibility, lower immigration levels overall, and more scrutiny on extensions.
Practically, this means: don’t assume extensions will be automatic, don’t assume the rules that were in effect when you arrived still apply, and don’t leave status gaps or miss filing deadlines. If your current status is tied to a pathway that’s being reduced (for example, a college PGWP), it’s worth talking to an RCIC about a medium‑term strategy now rather than reacting when a restriction hits.
A work permit generally falls into one of two buckets. LMIA‑based permits require the Canadian employer to get a Labour Market Impact Assessment, a document from Service Canada that says hiring a foreign worker won’t negatively affect the Canadian labour market. That process takes time, costs the employer $1,000, and involves advertising the job locally first.
LMIA‑exempt permits skip that step because they fall under one of many exemptions: intra‑company transferees, CUSMA/CPTPP professionals, spouses of skilled workers or students, post‑graduation work permits, International Experience Canada (working holiday), and so on. These are faster and don’t require employer advertising.
