What to Do If Your Work Permit Has Expired – Step-by-Step Guide (2025)

What to Do If Your Work Permit Has Expired – Step-by-Step Guide (2025)

If your expired work permit is causing you stress or confusion, you’re not alone. Thousands of workers in Canada face the same challenge every year, wondering how to stay legally employed, extend their permits, or restore their status.

Whether you’re a temporary foreign worker, international graduate, or open work permit holder, understanding what happens when your work permit expires is essential to maintaining your legal status and avoiding complications with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

At Task Immigration, we specialize in helping foreign workers navigate these exact situations—ensuring that even after an expired work permit, you know what steps to take to continue working or remain legally in Canada.

This complete guide explains everything you need to know about expired work permits, including causes, consequences, renewal options, IRCC regulations, and restoration processes.

What Is an Expired Work Permit?

An expired work permit means that the legal authorization allowing you to work in Canada has ended. Every foreign national working in Canada must have a valid work permit, and once it expires, your legal right to work is suspended.

When your work permit expires, you:

• Can no longer work legally in Canada.

• Risk losing your temporary resident status.

• May need to apply for restoration or leave Canada.

At Task Immigration, we help clients determine their next steps immediately after their permit expires—whether that means applying for a new one, restoring status, or switching to another immigration stream.

Understanding Work Permits in Canada

Before we discuss what happens after an expired work permit, it’s important to understand the different types of work permits:

1. Employer-Specific Work Permit

This permit is tied to a specific employer, job, and location. It’s often issued under the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) process.

2. Open Work Permit

This type allows you to work for almost any employer in Canada, except those listed as ineligible. Examples include Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWP) or spousal open work permits.

When your work permit expires, the next steps depend heavily on which type of permit you hold. Task Immigration evaluates your unique case to recommend the best renewal or restoration strategy.

Why Work Permits Expire

Work permits don’t last forever. Typically, they are valid for one to three years, depending on the employment type and program. Common reasons for expired work permits include:

• Forgetting to renew before the expiry date.

• Short contract durations.

• Expiry of passport before permit.

• Employer changes or job transitions.

• Misunderstanding of IRCC timelines.

Even one day past your expiry date can put you in non-compliance with Canadian immigration law, so it’s essential to act fast.

What Happens When Your Work Permit Expires?

When your work permit expires, you immediately lose your right to work in Canada. However, you don’t always lose your entire legal status right away—there are specific pathways and time frames for restoration.

Here’s what typically happens:

1. You can’t continue working — unless you applied for a renewal before expiry (implied status).

2. Your temporary resident status (visitor, worker, or student) may also expire.

3. You have 90 days to apply for restoration of status.

4. If you miss the 90-day window, you must leave Canada or apply from outside.

At Task Immigration, we often see workers panic when their permits expire—but with the right legal guidance and timing, restoring your work status is absolutely possible.

Implied Status After Expiry

If you applied to extend your work permit before it expired, you might have what’s known as implied status.

Implied status allows you to continue working legally under the same conditions until IRCC makes a decision on your application.

Example

If your work permit expired on June 1, but you applied for an extension on May 28, you can keep working until IRCC issues a decision.

However, if your permit expired before you applied for renewal, you lose your right to work.

That’s why Task Immigration always recommends submitting your application at least 30 days before expiration to maintain your legal standing.

Restoration of Status After Work Permit Expiry

If your work permit has already expired and you didn’t apply for renewal in time, you may still be eligible to restore your status within 90 days from the date of expiry.

To restore your status:

1. You must stop working immediately.

2. Submit a restoration of status application to IRCC.

3. Pay the restoration fee and work permit renewal fee.

4. Wait for IRCC approval before resuming work.

If 90 days have already passed, you’ll need to leave Canada and reapply from outside the country.

At Task Immigration, we handle hundreds of restoration cases every year—preparing complete documentation and explaining every step to ensure your status is restored as quickly as possible.

Documents Required to Restore an Expired Work Permit

When restoring your work permit, ensure you have all necessary documents ready. Incomplete submissions can lead to delays or rejections.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Copy of expired work permit

• Passport (must be valid for the duration of new permit)

• Employer documents (job offer, LMIA, etc.)

• Restoration application form (IMM 5708 or 5710)

• Letter of explanation (why the permit expired and steps taken)

• Fee receipts (restoration + work permit fees)

Task Immigration professionals can help you prepare your letter of explanation, ensuring it aligns with IRCC expectations and increases your approval chances.

What to Do If Your Work Permit Has Expired

If you discover your work permit has expired, don’t panic—but don’t delay either. Here’s what you should do immediately:

Step 1: Stop Working

Continuing to work without authorization is illegal. Stop all employment activities until your status is restored.

Step 2: Check Your Expiry Date

Confirm the exact expiry date on your work permit. You have 90 days from that date to apply for restoration.

Step 3: Gather Documents

Collect your job offer, LMIA (if applicable), passport, and all previous permits.

Step 4: Contact Task Immigration

Reach out to Task Immigration for professional assistance. Our consultants specialize in fast, compliant restoration submissions.

Step 5: Submit the Restoration Application

Complete the online application and pay the required fees.

Step 6: Wait for IRCC Decision

Once submitted, wait for your restoration decision before working again.

Working Without a Valid Permit

Working after your work permit has expired without authorization is considered unauthorized employment.

Consequences may include:

• A ban from future work permits.

• Deportation orders.

• Loss of eligibility for permanent residency.

Task Immigration strongly advises against unauthorized work and provides immediate solutions to restore or extend your legal status.

How to Extend a Work Permit Before It Expires

Avoiding an expired work permit is always better than dealing with one. The extension process is straightforward if done in time.

Extension Steps:

1. Apply 30–90 days before expiry.

2. Update passport if expiring soon.

3. Include proof of employment and compliance with conditions.

4. Pay the correct fee and submit online.

Task Immigration helps workers extend permits effortlessly by preparing accurate, compliant applications well before the expiry date.

Employer’s Role in Work Permit Renewal

Your employer also plays a role in avoiding an expired work permit, especially if your job requires an LMIA.

Employers may need to:

• Obtain or renew an LMIA.

• Submit a new job offer through the IRCC Employer Portal.

• Pay the employer compliance fee.

Our experts at Task Immigration work directly with employers to streamline this process and prevent unnecessary work interruptions.

Common Mistakes That Lead to Expired Work Permits

Many foreign workers lose status due to preventable mistakes.

The Most Common Ones:

• Forgetting the expiry date.

• Misreading the “valid until” section.

• Ignoring email notices from IRCC.

• Applying late or submitting incomplete documents.

• Not updating passport or job details.

To avoid these, Task Immigration maintains renewal reminders and documentation checklists for our clients.

Consequences of an Expired Work Permit

An expired work permit can have serious consequences, such as:

• Inability to work legally.

• Loss of temporary resident status.

• Impact on permanent residency applications.

• Difficulty re-entering Canada.

• Potential removal order.

That’s why working with Task Immigration is crucial—we monitor your case, ensuring you never miss a renewal deadline again.

Can You Travel with an Expired Work Permit?

If your work permit is expired, you cannot re-enter Canada to work. Even if you have a valid visa or Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), your authorization to work will be invalid.

However, if you applied for an extension before expiry, you may still return under implied status if you meet entry requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What should I do if my work permit expired yesterday?

Stop working immediately and contact Task Immigration to file a restoration of status application within 90 days.

2. Can I keep working while my renewal is in process?

Yes, only if you applied for renewal before your work permit expired (implied status).

3. Can I apply for a new work permit after expiry?

Yes, through restoration, provided you do so within 90 days.

4. What happens after 90 days?

You lose eligibility for restoration and must leave Canada.

5. How long does restoration take?

Typically 3–5 months, depending on IRCC workload.

6. Can my employer still keep me if my permit expired?

No. Employers must suspend work until you regain authorization.

7. Does my SIN number expire too?

Yes, it becomes invalid once your work authorization ends.

8. Can I apply for permanent residency with an expired work permit?

It depends on your status and program. Task Immigration can evaluate eligibility.

9. Can I get an open work permit after expiry?

Possibly, if you qualify for specific programs like spousal or bridging open permits.

10. Can I stay in Canada after my work permit expires?

Yes, but only if you apply for restoration within 90 days or have another valid status.

Pros & Cons of Handling an Expired Work Permit