Help Center

My work permit expired and I did not apply to extend it. Can I stay and keep working in Canada?

You can apply to restore your work permit in the first 90 days after it expires. If you do this, you can stay in Canada until you get further instructions, but you must stop working until you receive your restored work permit. There is no guarantee that your application will be approved.

Otherwise, you must leave Canada right away when your work permit expires. If you do not leave, you could be deported and will need permission from an immigration officer to come back.

To restore your work permit:

• send an Application to Change Conditions or Extend Your Stay in Canada as a Worker to the Case Processing Centre in Vegreville, Alberta,
• on the form, say you are asking for your status to be restored and your work permit extended, and explain why you stayed in Canada longer than allowed, and
• pay C$200 to for your status to be restored and C$150 for the work permit itself (for a total of C$350).

Answers others found useful

• Can my spouse or common-law partner work in Canada?
• How can I find out about jobs in Canada?
• Are there any conditions on my work permit?
• Can I study in Canada while I am a live-in caregiver?
• As a live-in caregiver, can I return to my home country for a vacation?
• Can I change employers under the Live-in Caregiver Program?
• How are employment contracts enforced?
• How do I hire a temporary foreign worker?
• Can I fire an incompetent foreign employee?
• What if a foreign worker becomes sick, has an accident, is hospitalized or needs home recovery?
• I am a Canadian citizen and my spouse is not. Can my spouse work in Canada?