Canada Work Permit Extension 2025: Rules, Eligibility & Application

Foreign workers across Canada are facing a pivotal calendar moment in 2025: if their temporary work authorization is approaching its end date, they must apply to extend it or risk losing the right to work and, in many cases, the right to remain in the country.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) continues to accept online applications for a Canada Work Permit Extension, and workers who submit a complete request before their current permit expires can usually keep working under the same conditions while a decision is pending. With fees set at CAD 155 plus biometrics if required, and deadlines that can affect a family’s livelihood, the extension process is both urgent and consequential for tens of thousands of households and employers relying on stable staffing.

Key timing and urgency

• IRCC advises filing at least 30 days before expiry. Early filing protects continuity of work and reduces the risk of an income gap.
• On-time submissions are the single most effective way to protect work authorization while IRCC reviews the file.
• Renewals and extensions have been streamlined, but timing is still everything—especially during high-volume periods.

Submit a complete application before your permit expires to generally continue working under the same conditions while IRCC decides.

2025 policy highlights

• The extension process is primarily online.
• Applicants must meet clear eligibility criteria to qualify.
• Those who apply before their permit ends may continue working during processing (commonly referred to as implied status or continued authorization to work).
• Some visitors already in Canada can apply for work permits without leaving the country in limited situations.
• Pathways for open work permits are refined—tied to spouses, certain students, and select in-demand roles.
• Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) holders generally cannot extend a PGWP, except where the original was shortened due to a passport expiry; in such cases, an extension may be possible to cover lost time.

Types of permits and why the distinction matters

• Employer-specific permits
  • Tie a worker to a named employer, location, and job title.
  • Changes often require new employer steps, sometimes including a new Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
• LMIA-exempt roles
  • May require a new employer offer and the employer’s compliance fee (offer of employment number).
• Open work permits
  • Allow work for most employers without an LMIA, but 2025 rules limit new qualifiers.
• The permit type shapes eligibility, required documents, and the risk of refusal if items are missing.

Core requirements for an extension (headline items)

Workers must demonstrate:

• Valid status at the time of filing. If status has lapsed, restoration may be required.
• Compliance with current permit conditions, including employer, location, and occupation if employer-specific.
• A valid passport for the full period requested (permits will only be issued up to the passport expiry date).
• Admissibility under medical and criminal screening rules.

None of these elements can be ignored—officers use each as part of the eligibility assessment.

Document preparation and common evidence

Applicants should gather:

• Valid passport
• Current work permit
• Job offer letter or contract
• LMIA decision letter or employer’s offer of employment number if LMIA-exempt
• Proof of legal status in Canada (entry stamp or online document history)
• Be prepared for possible biometrics or medicals

Extra care is needed if job duties or location changed during the current permit—misalignment between application details and employer confirmation can cause delays or refusals.

How to file (online process)

1. Create or sign in to your IRCC account.
2. Complete the extension form and upload documents.
3. Pay the CAD 155 processing fee (plus biometrics fee if requested).
4. Submit before the current permit expires to keep working under the same conditions while IRCC processes the case.
5. If biometrics are required, IRCC will send instructions; typically you have 30 days to attend an appointment.

Processing times vary—several weeks to a few months depending on volume and complexity. Officers may request additional documents during the review.

Important operational updates

• Certain visitors in Canada can now transition to work permits without leaving—this reduces churn for people who previously had to travel for status changes.
• This pathway is limited and does not remove the need to meet normal work permit conditions.
• For official guidance see: Extend a work permit (IRCC) and the application package: IMM 5710 – Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Worker.

Implied status (continued authorization to work)

• If a complete extension request is submitted before expiry, the worker can usually keep working under implied status until a decision.
• This protects families and employers—especially in health care, construction, food processing, hospitality, and tech services.
• Filing late ends that protection.

Employer responsibilities and alignment

• Employers must ensure their support aligns with the extension:
  • If a new LMIA is required, the employer must secure it before the worker files.
  • For LMIA-exempt roles, the employer may need to submit a new offer and pay the compliance fee.
• Missing employer steps commonly lead to delays and can cause the worker to fall out of status if the permit expires first.
• HR teams often track permit milestones and plan ahead to avoid disruptions.

PGWP holders: special considerations

• PGWP extensions are generally not available to extend work authorization to pursue permanent residence.
• Eligibility to extend is mostly limited to cases where the original PGWP was shortened due to passport expiration.
• PGWP holders should discuss options with employers months in advance—look at employer-specific permits supported by an LMIA, LMIA-exempt offers, or provincial nomination streams.

Common traps and checklist before submission

Frequent pitfalls:

• Mismatched job titles across offer letter, LMIA, and application
• Passport expiry before requested permit end date
• Submitting after midnight on the expiry date (may cost implied status)
• Missing signatures or outdated forms

Three-part pre-submission check:

1. Confirm all critical dates: permit, passport, and LMIA validity.
2. Verify employer details and job terms match across documents.
3. Ensure the application fee is paid and payment receipt is uploaded.

If you’ve already expired

• Restoration is possible but narrower and costlier.
• Restoration generally blocks working until IRCC grants new authorization.
• This underscores why the 30-day pre-expiry rule is so important.

Fees

• Processing fee: CAD 155
• Biometrics fees: additional if required
• Restoration and other requests carry added costs

Though the processing fee is modest, the real cost of mistakes can include wage interruptions, emergency travel, or job loss.

Practical timeline and planning tips (6–12 months)

• If your permit expires in 60 days, apply now.
• If an employer needs a new LMIA, begin that process well in advance.
• Consider travel impacts on biometrics and possible information requests.
• Coordinate family documents (spouse’s work permit, child’s study permit) to reduce repeat filings and fees.

Role of families and employers

• Spouses and dependent children may have documents tied to the principal worker’s permit period.
• Employers should decide whether the worker will stay in the same job and whether the current LMIA still applies.
• HR contingency planning (temporary reassignments, adjusted timelines) can maintain service quality if processing causes a pause.

Compliance risks

• Unauthorized employment, working after status ends, or breaking permit conditions can harm future applications.
• A clean compliance record strengthens future cases.

Practical tips summary

• Apply at least 30 days before expiry.
• Ensure passport validity covers the requested period.
• Make sure job offer, LMIA (if required), and application details match exactly.
• Upload clear scans and label files for quick officer review.
• Maintain current working conditions while waiting unless IRCC authorizes changes.
• Check your IRCC account often for requests.
• Seek professional advice for prior status lapses, past violations, or complex transitions.

Final takeaway

The Canada Work Permit Extension in 2025 is a practical, largely online process that protects those who apply on time while enforcing strict eligibility and documentation rules. The best approach is simple:

• Know your expiry date.
• Get employer documents in order.
• File online early.
• Monitor your IRCC account.

That approach gives the best chance to remain in status, keep working, and preserve your future in Canada.

Compact checklist for next steps (2025)

• Confirm core eligibility: valid status, compliance with permit conditions, valid job offer (for employer-specific), passport covering full requested period.
• Gather documents: passport, current work permit, job offer/contract, LMIA approval or employer offer number, biometrics/medical info if required.
• Complete and submit IMM 5710 online with the CAD 155 fee before the permit expires.
• Continue working under the same conditions after submission if you applied on time and your category allows continued authorization.
• Respond quickly to IRCC requests and avoid changing job terms unless approved.
• If expired, explore restoration promptly and understand you likely cannot work until new authorization is granted.
• PGWP holders: remember extensions are limited—plan alternatives with your employer early.

For the official, current guidance and to file:

• Extend a work permit (IRCC): https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/extend-permit.html
• IMM 5710 – Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Worker: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/application-forms-guides/application-change-conditions-extend-your-stay-canada-worker.html

These pages are the authoritative sources and are updated as policies evolve.