Work Permit or Study Permit Expired in Canada? Your Restoration Options Explained

Your permit has expired. Before choosing another application, establish two things: when your temporary resident status actually ended, and whether you qualify to ask for it back.

Restoration may be available within the general 90-day period, but it is not an automatic extension or permission to restart work. A former worker or student may also have a visitor-only option when they no longer need, or no longer qualify for, work or study authorization.

Restoration in five lines

What restoration can and cannot do

Restoration is an in-Canada request for eligible people who have lost temporary resident status. Section 182 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations sets the legal framework. Applicants must satisfy more than the filing deadline, including the relevant requirements for their stay and restrictions connected with non-compliance.

For students, section 182(2) specifically excludes restoration where the student is not compliant with a condition under subsection 220.1(1). A fee payment cannot overcome an eligibility problem. Read section 182.

Think of the assessment as three separate questions:

1. 1
   Status: Are you eligible for restoration?
2. 2
   Purpose: Do you need to remain as a visitor, study, or work?
3. 3
   Authorization: Do you meet the conditions for the permit that purpose requires?

IRCC's current instructions expressly allow a former worker or student to seek visitor-only restoration if they meet the visitor requirements. This is not a new permit entitlement for everyone. IRCC restoration instructions.

Maintained status is different from restoration

Situation	What it means for your stay	Working or studying
A qualifying extension was submitted before status expired	You may have maintained status while a decision is pending	Continuing work/study depends on the application type and applicable conditions
Status has already been lost and restoration is requested	You are asking IRCC to restore status; filing does not create maintained status	No automatic right to resume work or study

IRCC treats temporary resident status and work/study authorization separately. For example, continuing work under maintained status generally depends on a timely worker-extension application and compliance with the previous permit's conditions. IRCC maintained-status guidance.

Find the correct loss-of-status date

Your history	What needs checking
No qualifying extension before status ended	The actual end of your authorized stay, not simply a visa-sticker expiry
A timely, complete extension was later refused	The refusal date may mark the end of maintained status
An extension was returned as incomplete	It may be treated as never submitted; the original authorized stay may control
A work permit has a separate “Must leave Canada by” date	That date may differ from the end of work authorization
Studies ended before the printed study-permit expiry	Study-permit invalidity rules can bring the relevant date forward

The work-permit expiry generally marks the end of permission to work, even where a later departure date governs status. IRCC worker restoration guide.

After a qualifying extension is refused, IRCC's instructions describe the restoration period as beginning at refusal. An incomplete application can produce a different result. Keep both your submission confirmation and the decision or return letter. IRCC: effect of a decision.

A date example

A worker's permit expires on July 15, 2026. They submitted a qualifying, complete extension on July 1 and remained in Canada. IRCC refuses it on October 10.

If maintained status continued until that refusal, the relevant 90-day calculation uses October 10, rather than July 15. Adding 90 calendar days gives January 8, 2027. If the application was instead returned as incomplete, that example cannot be used without reassessing the history.

Use the estimator carefully

The tool below adds 90 calendar days to the date you enter. It does not determine your legal status, assess eligibility, identify a public-policy exception or set a guaranteed filing deadline. Enter an already-checked loss-of-status date and apply well before the calculated marker.

Worker, student or visitor: your possible routes

Your situation	Route to assess	Standard government-fee illustration*
Former worker who qualifies for a new employer-specific permit	Restoration plus the eligible work permit	CAD $401.25
Former worker who qualifies for a new open work permit	Restoration, work permit and applicable open-permit holder fee	CAD $501.25
Former student who needs to continue studying	Student restoration with a new study permit	CAD $396.25
Former worker/student who only needs a temporary stay	Visitor-only restoration, if eligible	CAD $246.25
Former worker seeking to study	Assess the restoration/work-permit stage and study-permit application	CAD $551.25; $651.25 if an open-permit holder fee applies
Former student seeking an ordinary work permit	Assess student restoration, study-permit and independently eligible work-permit applications	CAD $551.25-$651.25; check the exact route
Graduate whose study permit expired before applying for a PGWP	Follow IRCC's specific student-restoration/PGWP instructions	CAD $651.25 under the current listed packages
Former visitor seeking a work or study permit	Visitor restoration plus a permit only if eligible to apply inside Canada	CAD $396.25 for study; $401.25 for work, or $501.25 if the open-permit fee applies

IRCC's fee list shows restoration at $246.25, work-permit processing at $155, an open-work-permit holder fee of $100 where applicable, and study-permit processing at $150. Visitor-only restoration does not require an extra $100 visitor-visa fee. Biometrics can add $85 per individual when required. IRCC fee list.

Changing category takes more than paying another fee

Former worker who wants to study

IRCC explains that where the work permit and status have expired, the restoration of status and work authorization is assessed first. A study-permit application may be submitted at the same time if the applicant is eligible, but the college acceptance letter is not a substitute for meeting those requirements. Follow IRCC's instructions about separately paying and uploading a work-permit fee receipt where the online checklist does not collect it. IRCC: changing permits after expiry.

Former student who wants to work

The ordinary student-restoration route and the PGWP-specific route should not be mixed. The student guide explains the sequencing of student restoration and an accompanying eligible work-permit application. The work permit still needs an independent basis. IRCC student guide.

Former visitor who has a job offer

A job offer does not itself establish the right to apply from inside Canada. The visitor guide allows combined restoration and permit applications only where the person independently qualifies for an in-Canada permit application. Relevant rules include IRPR 199 and 215. Visitor status also does not authorize employment or full-time study requiring a permit. IRCC visitor guide.

PGWP after study-permit expiry

The PGWP has its own timing and eligibility rules. IRCC describes a general application window of up to 180 days after graduation. Where the study permit expired before a qualifying in-Canada PGWP application, the student-restoration deadline must also be satisfied.

IRCC instructs eligible graduates in that situation to apply online for the PGWP, pay its $255 fee, pay the student-restoration fees separately and attach the receipt. Its instructions say no separate student-restoration application is needed for that specific route. A valid study permit when applying is a condition of the usual authorization to work while awaiting a PGWP decision; the expired-permit restoration route does not provide that waiting-period work right. IRCC PGWP application instructions.

Eight situations: the decision that matters

These are hypothetical examples, not approved client outcomes. Fee illustrations do not determine eligibility.

Example 01Worker / LMIA

Supervisor with a new LMIA-supported job

His employer-specific work permit expired 20 days ago. A new employer has a positive LMIA. Assess restoration and the new permit rather than treating the job offer as permission to start. The standard illustrated total is $401.25. He cannot simply resume work because he filed the request.

Example 02Visitor option

Spouse who no longer qualifies for an open work permit

Her previous open permit expired and her present circumstances do not support another one. An additional $100 payment cannot create eligibility. If she only needs time to arrange departure, visitor-only restoration may be assessed, including funds, a credible temporary-stay plan and compliance history.

Example 03Worker to student

Former worker accepted at college

He still qualifies for an employer-specific work permit and now wants to study. The application sequence matters as much as the $551.25 illustration. Check the restoration/work-permit basis, the study-permit requirements and the actual online checklist before submitting.

Example 04Student / PGWP

Graduate who missed study-permit expiry

Her permit expired 40 days ago and she otherwise qualifies for a PGWP. Check both the restoration period and the PGWP window. Use the specific PGWP/student-restoration instructions and receipts, rather than a generic visitor application. She should not assume work authorization while waiting.

Example 05Visitor option

Graduate staying briefly for convocation

He has finished studying and wants a short temporary stay before leaving. If eligible, visitor-only restoration may fit that purpose without a new study permit. The request needs a realistic explanation, financial support and proposed departure arrangements.

Example 06In-Canada eligibility

Visitor with a Canadian job offer

She overstayed and then received an offer. First establish restoration eligibility and whether a specific in-Canada work-permit provision applies. If it does not, the offer cannot turn visitor restoration into an inland work-permit route. An outside-Canada application may need assessment.

Example 07Date assessment

Worker whose extension was refused

He assumed the printed permit date was his only deadline. Submission confirmations and the refusal letter may show a period of maintained status. Reconstruct the dates before deciding the window has closed or promising that it is still open.

Example 08Beyond 90 days

Student more than 90 days out of status

Ordinary restoration is generally unavailable after the window. Do not assume that filing another form resets it. Review departure and any genuinely applicable special measure with a licensed representative; an exception must be identified, not presumed.

Travel, work and compliance while waiting

IRCC's operational instructions require applicants to remain in Canada during processing. They state that restoration must be refused if the officer determines the applicant has left Canada. Restoration cannot be applied for or granted at a port of entry. IRCC: travel and restoration.

Visitor status, a visitor record and a temporary resident visa are different things. A visa is a travel document; restoration addresses status inside Canada. Do not plan travel on the assumption that one replaces the other. IRCC visitor guide.

Common myths vs facts

Myth	What to check instead
Everyone has 90 days from the printed permit expiry	Identify the actual loss-of-status date, including maintained status, incomplete applications and early study-permit invalidity
Applying for restoration lets me keep working	Restoration filing does not itself authorize work or study
I must always restore my old work or study authorization	Visitor-only restoration may be possible if you meet visitor requirements
Paying another permit fee makes me eligible	Each permit route has its own requirements; a job offer or acceptance letter alone is insufficient
Visitor restoration always costs an extra $100	IRCC lists visitor restoration at $246.25 without a visa fee for that restoration
The PGWP's 180-day window replaces restoration deadlines	An expired-permit case must meet the relevant restoration requirements as well as PGWP rules
A trip to the border can fix the problem	Restoration cannot be granted at a port of entry; applicants must remain in Canada during processing

Your preparation checklist

1. 1
   Pause unauthorized activity. Confirm whether you currently have permission to work or study.
2. 2
   Reconstruct your history. Gather permits, visitor records, completion letters, submission receipts and decision letters.
3. 3
   Confirm the relevant date. Include refusal, incomplete-return, early permit-invalidity and departure-date issues where applicable.
4. 4
   Choose a route you qualify for. Document both restoration eligibility and any new permit basis.
5. 5
   Explain the lapse truthfully. Include supporting records, funds and a practical plan for your stay.
6. 6
   Check the payment instructions. Confirm exemptions, biometrics and any separately uploaded receipt.
7. 7
   Submit early and retain proof. Save the complete application, submission timestamp and payment records.

Frequently asked questions

Can I restore without obtaining another work or study permit?

Visitor-only restoration may be available where you meet the requirements and no longer need or qualify for work/study authorization. It does not allow you to restart those activities.

Is there an extra $100 visitor fee?

The published visitor-restoration fee is $246.25 and the fee list says a visa fee is not needed for that restoration. A separate visa application is a different service.

Can I work while restoration is pending?

Filing restoration does not grant work authorization. If your right to work ended, do not restart merely because an application is in process.

Can visitor restoration let me start college?

Not automatically. Assess whether a study permit is required and whether you qualify to apply for it from inside Canada. Visitor restoration alone is not that permission.

Do I need biometrics again?

Check IRCC's biometrics rules and any existing valid biometrics for your application type. Do not assume a new fee or appointment is required just because restoration is involved. IRCC biometrics guidance.

Can I leave Canada during processing?

The restoration instructions require you to remain in Canada. Leaving can make you ineligible and cause refusal. Get advice before arranging travel.

Can I restore at the border?

No. IRCC's instructions say restoration cannot be requested or granted at a port of entry.

What if more than 90 days have passed?

Ordinary restoration is generally no longer available. Review departure and any specifically applicable policy rather than assuming another application creates a fresh window.

Official sources and next steps

Use the linked IRCC instructions throughout this article to check the route that matches your documents. For help reviewing your permit, receipts and decision letters, request a status review with Sawubona Canada. The professional-service scope and fees should be confirmed before you engage services.

Information checked November 9, 2026. Government fees can change. This is general information, not an individual determination of status, filing deadline or eligibility. Examples and images are illustrative. Restoration and permit approval are not guaranteed.

Hero image: AI-generated editorial illustration, not a client photograph.