Last verified: July 6, 2026 · Official source: canada.ca — Extend or change your work permit
General information, not legal or immigration advice. For advice on your situation, consult a licensed RCIC or immigration lawyer.
The bottom line
If you apply to extend or change your work or study permit before it expires, you generally get maintained statusmaintained status: Maintained status (formerly 'implied status') — the legal right to stay and keep working or studying under your existing permit's conditions while IRCC decides on an extension you applied for on time. — the right to keep working or studying under the same conditions while IRCC processes your application. IRCC renamed this from "implied status" to reflect that it's a real, statutory status — not merely "implied."
The catch: it only works if you applied on time, and it can be broken by leaving Canada.
The one deadline that matters
You must apply to extend before your current permit expires. Even one day late and you lose the entitlement.
- If you apply online, IRCC must receive your application before midnight (UTC) on the day your permit expires.
- Apply with time to spare — don't gamble on the last day.
What maintained status lets you do
While your extension is pending and you remain in Canada:
- You may keep working or studying under the conditions of your original permit — same employer, same occupation, same restrictions.
- This continues until IRCC makes a decision on your application.
⚠️ You are held to your old permit's conditions. If your original permit was employer-specific, you can't switch employers on maintained status. If you applied for different conditions, you generally must wait for approval before working under the new ones.
What breaks maintained status
- Leaving Canada. If you travel abroad while your extension is pending, your maintained status (and your right to work) ends. You may be able to return as a visitor, but you can't resume working until your new permit is approved. Plan travel carefully.
- Applying late. Miss the pre-expiry deadline and there's no maintained status — you'd need to look at restoration of status instead, which is a separate, time-limited process.
- A refusal. If your extension is refused, your authorization to work ends.
Note: holders of a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) do not get maintained status.
Proof you can show an employer
IRCC issues a work permit extension (WP-EXT) support letter confirming your continued authorization to work while your application is pending — useful proof to show an employer or to renew your SIN. As of April 27, 2026, IRCC doubled the validity of these letters from 180 to 365 days (updated guidance to officers).
Note that this is the letter's validity — not a limit on your maintained status itself, which continues until IRCC decides, even if processing takes longer (in which case you may need an updated letter). Confirm current details on the official canada.ca page before relying on a specific period.
A simple checklist
- Apply early — well before your permit expires.
- Keep proof of your submitted application and any authorization letter.
- Don't leave Canada while the extension is pending unless you understand the consequences.
- Work only under your old conditions until the new permit is approved.
Where this fits
Maintained status is the bridge between permits — closely related to the Bridging Open Work Permit (for when your PR application is pending) and work permits explained. See the whole journey on the Study → PR pathway map.
Frequently asked questions
Can I travel outside Canada while I'm on maintained status?
You can, but it's risky. Maintained status only protects you inside Canada. A work permit is not a travel document, so to get back in you still need a valid visitor visa (TRV) or eTA, and a border officer decides admission at the port of entry every time. If you leave while your extension is being processed, that protection can end, so get advice before booking a trip while your application is pending.
Do I get a new document to prove maintained status?
No. There is no separate card or letter. Your proof is your original permit plus the submission confirmation for the extension you applied for before it expired.
When does maintained status end?
When IRCC makes a decision. If your extension is approved, the new permit's conditions take over. If it is refused, you are expected to stop working, and you may be able to apply to restore your status if you are still within the restoration window.