Applying from outside Canada and extending your work permit inside Canada
By HV Global Immigration Ltd | Updated September 18, 2026
Starting a job in Canada and continuing a job you already hold require different planning. An overseas applicant must establish eligibility for the right work permit and prepare for arrival. A worker already in Canada must also protect their status and confirm when they can continue working.
This guide covers Canada work permit applications from outside Canada, work permit extensions inside Canada, employer changes, maintained status and restoration. At HV Global Immigration Ltd, we help applicants understand which requirements apply to their circumstances before they submit.
Employer specific and open work permits
An employer-specific work permit, often called a closed work permit, authorizes employment subject to the employer, occupation, location and other conditions printed on it. The employer may need a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment, or LMIA, before the worker applies. A qualifying LMIA exemption may provide another route.
IRCC guidance on employer-specific work permits
An open work permit allows work for most eligible employers, subject to any restrictions on the permit. It is available only through qualifying categories, such as certain graduate, family, permanent residence and youth programs. Wanting flexibility or having a job offer does not by itself establish eligibility for an open permit.
IRCC open work permit eligibility and restrictions
How the two application situations differ
| Issue | Applying outside Canada | Extending inside Canada |
| Main focus | Eligibility and preparation for entry | Continued eligibility and valid status |
| Application route | Outside Canada process and program instructions | In-Canada extension or change of conditions |
| Starting or continuing work | Approval and permit issuance are separate steps | Depends on existing authorization and filing history |
Applying for a work permit from outside Canada
An overseas application must satisfy the general work permit requirements and the rules of the specific category. Applicants must show sufficient funds for themselves and accompanying family, satisfy admissibility requirements, and demonstrate that they will leave when their authorized stay ends. Officers can assess health, criminal history and the accuracy of the information submitted.
IRCC requirements for applicants outside Canada
Confirm the employer documents first
For an LMIA-based application, obtain the positive LMIA, job offer and employment contract. For many LMIA-exempt employer-specific applications, the employer submits an offer through the Employer Portal and provides the generated offer number. Some exemptions follow different instructions. Jobs in Quebec may also require a Quebec Acceptance Certificate, or CAQ.
Prepare the work permit document checklist
Follow your personalized checklist and local visa office instructions. Documents commonly include:
- Passport, photograph and the required application forms, including IMM 1295 where applicable.
- Job offer, contract and LMIA or LMIA-exemption documents, where required.
- Résumé, employment references and evidence of relevant experience.
- Education, professional licence or certification needed for the job.
- Proof of lawful status in the country of application if you are not a citizen there.
- Required family documents, translations and medical examination evidence.
IRCC outside Canada forms and document requirements
Submit the application and follow up
Most applications are submitted online. Use the correct program instructions, upload readable documents and pay the applicable fees. Complete biometrics when required and respond to IRCC requests by the stated deadlines. Keep a copy of the complete submission and its confirmation.
IRCC steps for submitting an overseas application
What overseas approval means
A port of entry letter of introduction confirms approval; it is not the work permit itself. Carry it with your passport, required travel documents and supporting employment records. The border officer makes the final entry decision and prints the permit if satisfied. Check the employer, occupation, conditions and expiry before leaving the inspection area.
IRCC arrival instructions and work permit issuance
Extending a work permit from inside Canada
An extension is a new assessment of whether you qualify for the requested authorization. Workers may need to extend employment with the same employer, change employers or responsibilities, or qualify under another permit category. Open work permit holders must still meet the requirements of an eligible open work permit category.
IRCC eligibility for extending or changing a work permit
Plan before your current permit expires
Review your expiry date, passport validity and the employer documents well in advance. Submit a complete extension application before the current permit expires. Online receipt is measured using UTC, which can be earlier than local midnight in Canada. Most extensions use the online process and IMM 5710. The permit generally cannot extend beyond passport validity.
What if the employer is still waiting for an LMIA
IRCC currently permits certain extension applications with a pending LMIA or CAQ where the work permit expires in two weeks or less, the employer has submitted a complete application, and the missing documents are provided within 90 days of the extension submission. Specific evidence and form instructions apply. An employer’s pending LMIA alone does not extend your status or authorize work.
IRCC extension filing instructions and pending LMIA requirements
Prepare the extension evidence
Start with your current permit and passport. Then assemble the evidence supporting the category you will use: employer documents for an employer-specific permit, or proof of continued eligibility for an open permit. Recent employment confirmation and pay records can help explain your current circumstances when relevant.
Check that the job title, duties, work location and requested dates agree across the application and employer records. If the role has changed, explain the change accurately. Review accompanying family members separately so their applications and expiry dates are not overlooked.
Can a visitor apply for a work permit inside Canada
Being physically in Canada does not automatically qualify someone for an in-Canada work permit application. Visitors need a specific eligible category or applicable exception. A Canadian job offer alone does not create that eligibility.
IRCC eligibility to apply for a work permit inside Canada
Maintained status and working while waiting
If you submit a qualifying work permit extension before expiry and remain in Canada, you may continue working under the conditions of your existing permit while IRCC decides the application. This is commonly called maintained status, formerly known as implied status.
For an employer-specific permit, the existing employer, job and location restrictions continue. Open permit holders must also respect any restrictions already printed on their permit. Applying to change to visitor status or to obtain a study permit does not extend your work authorization beyond the work permit’s expiry.
IRCC rules on work authorization while an application is pending
Keep evidence of timely submission
Retain the application confirmation, fee receipt, previous permit and any WP-EXT letter issued by IRCC. Where you remain eligible to work, an expiry date printed on a WP-EXT letter does not by itself end that authorization if IRCC has not decided the application. The underlying eligibility conditions still matter.
IRCC proof of continued work authorization
Changing employers during processing
A worker with an employer-specific permit cannot normally start with a new employer simply because a new application has been filed. Eligible workers may request interim authorization through IRCC’s employer-change process after applying for the new permit. Wait for IRCC’s authorization before starting the new employment, unless you already have separate authority to do so.
IRCC procedure for changing jobs or employers
Travel during a work permit extension
If you leave Canada while relying on maintained work authorization after permit expiry, you generally cannot resume work on return until the new permit is approved. You may be admitted as a visitor while the application remains pending. Review the timing before booking travel.
A work permit is not a travel document. Depending on your nationality and travel method, you may also need a valid temporary resident visa or eTA. These documents do not guarantee entry.
IRCC travel guidance during a work permit extension
Before telling an employer that you can continue working, confirm the submission date, the conditions of the previous permit, any travel after expiry and whether IRCC has issued a decision. These details matter more than the fact that an application appears as “in progress.”
Expired work permits and restoration of status
If your status expires without a qualifying application that maintains it, you must stop working. Under the regular restoration rules, eligible applicants generally have 90 days from losing status to apply for restoration and a new work permit. Restoration is conditional and approval is not guaranteed.
Submitting a restoration application does not normally permit you to work. You generally must wait until status is restored and the new work permit is issued. A qualifying restoration application can allow you to remain in Canada while a decision is pending. Each family member who has lost status needs a separate assessment and application.
IRCC restoration of status and work permit requirements
If a refusal arrives after your original permit has expired, assess your status and work authorization immediately. Do not assume that another pending application automatically allows continued work. The dates, application sequence and basis for each application need individual review.
IRCC guidance on maintained status and application decisions
Frequently asked questions about Canada work permits and extensions
Can I extend my post graduation work permit
A PGWP is generally a one-time permit and is not routinely renewable simply because you want more time to work. If passport expiry shortened the original issuance, you may qualify for the remaining eligible period after renewing the passport. IRCC currently directs applicants to use the paper process for that extension.
IRCC PGWP duration and passport-related extensions
Does a permanent residence application give me a work permit
No. A qualifying principal applicant may be eligible for a bridging open work permit, but must meet the rules of the relevant permanent residence stream and the status requirements. An Express Entry profile or an invitation to apply is insufficient. Check the required application stage, acknowledgement of receipt and any nomination restrictions before filing.
IRCC bridging open work permit requirements
Can my spouse extend an open work permit with me
Possibly, but approval is not automatic. Eligibility can depend on the principal worker’s occupation, permit category, remaining work authorization and permanent residence pathway. Extension provisions may differ from first-time application rules. Review the spouse’s eligibility and documents separately.
IRCC work permits for family members of foreign workers
Do all Canadian work permits require an LMIA?
No. Some employer-specific permits require a positive LMIA, while others qualify for an exemption. Open permits are available only under eligible categories. Confirm the route and employer documents before applying.
Is an overseas approval letter my actual work permit?
No. A port of entry letter of introduction is not the permit. Bring it and the required supporting documents when travelling. The border officer checks your eligibility and issues the permit if satisfied.
Can I keep working while my work permit extension is pending?
Generally, yes, if you applied before expiry, remain in Canada and meet the maintained-work-authorization requirements. Continue under your previous permit’s conditions. Keep your submission confirmation and any WP-EXT letter.
Can I start with a new employer as soon as I submit an application?
An employer-specific permit normally restricts you to the named employer. Wait for the new permit or separate IRCC authorization under an applicable employer-change process before starting. Submission alone is insufficient.
Does extending my work permit also renew my visa?
Do not assume so. A work permit and TRV serve different purposes. Check whether a separate visa application is needed before travelling and returning to Canada.
Can I work while waiting for restoration of worker status?
Generally, no. Restoration does not itself authorize work. Eligible applicants normally must apply within 90 days of losing status and wait for restoration and work permit approval before resuming employment.
Can a visitor with a job offer automatically apply inside Canada?
No. A job offer does not by itself establish eligibility to apply from inside Canada. You must qualify under an in-Canada category or applicable exception and obtain work authorization before starting.
How can HV Global help with my work permit application?
We can assess the appropriate permit category, review employer documents and deadlines, and assist with overseas applications, extensions, employer changes and eligible restoration applications. Contact HV Global Immigration Ltd at hvglobal.ca for advice tailored to your circumstances.
Canada work permit fees and processing times
| Government fee | Amount in CAD |
| Work permit application or extension | $155 |
| Additional open work permit holder fee | $100 |
| Biometrics per person when required | $85 |
| Restoration as a worker plus work permit | $401.25 |
An open work permit applicant restoring status generally pays the additional $100 open permit holder fee as well. Exemptions may apply. Employer fees, medical examinations, translations and professional fees are separate. Verify fees before paying.
IRCC current application fee list
Check the live processing estimate for the correct application type and country where applicable. An overseas application and an in-Canada extension may have different timelines. Plan the employment start date around the authorization you actually hold.
Work permit planning across Canada
Applicants planning employment in Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon, the Northwest Territories or Nunavut should confirm the requirements for their job and location. Quebec may involve additional provincial requirements. Professional licensing can also vary by province or territory.
Whether the job is in Calgary, Edmonton, Cochrane, Olds, Vancouver, Toronto, or an island community on Vancouver Island, Cape Breton Island or Newfoundland, ensure the employer records accurately identify the workplace and position.
How HV Global Immigration can help
At HV Global Immigration Ltd, we assist with eligibility assessments, overseas work permit applications, in-Canada extensions, employer changes and eligible open work permit applications. We can review expiry dates, employer documents, previous refusals and restoration options, then prepare a submission that explains your circumstances clearly.
Have a Canadian job offer or a work permit approaching expiry? Contact HV Global Immigration Ltd to book a consultation and discuss your next application.
General information based on IRCC guidance checked on September 18, 2026. Requirements and fees can change. Eligibility, status and work authorization depend on the individual facts.
