Benefits of Extending Your Work Permit

Extending your work permit can help you continue working in Canada and enjoy the benefits of living and working in one of the best countries in the world. By extending your work permit, you can:

• Keep your current job and employer, or change jobs or employers if you are eligible

• Earn a competitive salary and benefits in Canada

• Gain more Canadian work experience and skills

• Boost your chances of qualifying for permanent residence in Canada

Eligibility Criteria for Extending Your Work Permit

• You have a valid work permit that is not expired or will expire within the next 30 days

• You have complied with the conditions of your current work permit, such as working only for the employer, occupation, location and duration specified on your work permit

• You have not worked without authorization or overstayed your authorized stay in Canada

• You have enough money to support yourself and your family in Canada

• You are admissible to Canada and do not have a criminal record or security risk

Types of Work Permits That Can Be Extended

You can apply to extend different types of work permits, such as:

• Employer-specific work permits, which allow you to work for a specific employer in Canada according to the conditions of your work permit, such as the name of the employer, the type of work, the location and the duration of the work. You may need a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) or an offer of employment through the Employer Portal from your employer before you apply.

• Open work permits, which allow you to work for any employer in Canada, except for some restricted occupations. You do not need a job offer or an LMIA from ESDC to apply. You may need to pay an additional fee for an open work permit holder fee.

• Bridging open work permits, which allow you to keep working while you wait for a decision on your permanent residence application. You must have applied for permanent residence under one of the economic immigration programs and have a valid employer-specific or open work permit that will expire within four months.

If you apply online, you will get a letter that proves you can keep working under the same conditions as your current work permit until a decision is made on your extension application. This letter is called an implied status letter or a WP-EXT letter. You should keep this letter with you at all times and show it to your employer if requested.

If you apply on paper, you will not get this letter. You should stop working when your current work permit expires and wait for the decision on your extension application.

Approval and New Work Permit

If your extension application is approved, you will receive a new work permit that will state the conditions of your work in Canada, such as:

• The name of the specific employer you can work for (if applicable)

• The type of work you can do

• The location where you can work

• The length of time you can work

You should always carry your new work permit with you when you travel in and out of Canada.