Your Work Permit is Expiring Soon: A Strategic 90-Day Action Plan to Stay in Canada

Dec 9

Written By BENOTAS Immigration Solutions

Your Work Permit is Expiring Soon—Here's What to Do

It's a feeling that starts in your stomach—a cold, quiet panic. You log into your IRCC account, and there it is: your work permit, the document your entire life in Canada is built on, expires in 90 days.

Your career, your apartment, your friends, your future... it all suddenly feels temporary.

If this is you, take a deep breath. You are a high-achieving professional; you've built a successful life here. You are proactive and detail-oriented. But right now, you're stressed. And when you're stressed, you are at risk of making a critical mistake.

About This Guide

As an RCIC (Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant), I've guided hundreds of international professionals through exactly this situation. The most important advice I can give you is this: Panic is not a strategy.

A last-minute, poorly-prepared application is the fastest way to a refusal. What you need is a clear, strategic plan. Your future in Canada isn't about hope; it's about making the right legal choice right now.

This guide breaks down the three strategic pathways we use with our clients in your exact situation—and helps you choose the right one for your circumstances.

Diagnose Your Current Status
The 3 Strategic Pathways: Decide Your Next Move
Pathway 1: The "Extension" (For Employer-Specific Permits)
Pathway 2: The "Pivot" (For Open Work Permit Holders)
Pathway 3: The "Alternative" (For Strategic Transitions)
Decision Matrix: Which Pathway is Right for You?
Timeline: How Long Do These Pathways Take?
Common Mistakes That Delay or Deny Applications
Your Next Step: A Free 30-Minute Strategy Session

Diagnose Your Current Status

Before you can choose a path, you must understand your starting point. Not all work permits are created equal. The strategy to extend or renew your work permit inside Canada depends entirely on the type of permit you hold. This is non-negotiable—many applicants make critical mistakes here.

Look at your permit right now. Which of these is you?

Employer-Specific Work Permit: Your permit lists a specific employer name (e.g., LMIA-based). Your ability to extend is tied directly to that employer.
Open Work Permit: Your permit says "any employer" (e.g., Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), Spousal Open Work Permit, IEC Working Holiday). You have more flexibility, but your "renewal" options are more complex, as most open work permits are not renewable. You don't "renew" a PGWP; you transition to a new status.

Understanding this difference is the most important first step.

The 3 Strategic Pathways: Decide Your Next Move

You have 90 days. Your time must be spent executing one of these three strategies. You don’t have the bandwidth to pursue all three at once — you need to choose a primary strategy and execute it well.

Pathway 1: The "Extension" (For Employer-Specific Permits)

This pathway is for those on an employer-specific permit. Your goal is a direct work permit extension inside Canada with your current or a new employer.

What it is: A new application for a new work permit. It is not a simple "renewal." You are being assessed all over again.
The Key Requirement: Your employer must actively participate. In most cases, this means they must successfully obtain a new, positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) before you can even submit your application.
The Strategic "Gotcha": The LMIA process can take several weeks or longer depending on the stream and processing times.
Your Action Plan: You must have a formal, strategic meeting with your HR department or manager this week. You need to know if they are willing and able to support this new application. If they hesitate, you must immediately pivot to Pathway 3.

Pathway 2: The "Pivot" (For Open Work Permit Holders)

This pathway is for those on a PGWP, IEC, or other open work permit. Since, in most cases, you cannot simply "renew" your current open work permit, your goal is to pivot to a different type of status.

The most powerful pivot available is the Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP).

What it is: A lifeline that allows you to keep working while your PR application is processing.
The Key Requirement: To be eligible, you must have submitted a complete permanent residence application under an eligible program (such as Express Entry) and received your Acknowledgment of Receipt (AOR).
The Strategic "Gotcha": An AOR is only issued after you get an Invitation to Apply (ITA) and after you submit your full, 60-day e-APR (electronic Application for Permanent Residence). You cannot apply for a BOWP while just sitting in the Express Entry pool.
Your Action Plan: Look at your CRS score. Are you realistically expecting an ITA in the next 30 days? If not, this is not an option. You must move to Pathway 3 to get the ITA, or explore other pivots (like a Spousal Open Work Permit, if applicable).

Pathway 3: The "Permanent" Solution (The Proactive Strategy)

This pathway is for everyone—but especially for the high-CRS professional whose open work permit is expiring.

Your problem is not really your work permit. Your problem is that you are not yet a Permanent Resident. Solving that problem is the only thing that gets you off this "expiring permit" rollercoaster for good.

What it is: You stop focusing on the temporary permit and focus 100% of your energy on securing a Permanent Residence ITA.
Why it Works: As explained in Pathway 2, submitting your PR application unlocks the Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP). Therefore, the fastest way to solve your work permit problem is to solve your PR problem.
Your Action Plan:

Optimize: Is your Express Entry profile perfect? Have you maxed out your language scores? Is your work experience listed under the correct NOC?
Be Proactive: Are you eligible for an OINP stream that will grant you 600 points? Are you in a category-based draw (like Tech or Healthcare)?
Execute: This is where you bring in a professional. A RCIC immigration consultant can do a full profile audit and identify the fastest, most realistic path to an ITA now, so you can secure your AOR and become eligible for the BOWP.

The Most Dangerous Mistake: "Maintained Status" vs. "Restoration"

This is where E-E-A-T (Expertise) is critical. You must understand these two legal concepts.

Maintained Status (Your Lifeline): If you submit your application for a work permit extension inside Canada before your current permit expires, you are on "Maintained Status" (formerly Implied Status). You can legally continue working under the same conditions of your old permit until a decision is made on your new one, even if that decision takes months. This is your goal.
Restoration (The Panic Button): Restoration is more complex and discretionary, and you cannot work while you wait for a decision. You have a 90-day window to apply for "Restoration of Status." This is a complex, expensive, and risky application. You are at the mercy of an officer, and you cannot work while you wait.

A proactive professional never lets it get to Restoration. You aim for Maintained Status.

Your 90-Day Strategic Action Plan

Stop panicking. Start acting.

Days 90-75 (Strategize):

Audit: Diagnose your permit type.
Decide: Choose your pathway (Extension, Pivot, or Permanent).
Consult: This is the time to book a one-hour strategy session with an RCIC. Do not wait. Get a clear plan that is unique to your file.

Days 75-30 (Execute):

Pathway 1: Your employer must be deep in the LMIA process.
Pathway 2/3: You must be doing everything to get an ITA (retaking IELTS, getting new documents) or, if you have your AOR, you are meticulously preparing your BOWP application.

Day 30 (Submit):

Ideally, submit your complete application at least 30 days before expiry to give yourself a buffer and secure maintained status.

You Don't Need a Checklist. You Need a Strategy.

Your future in Canada, your career, and your peace of mind are worth more than a "DIY" guess. You are a professional who values expert guidance, and this is the moment to use it.

At Benotas Immigration, we specialize in helping high-achieving professionals like you move from panic to a plan. We focus on building a clear, well-documented application that minimizes risk and supports your long-term status in Canada.

Don't risk your status. Don't guess. Let's build your plan today.

The clock is ticking. A proactive strategy is the only way to ensure you protect your status and continue your life in Canada without interruption.

Have you prepared your own application? Don't submit it to IRCC without a second opinion. Book our DIY Application Review session to have an RCIC find any critical errors before they cause a refusal.
Feeling overwhelmed? Let us handle it. Our Full Representation service takes the entire strategic burden off your shoulders.

Book a Consultation Today and Turn Your Panic into a Plan

About Benotas Immigration: Your RCIC Partner

Benotas Immigration specializes in helping high-achieving international professionals navigate the Canadian immigration system with confidence. Whether you're facing a work permit expiration, building an Express Entry strategy, or planning a permanent residence pathway, our RCIC-led team provides expert guidance tailored to your unique circumstances.

Why Trust Benotas Immigration?

Licensed RCIC: We are Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants, certified and bound by professional standards
Experience: Years of successful cases across all major Canadian immigration programs
Accuracy First: We cross-reference every recommendation against current IRCC guidelines and regulations
Transparent Pricing: No hidden fees. You know exactly what you're paying for
Proactive Strategy: We help you build a plan before panic sets in

Your work permit expiration is not the end of your Canadian journey—it's a strategic crossroads. The right decision made today can lead to permanent residence within 12-24 months.

Ready to Secure Your Future in Canada?

Don't let your work permit expiration catch you unprepared. A single mistake on your application can result in a refusal, lost time, and thousands of dollars wasted.

Book a free 30-minute consultation with our RCIC team to: