What is maintained status?
What you have to know in the IEC program
Formerly called Implied Status, it is a special status that allows a foreign national to legally stay in Canada while waiting for a decision on their application to extend or change their status.
For example, if your work permit is about to expire and you apply for another work permit before it expires you can legally remain in Canada under the same conditions as your current permit until IRCC makes a decision on your new application.
Important information for IEC participants
1. There is no maintained status between two IEC participations.
If you are in Canada under an IEC work permit like the Working Holiday, and you apply for another Working Holiday because your country allows this, then you will not have maintained status while you wait for the processing of the new IEC work permit.
You must apply for visitor record if your current work permit expires soon. While the visitor record application is being processed, you are in maintained visitor status and can stay in the country legally as a visitor until a decision is made or until you activate a new work permit, whichever comes first.
You have to stop working on the day your work permit expires.
2. You cannot extend an IEC work permit past the allowed time.
An IEC work permit is a special type of work permit. Each country that participates in the IEC program has its own agreement with Canada, which determines how long you can stay. To find out your exact length of stay, select your country >> here <<
For example, citizens from Australia and Ireland can stay for up to 24 months, while citizens from Germany and Spain can stay for up to 12 months.
It’s important to note that the IEC work permit cannot be extended beyond the time allowed by your country’s agreement. Even if an immigration lawyer suggests applying for an extension, this advice is incorrect and could be considered illegal. Many lawyers are simply unfamiliar with the specific rules of the IEC program.
If you follow such advice from an immigration lawyer, your application will be refused, and any work done after your permit expires will be considered illegal work. Additionally, any work performed during this period will not count toward Canadian work experience for your PR application.
You can only extend an IEC work permit up to the maximum duration allowed under the program under three circumstances. >> See here for more information.
3. Maintained status does not apply if your application is invalid or incomplete.
Only if you apply for an eligible non-IEC work permit before the current IEC work permit expires you can keep working under maintained status until a decision is made on the new application.
There is no such thing as a “blank” open work permit that automatically grants maintained status. Every work permit application must be tied to a specific program or pathway, such as an LMIA-based work permit, an LMIA-exempt category, or a permanent residency stream.
If it were truly possible to apply without meeting any criteria, many temporary workers would take that route. However, anyone who tries this is submitting a false or incomplete application, which can lead to serious consequences for all future applications in Canada.
Yes, you may receive a WP‑EXT (work permit extension) system‑generated letter that says you may continue working until a certain date. That letter is automatic — the system doesn’t know whether your application is actually eligible, and no human processing officer has reviewed it yet.
Anyone can create a GCKey and submit a ‘fake’ application and receive the same automated letter. That letter does not guarantee maintained status. If a processing officer later reviews the file and finds the application false or incomplete, it will be refused and you will be asked to leave Canada. You must then disclose that refusal on every future Canadian immigration application, including any PR application.
If IRCC refuses your work permit application because it was incomplete, the status ends retroactively on the expiry date of your previous permit. This means it is treated as if the application was never submitted, and any work you did after your original permit expired is considered illegal. Working without status can have serious consequences, including negative impacts on future work permit or permanent residence applications.
Common work permits that grant maintained status
After your IEC work permit, there are several work permit options you may be eligible to apply for. Two common options are:
- Spousal Open Work Permit
- Spouses or common-law partners of temporary workers or students in Canada
- Francophone Mobility Work Permit
- French skilled workers outside Quebec; LMIA-exempt
Other work permits that you could look into, but you must check eligibility criteria and permit conditions for each pathway:
- LMIA Work Permit (Employer-Specific)
- Job offer with positive LMIA
- LMIA-Exempt Work Permit (Employer-Specific)
- For example intra-company transferee, international agreements
- Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)
- Recent graduate from a Canadian post-secondary institution
- Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP)
- Who applied for permanent residence and received an Acknowledgment of Receipt (AOR).
- Open Work Permit (OWP)
- Spouse/common-law partner of Canadian citizen or PR who applied and received the Acknowledgment of Receipt (AOR).
If you submit an application for an eligible work permit before your current IEC work permit expires, you will benefit from maintained status. This will allow you to continue working legally while your new application is being processed.
You can find all other Canadian work permit options on the official Canadian government website >> here.
Do I have to apply separately to get the maintained status?
No, you do not need to apply separately for maintained status. You will automatically get maintained status if you apply for a new work permit before your current permit expires. As long as you submit the application on time, you can remain in Canada and continue working under the same conditions until a decision is made.
What does "under the same conditions" mean?
If you have an employer-specific work permit, it means you must continue working for the same employer, in the same job, and at the same work location. In contrast, if you have an open work permit, you are free to change employers and jobs.
If you applied for a study permit or visitor record
You can continue working as long as your current work permit is valid. However, once it expires, you must stop working. Additionally, if you have applied for a study permit, you cannot begin studying until a decision is made on your application.
How long does maintained status last?
Maintained status lasts from the date IRCC receives your application until a decision is made, as long as you remain in Canada. Because processing times are currently very long, IRCC now issues WP-EXT letters with an expiry date set 365 days from the application receipt date. You can check the current processing times >> here.
When can I start working? Do I have to wait for the physical work permit?
You don’t have to wait until you get your work permit in the mail to start working. Once the work permit is approved, you will receive a note in your online account to let you know your work permit was approved. You can start working as soon as you receive this note.
Do I get maintained status if I apply after my work permit already expired?
No. If you submit your application after your work permit has expired, you will not receive maintained status and you cannot work. You only get maintained status when IRCC receives your application before your current permit expires.
If you did not take action to maintain your legal status in Canada, your option at this point is to either leave Canada voluntarily or apply to restore your status as a visitor.
How do I prove to my employer that I can keep working?
After you apply online, you will receive a letter in your GCKey account (WP-EXT, except PGWP) that you can use as proof you’re authorized to keep working if you’re eligible.
- You can print this letter or show it with your current work permit.
- This letter proves you can continue working under the same conditions as your original work permit until IRCC processes your application.
- You can even keep working past the expiry date on the letter until you receive a decision about your new application.
My SIN has expired with the last work permit; how do I renew it?
You can renew your SIN once you receive the new work permit with a new validity. While on maintained status, you cannot apply for a new Social Insurance Number (SIN) card or update the expiry date on your existing SIN. You can, however, keep working under the same conditions as those on your initial work permit.
Can I leave Canada while on maintained status?
In general, maintained status only kicks in after your current work permit expires. Therefore it’s important to plan your travels carefully to avoid losing your work authorization.
Before your work permit expires: If your current work permit is still valid, you are free to travel outside Canada. Maintained status doesn’t apply yet, so normal travel rules for your permit apply.
After your work permit expires (on maintained status): You must remain in Canada and continue working under the same conditions as your original permit.
Leaving Canada while on maintained status: If you leave Canada you will lose the maintained status automatically. You cannot return to Canada to continue working. You may only re-enter as a visitor and must wait for your new work permit to be approved before resuming work.
What happens if my work permit application is refused?
If IRCC refuses your work permit application, you immediately lose maintained status and are no longer authorized to work in Canada. At that point, you must stop working.
You have two options:
- Leave Canada as soon as possible.
- Apply to restore your status as a visitor within 90 days.