federal greenReviewed step-by-step guide

Extend or change a work permit

Extend or change a work permit by reconciling expiry dates, employer dependencies, current status and the conditions requested in the official application.

Reviewed 2026-07-13Next review: 2026-08-13

Before you start

  • Use only your own government account.
  • Never share government or email credentials.
  • Confirm fees, deadlines and checklists when you act.

CHANGING CONDITIONS

Employer prerequisites, filing deadlines and maintained-status work conditions can change; verify all three before the current permit expires or employment changes.

REVIEWED STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

Responsibilities, outputs and checkpoints

  1. 01
    RESPONSIBLEApplicant

    Build the work-authorization timeline

    Record the work permit, passport and job-offer expiries, current employer, occupation, location and every printed condition before selecting an extension or change.

    Expected output
    A dated permit, passport and employment timeline.
    Checkpoint
    All dates and conditions come from current documents and the employer’s written terms.
  2. 02
    RESPONSIBLEApplicant

    Choose extension or condition change

    Use the current IRCC page to distinguish extending the same authorization, changing employer or job conditions, and restoring status after expiry.

    Expected output
    The exact work-permit request branch is recorded.
    Checkpoint
    A status-restoration issue is not handled as a routine pre-expiry extension.
  3. 03
    RESPONSIBLEEmployer

    Complete the employer dependency first

    Before the worker files, the employer obtains the required new LMIA or submits the required LMIA-exempt offer and gives the worker the resulting decision or offer number.

    Expected output
    A current LMIA decision or Employer Portal offer record and matching job terms.
    Checkpoint
    The employer record applies to the requested job, worker and extension period.
  4. 04
    RESPONSIBLEApplicant

    Prepare the extension checklist

    Open the applicant’s current IRCC checklist and prepare passport, status, current permit, employer decision or offer number, job terms, qualifications and family records requested.

    Expected output
    A checklist-indexed work-permit extension package.
    Checkpoint
    Worker and employer records state the same occupation, duties, wage, location and dates.
  5. 05
    RESPONSIBLEApplicant

    Submit before the applicable expiry

    Review and submit the extension or change in the worker’s own account, pay IRCC directly and retain the exact confirmation time and package.

    Expected output
    An official submission confirmation and fee receipt.
    Checkpoint
    The filing time is compared with current permit expiry before any maintained-status reliance.
  6. 06
    RESPONSIBLECanada

    Follow pending-work and new-permit conditions

    Follow the current rules on whether and under which conditions work may continue, answer account requests and verify every employer, occupation, location and expiry field on the new permit.

    Expected output
    A pending-period record and verified new permit or decision.
    Checkpoint
    The worker does not start changed employment until the current rules and authorization permit it.

DOCUMENT PREPARATION SUMMARY

What this procedure organizes

  • Prepare the current permit/passport and status timeline, employer LMIA decision or LMIA-exempt offer and number, written job terms, qualifications and family records, the personalized checklist, forms, receipts, pending-status evidence, account messages and issued permit.

Frequently asked questions

How do I complete this procedure? What documents and steps are needed? How much does it cost and how long does it take?

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