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You Have 90 Days to Restore Your Status — Don't Miss the Window
If you're a visitor, student, or worker in Canada and your permit expired before you renewed it, you may still be able to fix your status — but only if you act fast. Restoration of status lets you apply to regain your temporary resident status within 90 days of losing it, without having to leave Canada. Miss that window, and your options narrow significantly.
Why Status Lapses in the First Place
Since our founding, our primary goal has been to provide immigration in all over country and universities. Our impact is speak louder than our word.
01
Missed Renewal Deadline
The most common cause — applicants intend to renew on time but miss the expiry date on their visitor record, study permit, or work permit.
02
Working or Studying Without Authorization
Working or studying without the proper authorization, even briefly, can end your status and complicate a restoration application.
03
Processing Delays Beyond Permit Expiry
If IRCC takes longer than expected to process a renewal, and the original permit expires before a decision is made, status can lapse through no fault of the applicant.
04
Misunderstood Conditions of Stay
Some conditions — like the specific employer, school, or work hours listed on a permit — are easy to breach without realizing it, putting status at risk.
The Restoration Process
Since our founding, our primary goal has been to provide immigration in all over country and universities. Our impact is speak louder than our word.
Step 01
Act Within 90 Days
You must submit your restoration application within 90 days of the date your previous status expired. There are no extensions — the deadline is strict.
Step 02
Show You Met Your Original Conditions
You'll need to show that you complied with all the conditions of your original status, and that you haven't violated other requirements such as authorized work or study limits.
Step 03
Pay the Restoration Fee
A restoration application requires the C$200 restoration fee in addition to the fee for the underlying application — a new visitor record, study permit, or work permit.
Step 04
Maintain Status While You Wait
While your application is pending, you must remain in Canada and continue to follow the conditions of your expired status. Leaving the country before a decision is made ends your restoration eligibility.
If You Miss the 90-Day Window
Since our founding, our primary goal has been to provide immigration in all over country and universities. Our impact is speak louder than our word.
Leave Canada
Once the 90-day window closes, you're no longer eligible for restoration and are expected to leave Canada as soon as possible.
Apply From Abroad
You may still be able to apply for a new visitor, study, or work permit from outside Canada, though this often means a longer separation and a fresh application.
Explore a TRP
In limited circumstances — such as an urgent need to remain in Canada — a Temporary Resident Permit may offer a path forward despite the lapse in status.
How to Avoid Needing Restoration
Most restoration cases come down to timing and documentation. Track your permit's expiry date and apply to renew at least 30 to 60 days before it lapses — processing delays are common, and applying early protects you even if IRCC takes longer than expected.
Keep clear records of your compliance: pay stubs, school transcripts, or a letter from your employer or school can all help demonstrate you met your original conditions if a restoration becomes necessary.
If your status has already expired, don't wait. The 90-day window moves quickly, and a restoration application is only as strong as the evidence behind it.
Our team can confirm your eligibility, prepare a complete restoration application, and make sure it's submitted well within your deadline.