Quick Answer: What Happens When Your Work Permit Expires Before PR?

Still Waiting for Your PR? Your Work Permit Doesn’t Have to Hold You Back

You did everything right. You submitted your PR application through Express Entry or the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). You sent every document IRCC asked for. And now, while you wait for a decision that could take months, you’re watching your work permit in Ontario creep closer to its expiry date.

This situation is more common than most people realize — and it is manageable. Canadian immigration law provides specific pathways designed for exactly this gap. You are not alone, and this is not the end of your options.

This article walks you through the three scenarios Ontario workers face when their permit is expiring during a PR application: what to do if your permit is still valid, what your rights are if you’re already on maintained status, and what steps remain open if your permit has already lapsed. Wherever you are in that timeline right now, there is a path forward.

Find Your Situation: Three Paths Depending on Where You Are Today

Before reading the detailed sections below, find the scenario that matches your situation right now. Each path points you to the options most relevant to you.

If you are unsure which path applies — especially if your PR application is through Express Entry or a provincial nominee program — the sections below explain each scenario in detail.

Maintained Status vs. Bridging Open Work Permit: What’s the Difference?

When your work permit expires and you have already applied for an extension or change, you do not immediately lose your right to work. Maintained status kicks in automatically — you continue working under the exact same conditions as your expired permit. If your permit was employer-specific (tied to one company through an LMIA, or Labour Market Impact Assessment), you must continue working for that same employer in the same role. If you had an open work permit, you generally retain that flexibility.

A Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) is different — and in many ways more powerful. A BOWP is a separate open work permit that IRCC issues specifically to eligible PR applicants. Unlike maintained status, a BOWP is not tied to a specific employer, job, or location. Once issued, you may work for virtually any employer in Canada while your permanent residency in Canada application continues to be processed.

To qualify for a BOWP, you must meet the following conditions at the time you apply:

• › You hold a valid work permit or are on maintained status as a worker
• › You have submitted a complete PR application and received an Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR) from IRCC
• › Your PR application is under one of the eligible streams: Express Entry (Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades), an OINP-linked category, or the Atlantic Immigration Program
• › Your application has passed IRCC’s R10 completeness check

The practical difference matters enormously if your current permit is employer-specific. Maintained status keeps you tied to your current employer. A BOWP sets you free to take any job while you wait for PR approval. If your situation qualifies for a BOWP, applying for one — rather than simply relying on maintained status — is almost always the stronger option.

How to Apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit in Ontario: Step by Step

Applying for a BOWP is an online process through the IRCC portal. Here is each step in order:

1. 1
   Confirm your PR stream qualifies for a BOWP.Eligible streams include Express Entry categories (Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades), OINP-linked categories under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program, and the Atlantic Immigration Program. If you applied under a different provincial program or a humanitarian stream, confirm eligibility with an immigration lawyer before applying.
2. 2
   Confirm you have a valid AOR from IRCC.Your Acknowledgement of Receipt is the letter IRCC sends once your PR application is confirmed complete and accepted into processing. Without it, IRCC may refuse your BOWP application. Note: submitting a profile to the Express Entry pool is not the same as having a PR application in processing — you need a formal AOR.
3. 3
   Confirm your current permit status.Your work permit must still be valid, or you must be on maintained status as a worker. If your permit has already expired and you are not on maintained status, a BOWP application may be refused. Address your status first.
4. 4
   Gather your documents.You will need: your current work permit, your AOR letter from IRCC, your PR application confirmation number, a valid passport, and any proof of maintained status if your permit has already expired (such as your IRCC submission confirmation letter showing your extension application was received before expiry).
5. 5
   Apply online using IRCC form IMM 5710.Log into your IRCC secure account and apply to extend or change your work permit conditions. Select “Open Work Permit” as the type and follow the prompts to upload your AOR letter. Pay the work permit processing fee and the open work permit holder fee. In most cases, the application must be submitted online.
6. 6
   Receive your BOWP and confirm work authorization with your employer.Once IRCC issues your BOWP, you may work for any employer in Canada. Provide a copy to your current employer and to any new employer you join. Your BOWP remains valid until your PR application is decided or until the permit’s expiry date, whichever comes first.

For work permit extension options beyond the BOWP — including LMIA-supported extensions for workers whose PR stream may not qualify — a consultation with a licensed immigration lawyer can identify the best route for your specific situation.

What Ontario Workers Often Overlook: OHIP, SIN, and Provincial Documents

Most articles about work permit expiry focus entirely on federal IRCC rules. What they miss — and what can create real problems for Ontario workers — are the provincial documents that have their own expiry rules, independent of your immigration status.

OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance Plan)

Your health card has an expiry date tied to your immigration status. When you are on maintained status, your OHIP coverage may not renew automatically. Contact Service Ontario with a copy of your IRCC submission confirmation letter showing your extension application was received before your permit expired. Each situation may be assessed individually — contact Service Ontario directly to confirm.

Social Insurance Number (SIN)

Temporary residents receive a SIN beginning with a “9,” which has an expiry date tied to your work permit. When your permit expires, your SIN technically expires with it. It does not update automatically when you are on maintained status. Contact Service Canada with proof of maintained status or your new permit to update your SIN expiry date. An expired SIN can create payroll and tax filing complications with your employer.

Ontario Driver’s Licence

Renewing your Ontario driver’s licence while solely on maintained status can be difficult. ServiceOntario typically requires proof of valid immigration status documentation. Drivers should contact their local ServiceOntario office to confirm what documents are accepted before the licence renewal date arrives.

Mistakes That Can Put Your PR at Risk — and How to Avoid Them

These are the six most consequential mistakes Ontario workers make when navigating the gap between work permit expiry and PR approval. Each one is avoidable with the right information.

• ×Assuming your PR AOR automatically extends your work permit. It does not. Your Acknowledgement of Receipt confirms IRCC received your PR application — it has no direct effect on your work permit. Your permit continues to expire on its original date. You must apply separately to extend your permit or apply for a BOWP.
• ×Applying for a BOWP without a confirmed AOR in hand. IRCC may refuse a BOWP application that does not include a valid AOR. Simply having submitted a PR application is not enough — you need written confirmation from IRCC that the application is complete and in processing.
• ×Attempting to apply for a BOWP at the border by flagpoling. Flagpoling — the practice of crossing into the United States and immediately re-entering Canada to apply for a new permit at the port of entry — is explicitly not permitted for BOWP applications. IRCC requires BOWP applications to be submitted online from inside Canada.
• ×Changing employers while on maintained status with an LMIA-based permit. Maintained status preserves the conditions of your expired permit, not a new or expanded authorization. If your expired permit named a specific employer and job, those restrictions continue to apply. Working for a different employer in this situation may constitute unauthorized work.
• ×Missing the 90-day restoration window. If your permit has expired and you did not apply for an extension in time, you have 90 days under IRPR s. 182 to apply to restore your status as a worker. After those 90 days, this option is no longer available and you may be required to leave Canada. If you believe an IRCC refusal and judicial review may be relevant to your situation, speak with a lawyer.

• ×Ignoring IRCC’s R10 completeness check on your PR application. Before IRCC issues an AOR, your PR application goes through an administrative review called the R10 completeness check. If your application is returned for missing documents, your AOR is voided — and with it, the basis for any BOWP you may have already applied for. Keep your PR application current and respond promptly to any IRCC correspondence.

Frequently Asked Questions About Work Permit Expiry and PR in Ontario

About the author

Qasim Ali

Principal Lawyer · Nihang Law Professional Corporation · Toronto & Scarborough, Ontario · Law Society of Ontario

Qasim Ali is the Principal Lawyer at Nihang Law Professional Corporation, serving clients across Toronto, Scarborough, and the broader Greater Toronto Area. He provides full-service legal representation across immigration, real estate, family law, criminal law, civil litigation, employment law, wills and estates, and business law.

Nihang Law is particularly recognized for its depth in immigration and real estate law — a combination that serves newcomers and growing families navigating both legal systems simultaneously.

Learn more about Qasim Ali →

Sources & References

1. Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), s. 183(5) — Maintained Status: laws-lois.justice.gc.ca
2. Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR), s. 182 — Restoration of Status: laws-lois.justice.gc.ca
3. IRCC — Bridging Open Work Permit: canada.ca
4. IRCC — What to do if your work permit expires: canada.ca
5. IRCC Help Centre — Work permit expired, can I stay and work: ircc.canada.ca
6. IRCC Processing Times Tool: canada.ca
7. Service Ontario — Get an Ontario health card: ontario.ca
8. Service Canada — Social Insurance Number: canada.ca
9. Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP): ontario.ca
10. IRCC Processing Times update (April 15, 2026): immigrationnewscanada.ca