What is implied status?

Implied status is the legal status of a foreign national who has applied to extend their current temporary status (work permit, study permit, or visitor status) before the current status expires, and is now awaiting IRCC's decision on the extension.

Under section 183 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR), implied status allows the applicant to remain legally in Canada under the same conditions as their previous permit while IRCC processes the extension application.

How implied status works

1. Foreign national holds a valid permit (study, work, or visitor record) with a specific expiry date.
2. Before that expiry date, they submit an application to extend or change their status.
3. From the application submission date forward, they are on implied status — regardless of whether the original permit physically expires before the decision.
4. They can continue to work or study under the conditions of the most recent permit until a decision is made.

What implied status DOES allow

• Continued legal residence in Canada.
• Continued work/study under the same conditions as the previous permit (open or closed, employer-specific, hours, NOC).
• Travel within Canada.

What implied status does NOT allow

• Travel outside Canada: leaving Canada under implied status is risky — re-entry may not be permitted, and the implied status ends on departure.
• Working under different conditions than the previous permit: if you applied to switch from a closed work permit to a new role, you cannot start the new role until the new permit is issued.
• Working in Canada if your previous permit didn't include work authorization: e.g., a visitor on visitor record cannot work just because they applied for a work permit — they must wait for the new permit.

Critical timing

• Submit before expiry: missing the pre-expiry deadline forfeits implied status. You then have only 90 days to apply for restoration of status (separate process) before being out of status and required to leave Canada.
• Applications submitted on the expiry date itself are typically considered timely.
• Confirmation: IRCC issues an acknowledgment letter after submission; print or save this as proof of implied status.

Common gotchas

• Travel risk: avoid international travel while on implied status. If you must travel and re-enter, you'll typically need a new TRV/eTA, and your previous status may be terminated.
• Employer awareness: brief your employer that you're on implied status. HR may need to see the application receipt and understand the legal framework.
• Different conditions during implied status: if you're switching from PGWP to a closed LMIA-supported permit, you continue to have PGWP-style open work rights during implied status (not the new closed-permit limitations).

See also

• BOWP — bridging open work permit for PR applicants.
• Status Extension service.