Maintained Status (formerly Implied Status) — Canada TR Bridge

If you apply to extend your work, study, or visitor permit BEFORE it expires, you go onto "maintained status" — formerly called "implied status." This means you legally remain in Canada and can continue working/studying under your existing permit's conditions while IRCC processes your renewal. This page covers what maintained status is, what it allows, and where it stops.

What maintained status is

The legal basis is IRPR (Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations) section 183. A foreign national who has applied to extend or change conditions of their temporary resident status before their current status expires can:

• Remain in Canada legally under existing conditions
• Continue working or studying as authorized by their existing permit
• Wait for IRCC's decision on the renewal application

What maintained status allows

Work permit extension

If you held a work permit and applied for extension before expiry:

• You can keep working for the SAME EMPLOYER under SAME CONDITIONS as the existing permit
• If you have an open work permit (PGWP, BOWP, SOWP), you can work for any Canadian employer
• If you have a closed work permit, you can only work for the named employer

Study permit extension

If you held a study permit and applied for extension before expiry:

• You can continue studying at your DLI
• If your existing permit allows part-time on/off-campus work, you can continue that work

Visitor status extension

If you held visitor status and applied for visitor record extension before expiry:

• You can remain in Canada as a visitor
• You cannot work or study

What maintained status does NOT allow

• Change employer (if closed work permit) — you can only work for the employer named in your existing permit
• Change study program/institution (if study permit) — you must continue at your authorized DLI
• Leave + return to Canada — leaving generally voids maintained status
• Apply for new permits or change of status — those are separate IRCC processes

When does maintained status end?

1. IRCC approves your renewal — new permit issued; you switch to new permit's terms
2. IRCC refuses your renewal — maintained status ends on the refusal letter date. You have until original permit expiry OR 90 days post-expiry (whichever later) to apply for restoration OR you must leave Canada
3. You leave Canada — generally voids maintained status

The critical "before expiry" requirement

Maintained status requires that you submitted the renewal application BEFORE your existing permit expired. Even one day late and:

• You lose status the moment your existing permit expires
• You CANNOT work or study during the 90-day restoration window
• Your renewal is treated as a new application, NOT an extension

Halani recommends applying 60-90 days before permit expiry to give buffer for any IRCC complications.

Confirming you're on maintained status

IRCC doesn't issue a separate "maintained status confirmation document." You confirm by:

• Application receipt from IRCC (showing you submitted before expiry date)
• Your existing permit (still in your possession)
• Employer-side: your employer may need this evidence for payroll/HR records

If you need formal documentation (e.g., for travel insurance, employer verification), you can apply for a Letter of Acceptance / Letter of Confirmation via IRCC web form.

Cross-permit type renewals

If you're applying for a DIFFERENT type of permit (e.g., transitioning from study to work, or PGWP to LMIA work permit), the rules differ:

• You maintain status (you can legally remain in Canada) but you can't necessarily continue work/study activities that the new permit type would authorize until it's actually approved
• Example: Study permit holder applies for work permit. You can REMAIN in Canada but cannot start working until the work permit is approved

Common maintained status mistakes

• Applying ONE DAY after permit expiry — no maintained status; goes straight to restoration territory
• Changing employer (on closed work permit) while on maintained status — unauthorized work
• Traveling outside Canada during maintained status — voids the status
• Assuming maintained status = full re-authorization — you're only authorized to do what your EXISTING permit authorized
• Continuing to study at a different DLI on maintained status — unauthorized study

FAQ

Related: Restoration of Status · Status extension · BOWP