Restoration of status.
If your visitor, study or work status has ended, restoration may be possible within 90 days, but only if the requirements are met. This is time-sensitive work and a careful eligibility check is essential before filing.
Who this is for
Visitors, students and workers in Canada whose status has ended within the past 90 days and who wish to remain lawfully.
Decision factors
- The date status ended and the calculation of the 90-day window
- Compliance with all conditions of the previous status
- Continued eligibility for the underlying visitor, study or work permit
- Whether working or studying without authorization has occurred
Evidence commonly needed
- Prior permit and status documents
- Explanation and evidence of what happened
- Fresh underlying application (visitor, study or work) where relevant
- Payment of restoration fee and any implicit status considerations
Process
- Urgent eligibility assessment
- Preparation of the restoration and underlying application
- Response to further document requests
- Advice on what activities may or may not continue during processing
Risks and honest limits
Restoration is not automatic. If you continued to work or study after status ended, restoration becomes much harder. Leaving Canada usually forecloses the option.
How an RCIC helps
We act quickly, calculate the window precisely, and prepare a restoration that meets the real requirements rather than a hopeful filing.
Official sources
- Restore your status as a worker (IRCC)
- Guide 5551: applying to change conditions or extend your stay in Canada
- IRCC help centre: restoration of status
Reviewed by Awal Takkar, MSc, LIA, RCIC. Last reviewed: July 18, 2026.
A few things clients often ask.
How long do I have?
A restoration application normally must be made within 90 days after loss of status. Eligibility conditions for the underlying visitor, study or work status must still be met.
Calculating the exact loss-of-status date and confirming whether maintained status applied can be case-specific. Book a private consultation.
Can I keep working during restoration?
No. You must stop working as soon as your work permit or authorization to work expires. A restoration application does not authorize you to work while it is being processed. You may resume work only after IRCC restores your status and issues the required work authorization.
If you are unsure when your authorization ended or whether maintained status applied, a case-specific review with an RCIC can clarify the safest next step. Book a private consultation.
What if I already left Canada?
Restoration is an in-Canada process. If you have left Canada, there is generally no temporary status in Canada to restore. A new application from outside Canada is usually the appropriate route, based on the status or authorization you now need.
An RCIC can identify the correct fresh application and address any overstay or unauthorized work history before you apply again. Book a private consultation.
Related services and next steps.
Temporary residence overview
How visitor, study and work permit rules interact.
Visitor visas and records
Related visitor extension services.
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For a general question that is not urgent. Not legal advice; please avoid sensitive documents.
Information current as of July 2026. Program rules and intake can change without notice.
This page provides general information about Canadian immigration and does not constitute legal advice. For advice specific to your matter, please book a consultation with an RCIC.
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