300,000+ Work Permits Expired in March: What Implied Status Means for You

As of early March 2026, Canada was in the final weeks of the largest work permit expiry event in the country's history. More than 300,000 work permits were set to expire by March 31, part of a broader wave of 1.9 million temporary resident permits expiring across 2026.

What Is Implied Status

Implied status is the legal protection that allows a temporary resident to continue working in Canada legally after their permit expires, as long as they applied for a renewal before the expiry date. Under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, implied status maintains your conditions of entry while IRCC processes your application.

Critically: if you wait until after your permit expires to apply, implied status does not apply. You must apply before expiry. Working in Canada after a permit expires without implied status is a violation of your immigration conditions.

How Long Does Implied Status Last

Implied status continues until IRCC makes a decision on your renewal application, as long as you remain inside Canada. It does not allow you to leave and re-enter Canada. If you travel internationally while on implied status and your renewal has not been decided, you may not be able to re-enter.

What Employers Need to Know

Canadian employers are permitted to continue employing a worker on implied status. The worker's existing conditions, including any employer-specific or occupation-specific restrictions, remain in effect. Employers should verify that workers applied for renewal before the expiry date and keep documentation on file.

The Bigger Picture

IRCC has committed to prioritizing renewal processing for critical sector workers in healthcare, agriculture, and long-term care. Workers outside these sectors may face longer wait times.