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Extend or change the conditions on your work permit: How to apply

COVID-19: workers changing jobs or employers

You may not need to wait until your new employer-specific work permit arrives to start a new job or work for a new employer. If you’re eligible, you may start working after you get an approval email.

How to apply

Before you apply, make sure your employer has completed all the required steps.

If you need to leave Canada and plan to return

If your visitor visa expired, you need to apply for a new visitor visa before you’ll be able to travel back to Canada. You don’t automatically get a new visa when you apply to extend or change your work permit.

In most cases, you must apply online to extend or change the conditions on your work permit.

How applying online helps you

  • You can make sure your application is complete before you submit it.
  • You’ll get a letter (WP-EXT except PGWP) that proves you can keep working under the same conditions as your current work permit.
    • You won’t get this if you apply on paper because we won’t know if your application is complete until we review it.
  • No courier fees or mail delivery time — we get your application instantly.
  • You can quickly submit more documents online (if we ask you to).
  • You get updates on the status of your application directly in your online account.

Step 1: Make sure you have what you need

To apply online, you’ll need:

  • a scanner or camera to create electronic copies of your documents, and
  • a valid credit or debit card.
If you can’t apply online

You can submit a paper application if either

  • you can’t apply online because of a disability
  • there’s a problem with the online application
    • In some cases, you may be able to apply online if you follow special instructions.

What to do if you have problems applying online

Credit cards and prepaid cards

We accept credit cards and prepaid cards from:

  • Visa®
  • MasterCard®
  • American Express®
  • JCB®
  • UnionPay® (for online applications only; debit cards not accepted)

If you use a prepaid credit card, keep it for at least 18 months after you pay to make refunds easier. Find more on prepaid cards.

We also accept all Visa Debit cards.

The card you use doesn't have to be in your name. The cardholder’s name will appear on the receipt but it does not need to match your application.

Debit cards

It must:

  • be from a Canadian bank using INTERAC® Online, and
  • be registered for online banking through your bank’s website.

We also accept all Debit MasterCard® and Visa® Debit cards. If your card has the Visa Debit logo on it, alone or with the INTERAC® Online logo, select Visa Debit as your payment method.

The card you use does not have to be in your name. The cardholder’s name will appear on the receipt but it does not need to match your application.

Letter that proves you’re authorized to work (WP-EXT except PGWP)

After you apply online, we’ll send you a letter (in your online account) that you can use as proof that you’re authorized to keep working.

You can print it and attach it to your current work permit, or show it to your employer. It’s proof that you’re authorized to keep working under the same conditions as your original work permit until we process your application.

Step 2: Read the instruction guide

Even if you apply online, you should read the instruction guide before you complete your application. The guide will explain how to complete each field on the form.

Venezuelan passport holders

You may need to complete extra steps when you fill out your application.

If the printed expiry date on your Venezuelan passport has passed

If the printed expiry date has passed and you’re applying for a visitor visa, study permit, work permit or to extend your stay as a temporary resident in Canada, follow these steps:

  1. Add 5 years to the printed expiry date shown on your passport and enter it in the expiry date field of the application form.
  2. Include a letter of explanation with your application stating: “I am a Venezuelan national with a Venezuelan passport, which has been extended for 5 years”.

Warning: If your passport is still expired after adding 5 years to the printed expiry date, your passport is considered expired. You’re not eligible to submit an application with that passport.

Step 3: Prepare your answers for the online tool

Before you can upload your forms, you must answer some questions. We use your answers to create a personalized document checklist for you.

Step 4: Know the fees you have to pay

In most cases, your fees will include processing fees for you and anyone you include on your application

We’ll ask you to pay your fees at the end of your application.

Fees for open work permits

If you’re applying for an open work permit, make sure you pay both fees:

Fee exemptions for Ukrainian nationals and their family members

You don’t need to pay any fees when you apply to extend or change your work permit. This includes applications to change the conditions on your work permit and remove job restrictions.

If you need to apply for a work permit, extend your work permit or remove the job restrictions on it, follow these special instructions.

COVID-19: Changes to biometrics requirement for in-Canada temporary residence applicants

As a temporary measure, if you’re in Canada and applying to work, study or stay temporarily in Canada, you do not need to give your biometrics. Learn more about the exemption.

Step 5: Create your online account or sign in

You need an account to apply online. You can use your account to:

Create an account or sign in

Problem with the online application

If you’re trying to apply for a work permit online in one of the categories below, you may have problems getting the right result. If you’re not sure if this applies to you, ask your employer.

LMIA-exempt applicants

  • Permanent residence applicants in Canada who
    • used Express Entry to submit their permanent residence application, and
    • have received an acknowledgment of receipt letter (A75)
  • Open work permit pilot program for permanent residence applicants in the spouse or common-law partner in Canada class (A70)
  • Foreign physicians coming to work in Quebec (C10)
  • Refugee claimants (S61)
  • Failed refugee claimants waiting for removal who need to support themselves (S62)
  • Persons under an unenforceable removal order (S62)
  • Live-in caregivers who have submitted their permanent residence application (A71)
  • In-Canada applicants under the Home Child-Care Provider Pilot or the Home Support Worker Pilot (C90) and their family members (C91)
  • Post-graduation work permit extension (C43)
  • Destitute students (H81)
  • Holders of a temporary resident permit that’s valid for a minimum of 6 months (H82)
  • Start-up visa workers (A75)
  • International Experience Canada: Extend your participation or change conditions on your work permit (C21)

LMIA-required applicants

  • Seafood-processing workers
  • Agricultural workers who are not part of the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program

Visitors to Canada

  • Visitors in Canada applying for an initial study permit, work permit or both who are accompanying a spouse holding a low-skilled work permit
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