Step-by-Step Guide: Renewing Your Work Permit

Renewing Your Work Permit as a Refugee Claimant

As a refugee claimant, you can usually apply to extend your work permit as long as your refugee claim is still in process and you have not been ordered to leave Canada.

We recommend starting your work permit renewal process at least 3 months before your current permit expires. Processing times can be over 200 days, so applying early helps ensure you can continue working without interruption. Check IRCC processing times - Canada.ca

If you have other questions about your work permit, visit Work permit: Questions and problems

To continue working, you must renew your work permit before it expires. As long as the application is received before the expiration date, you can continue working until you receive your new work permit. 

You can continue to work even though your SIN is expired if you:

• have applied for a renewal of a work or study permit, and your permit expires before a decision is made, or
• have received an email confirming your permit has been approved and you are waiting for the work or study permit in the mail

Once you received your new official immigration document from IRCC, you must apply to Service Canada to update the expiry date of your SIN record to match the expiry date of your permit.

For more information, please visit If your temporary SIN expires (begins with 9).

If you want to apply by yourself, follow the instructions below, if you need further help, here is a list of Organizations that help with work permit issues

Online application 

1. Gather required documents

You'll typically need:

• Copy of your current work permit
• Copy of your passport (all pages with stamps/info, if available)
• Copy of your Refugee Protection Claimant Document (RPCD)
• Proof of Immigration Medical Exam (IME). If you've completed an Immigration Medical Exam in the past five years and it indicated no risk to public health or safety, you might be exempt from another exam.
• Digital photo
• IMM 5710 form (Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Worker)

2. Create or log in to your IRCC account

 Online form

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/account.html

Log in or create a GCKey or Sign-In Partner account.

3. Start a new application

Choose: Apply to come to Canada

Then: Work permit

Answer the questions to generate your personal document checklist

Select: “I am applying to extend my work permit” or “continue working in Canada” as a refugee claimant

4. Upload documents

• Follow the checklist generated
• The application fee is usually CAD $155 but if you're a refugee claimant is free.
• If your biometrics are still valid (they are valid for 10 years), you don’t need to redo them

5. Submit and wait

After submission, you’ll get:

• A confirmation message
• Updates through your IRCC account

Processing time can vary, usually several weeks 

Paper application

If you prefer a paper application, download the application package from the IRCC site and mail it, but online is faster and preferred.

Paper application package

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/permit/temporary/apply-paper.html

If you did not receive your work permit

Call IRCC

1-888-242-2100 (It is highly recommended to call at 8am)

Or

• Fill out a contact form to IRCC IRCC Webform (cic.gc.ca) and you will receive an email with further instructions.
• You can also apply to get a copy for a replacement of an immigration document ($30 fee) by filling out the forms found on this link:  https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/application-forms-guides/application-verification-status-replacement-immigration-document.html

 

Check the organizations that help with work permit issues

Note: Ensure you have changed your address to your current domicile before contacting IRCC or submitting an application. For information on how to update your address with IRCC see “Change of address” article.