Renouveler à temps — la règle qui protège votre statut.
1. Renew early — the golden rule
A study or work permit has an expiry date. If you stay in Canada past that date, you must renew or extend it.
The golden rule: start the process several months ahead, ideally 4 to 6 months before expiry. For a Quebec-linked permit, the CAQ is renewed before the federal permit — Quebec first, federal second.
| Permit type | CAQ to renew first? | Recommended lead time before expiry |
|---|---|---|
| Study permit (linked to CAQ) | Yes | 4 to 6 months |
| Work permit (linked to CAQ) | Yes | 4 to 6 months |
| Work permit (without CAQ) | No | 3 to 4 months |
| Transitional open permit (BOWP) | No — separate application | As soon as the PR application is admissible |
2. Maintained status
Here is the most important protection to know.
If you file your renewal application before your current permit expires, you keep your status while the government processes the application. This is maintained status (sometimes called implied status). You can generally continue to study or work under the same conditions, until a decision is made.
The essential condition is simple: file before expiry. A single day late makes all the difference.
3. The bridging open work permit (while awaiting PR)
If you have filed a permanent-residence application and your work permit is approaching expiry, you may be eligible for a bridging open work permit.
This open permit lets you continue working — for any employer — while your permanent-residence application is processed. It is a bridge between your current permit and permanent status. Mind the scope: this permit covers a closed list of programmes — Express Entry, the Provincial Nominee Program, Quebec skilled workers, the caregiver pilots, Agri-Food, Quebec investors. Family or spousal sponsorship is NOT on it (IRCC).
4. Travelling during processing
Two traps almost nobody knows. First, on maintained status you generally cannot renew your provincial documents — in Quebec, that means your RAMQ card and your SAAQ driver's licence (IRCC): make sure they are valid before your permit expires. Second, if you file online, the deadline is midnight UTC, not midnight where you live — Quebec is UTC−4/−5, so filing at 21:00 local on expiry day is already late.
Maintained status protects you inside Canada, but not necessarily on return from a trip abroad.
If you leave Canada while your renewal is being processed, you may not be able to re-enter with the same rights. Before any travel outside Canada during a renewal period, check the current rules or consult a professional.
5. Your action list
Follow these steps to renew your permit without interrupting your status. Check each box as you go — your progress is saved if you're signed in.
6. Frequently asked questions
The most common questions on renewing a permit: maintained status, what happens if the permit expires, working during processing, and the bridging open work permit.
Can I keep working or studying during processing?
Yes — if you filed your application before expiry of your current permit. That is maintained status: while you wait, you generally keep the right to continue under the same conditions as before.
But if you did NOT file before expiry, you have no such right, and continuing would be unauthorized. The whole protection hinges on filing on time.
What happens if my permit expires before I file?
You lose your temporary-resident status and the right to study or work, immediately, on the expiry date.
There is sometimes a restoration of status in a limited window after expiry — but it is uncertain, paid, and with no right to work in the meantime. It is a safety net to never plan to use.
What is the bridging open work permit (BOWP)?
It is an open work permit for people who have already filed a permanent-residence application and whose current permit is running out.
Without it, a worker on a closed permit could be forced to stop working while waiting for permanent residence. The bridging permit lets them keep working, for any employer. Mind the scope: the bridging permit covers a closed list of programs — Express Entry, the Provincial Nominee Program, Quebec skilled workers, the caregiver pilots, Agri-Food, Quebec investors. Family or spousal sponsorship is NOT on it (IRCC): if that is your route, do not plan on this permit.
Do I renew the CAQ too, or only the federal permit?
If your permit is tied to a CAQ — typically a study permit, and many work permits in Quebec — you renew the CAQ as well, and you do it first. The order is the same as for the first application: Quebec before federal.
Because two levels of government are involved, each with its own processing time, starting 4 to 6 months ahead is the realistic minimum.
7. See also
These related resources may be useful:
- The Quebec work permit — closed permit, open permit, and conditions.
- The CAQ and study permit — for international students.
- The CSQ — Quebec Selection Certificate — toward permanent residence.
8. Official sources
For official and up-to-date information:
Author's Note: this entire guide comes down to one habit — file before expiry. Maintained status protects those who are on time; it does not exist for latecomers. Put the expiry date in your calendar, and count back six months.