As of June 2025, Canada has implemented a key regulatory change that effectively shuts down a widely exploited loophole in the work permit extension process. This change primarily targets the misuse of maintained status, a mechanism that allowed foreign workers and international students to legally remain in Canada while awaiting decisions on permit renewals—often through repetitive or questionable applications.
What Is Maintained Status—and How It Was Misused
Under Canada’s immigration rules, anyone who submits a work permit extension before their current permit expires qualifies for maintained status, which lets them remain and work in Canada until a decision is made.
But this rule has been widely exploited.
The Problem with “Dummy” Work Permit Applications
Dummy applications typically:
- Involve open work permits, which do not require LMIA or a specific job offer
- Are submitted just before a refusal is expected
- Exploit long processing times (averaging 158 days as of June 2025)
- Are used to buy time for PNP nominations or Express Entry draws
IRCC’s data shows that this loophole not only created massive processing delays, but also exposed the system to fraud and misrepresentation.
Previously, individuals who applied for an extension before the expiry of their work permit were granted maintained status, enabling them to continue working under the same conditions. In many cases, applicants filed multiple work permit extensions—sometimes back-to-back—without valid job offers or supporting documentation. This strategy, commonly referred to as “dummy applications,” was used to prolong legal status while applicants waited for better immigration outcomes such as Express Entry draws, Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) nominations, or LMIA approvals.
This practice became more common due to lengthy processing delays. As of June 2025, the average processing time for a work permit extension stands at 158 days. During this time, applicants continued to live and work in Canada, often without a genuine pathway forward. The extended wait periods allowed them to accumulate Canadian work experience or secure employment that would eventually support a permanent residence application.
However, the new IRCC policy brings a significant shift. Now, once the first extension application is refused, the individual’s maintained status ends immediately—even if a second or third application had been submitted before the refusal. This means there are no longer second chances or overlapping extensions that can serve as a backup. A refusal now leads directly to the loss of legal status, potentially resulting in job termination, the need to apply for restoration of status within 90 days, or departure from Canada altogether.
This change introduces greater risk for temporary residents who may have relied on the former system as a safety net. Students nearing the expiry of their post-graduation work permits and foreign workers whose permits are ending must now ensure their first extension application is complete, well-documented, and compliant with all eligibility criteria. There’s no longer any margin for error. Mistakes, missing documents, or ineligibility in the initial submission now carry immediate consequences.
A key driver of this policy update is the misuse of open work permits. These permits typically don’t require a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or a job offer number, making it easier for applicants to file an extension without clear intent or proof of employment. The IRCC has clarified that work permit applications without an LMIA are only acceptable in cases where:
- The employer has already submitted an LMIA and a decision is pending,
- The application falls under a valid LMIA-exempt category, or
- The applicant is eligible to apply from within Canada based on specific criteria.
By tightening the rules, IRCC aims to curb the volume of illegitimate applications that create backlogs and strain administrative resources. The department has also started triaging extension applications more aggressively. Applications lacking supporting documents, employment letters, or evidence of eligibility are more likely to be rejected at the intake stage, which helps prioritize genuine cases and reduce wait times.
From January to April 2025 alone, IRCC processed nearly 491,400 work permit applications. Despite this effort, backlogs remain significant—now comprising roughly 35% of the total inventory. With over 500,000 temporary foreign workers arriving in just the first four months of 2025, the system remains under pressure. These conditions have prompted IRCC to adopt stricter intake management to ensure the integrity and fairness of Canada’s temporary foreign worker program.
While this policy may discourage misuse, it also creates uncertainty for applicants navigating an already complex system. Individuals who previously relied on overlapping applications for legal protection must now plan far more carefully. The emphasis has shifted to accuracy, timing, and legitimate documentation in the first and only extension submission. Failure to do so could result in serious legal and immigration consequences, including inadmissibility and removal from Canada.
Summary Takeaways:
- IRCC has ended maintained status for applicants whose first extension request is refused, even if subsequent applications are submitted.
- The average processing time for work permit extensions is now 158 days.
- Dummy extensions, especially those using open work permits, are being rejected or flagged more often.
- IRCC is emphasizing triaging and intake control to reject non-genuine applications faster.
- Applicants must now rely entirely on a complete, accurate first submission, with no second chances.