Can I Apply for PGWP With Expired Study Permit? What Happens if Yours Runs Out (2026)
- Ansari Immigration
- 24 hours ago
- 7 min read
Can I apply for PGWP with expired study permit status? Yes, but only inside a strict window: you have up to 90 days after your study permit expires to apply for your post-graduation work permit and restore your status as a student. Miss that window and you must leave Canada. Whether you can keep working while you wait depends on one thing: whether your study permit was still valid the day you applied.
Getting this wrong is costly. Working after your permit lapses without the right authorization is unauthorized work, which can follow you into future applications, and letting the 90 days pass means leaving the country and applying from abroad. IRCC sets out the rules on its official how to apply for a PGWP page, and they turn entirely on timing.
Can I Apply for PGWP With Expired Study Permit?
Yes. If your study permit expires and you did not change to visitor status first, IRCC gives you up to 90 days after it expires to apply for your PGWP and restore your status as a student at the same time. You do not file a separate restoration application: you apply online for the PGWP, pay the restoration fee, and attach the receipt.
You have better options if you act before your permit expires. The strongest move is to apply for your PGWP while your study permit is still valid, because that is what lets you keep working while you wait. If you are not ready to apply and your permit will run out before you get your final marks, IRCC lists two ways to stay legal: apply for a visitor record, or leave Canada and apply for your PGWP from outside. A visitor record keeps your status but does not let you work, so applying for the PGWP before your permit expires is almost always the better choice.
Two situations that decide everything
The single fact that changes your outcome is whether your study permit was valid when you submitted your PGWP application. That splits every applicant into one of three situations.
Your situation | Can you stay in Canada? | Can you work while you wait? |
|---|---|---|
You applied while your study permit was still valid | Yes, on maintained status | Yes, full-time, if you also met the work conditions below |
Your permit expired, you apply within 90 days and restore your status | Yes, while restoration is decided | No, not until your PGWP is approved |
More than 90 days passed with no application | No, you must leave Canada | No |
Source: IRCC, Post-graduation work permit: How to apply and After you apply. Verified August 2026.
Can you work while waiting for your PGWP?
This is where most of the anxiety lives, and the rule is precise. You can work full-time while IRCC processes your PGWP only if all of these were true: you had a valid, unexpired study permit at the time you submitted your application, you completed your study program, and you were eligible to work off campus without a work permit while studying and did not work more hours than allowed. Meet all three and you can work the day after you apply, even after your study permit expires, because you are on maintained status.
If IRCC sends you the WP-EXT for PGWP (the IMM 0127 E letter), you can keep working until a decision even if the letter's own validity period passes, and you can request written proof of that authorization through IRCC's web form. If those conditions do not apply to you, you must wait until the work permit itself arrives. Working without authorization is illegal, and if your PGWP is refused you must stop working the day IRCC notifies you.
From Amir's desk: the deciding factor is whether IRCC actually issued your interim work authorization, not how confident you feel about your case.
If you applied while your study permit was still valid, the maintained-status rule lets you keep working while you wait. If your permit had already expired when you applied, you do not get that authorization, and working anyway is the mistake that turns a paperwork problem into a status problem.
In practice, clients who let the permit lapse first and apply second are often surprised that restoring status does not restore the right to work. It does not. The right to work while you wait is earned at the moment you submit, which is exactly why applying a few days early matters so much.
Not sure whether you applied in time to keep working? That is a 30-minute question worth settling before you take a shift, and Ansari Immigration's licensed RCIC can confirm your work authorization from your actual dates.
If your study permit already expired: restoring your status
If you are inside the 90-day window, you can still fix this. You apply online for the PGWP and pay the work permit fees (the PGWP costs $255, which is the $155 work permit fee plus the $100 open work permit holder fee), and you also pay the fee to restore your status as a student. Because of system limitations, you pay the restoration fee online and attach the receipt to your PGWP application rather than filing a separate restoration request. Confirm the current restoration amount on IRCC's fee list, as government fees can change without notice.
While your restoration is being decided you may remain in Canada, but you cannot work until the PGWP is approved. If more than 90 days have already passed since your study permit expired, restoration is no longer available and you must leave Canada and apply from outside. For a fuller walkthrough of the restoration process and current timelines, see our guide on restoration of status.
Before your study permit expires, do this
Check your study permit expiry date against when you expect your final marks or completion letter
If the permit will expire first, apply for a PGWP while it is still valid, or apply for a visitor record to keep legal status
Confirm you were eligible to work off campus and stayed within the hour limits, so you keep the right to work while you wait
Keep proof of your completed program (transcript or completion letter) ready for the 180-day application deadline
If the permit has already expired, count your 90 days carefully and apply to restore your status without delay
Why this matters for your immigration application
A PGWP is usually the bridge between studying in Canada and permanent residence through Express Entry or a provincial stream, so a gap here can cost far more than a few weeks of pay. Unauthorized work is a serious issue that can surface in later applications, and a PGWP is a one-time permit: if you lose eligibility because your status lapsed, there is no second PGWP. The safest move is always to apply before your study permit expires, not after.
Have you had a study permit run close to your PGWP application? Share what your timeline looked like in the comments, and keep it general; for advice on your own file, book a consultation.
Frequently asked questions about applying for PGWP with an expired study permit
Can I apply for PGWP with an expired study permit?
Yes, if it is within 90 days of your study permit expiring. You apply online for the PGWP and restore your status as a student at the same time. After 90 days, you must leave Canada and apply from outside.
What if my study permit expires while waiting for PGWP?
If you already applied while your permit was valid, you are on maintained status and can stay in Canada, and you can keep working if you met the work conditions. Your study permit expiring after you apply does not stop you.
Can I work while waiting for my PGWP?
Only if your study permit was valid when you applied, you completed your program, and you were eligible to work off campus within the hour limits. If your permit had already expired when you applied, you cannot work until the PGWP is approved.
How long do I have to apply for a PGWP?
You have up to 180 days after you complete your program, and your study permit must have been valid at some point during those 180 days. If it expired, the separate 90-day restoration window also applies.
Do I have to pay extra if my study permit expired?
Yes. On top of the $255 PGWP fees, you must pay a fee to restore your status as a student. Check the current restoration amount on IRCC's fee list before you pay.
Can I apply for a PGWP from outside Canada?
Yes. If your study permit has expired and you are past the 90-day window, or you simply prefer to, you can leave Canada and submit your PGWP application from outside the country.
Related Posts
Restoration of Status in Canada: Processing Time and How to Apply in 2026: The full process, fees, and timelines for restoring status as a student or worker within the 90-day window.
PGWP Processing Time Canada 2026: How Long After Graduation?: How long you can expect to wait for a decision once you have applied.
Study Permit Extension Canada: When Students Should Apply and Common Mistakes to Avoid: How to keep your status valid before it expires so you never fall into the restoration scramble.
Why work with Ansari Immigration
If your study permit is close to expiring, the honest answer is often to apply a few days early yourself, and Ansari Immigration will tell you when that is all you need. When status has already lapsed, work authorization is unclear, or the 90-day clock is running, every file is handled personally by the firm's licensed RCIC (R709304, regulated by CICC), with all forms and IRCC correspondence included. An open work permit like a PGWP is a flat CAD $750, quoted upfront, additional family members quoted separately; a consultation is $80 for 30 minutes.
This article is for general information only. It is not legal advice. Program criteria, requirements, processing times, and selection approaches can change without notice. Always confirm details on official government websites or consult a licensed Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) for advice specific to your situation.
Comments