IMM 5710: How to Fill Out the Work Permit Extension Form in Canada

Ansari Immigration
2 days ago
5 min read

The IMM 5710 is the IRCC form you use to extend your work permit, change the conditions of your stay, or apply for an initial work permit from inside Canada. Officially titled the Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Worker, it is the core form behind most in-Canada work permit applications.

What the IMM 5710 form is for

According to IRCC, the IMM 5710 must be completed by each person who wants to apply for an extension of their work permit or change the conditions of their stay in Canada, including applying for an initial work permit. That means it covers three different situations with one form: renewing a permit that is about to expire, switching from one permit type or employer to another, and applying for your first work permit after arriving on another status.

The current version of the form is dated September 2023. Always download a fresh copy from the official IRCC IMM 5710 page rather than reusing an old saved file, because an outdated version can be returned to you.

A young woman sitting in a well-lit home office, diligently typing data into a digital Canadian IMM 5710 work permit application form displayed on her laptop screen, with a Canadian passport on the desk beside her.

How to fill out the IMM 5710 form, section by section

The IMM 5710 is a fillable PDF organized into clearly labelled sections. Work through them in order:

Personal details: your full name exactly as it appears on your passport, date of birth, country of citizenship, and current immigration status in Canada.
Language: your preferred language for correspondence and your ability in English or French.
Passport: passport number, country of issue, and expiry date. You cannot be issued a work permit that runs past your passport expiry, so check this date carefully.
National identity document and US PR card: complete only if they apply to you.
Contact information: your mailing and residential address in Canada, plus email and phone.
Coming into Canada: the date you entered and the details of your most recent entry.
Details of intended work in Canada: your employer, job title, work location, and the start and end dates you are requesting.
Education and employment history: your studies and work background.
Background information: the security and admissibility questions. Answer every one, and if you answer "yes" to any, provide the required explanation.

In practice, the fields immigration officers scrutinize most on a work permit application are the intended-work details and the background questions. Vague job descriptions and unanswered background questions are two of the most common reasons a file is returned or delayed.

How to submit your IMM 5710 application

In most cases, IRCC requires you to apply online to extend or change the conditions of your work permit. The steps are:

Read the instruction guide for the form, even if you are applying online, so you know how to complete each field.
Answer the eligibility questions in your IRCC secure account to generate your personalized document checklist.
Complete and upload your IMM 5710 along with the documents on your checklist.
Pay your fees. The work permit processing fee is $155. If you are applying for an open work permit, you also pay the $100 open work permit holder fee.
Pay the biometrics fee if you are asked to give biometrics, then submit your application through your account.

If your work permit is close to expiring, do not wait. Speak with Amir Ansari, RCIC, before you submit your IMM 5710 so a small error does not cost you your status. You can book a consultation to have your application reviewed before it goes to IRCC.

Common IMM 5710 mistakes that cause delays

A completed form is not the same as a valid one. When explaining this to students, the distinction I draw is between a form that has every box filled in and a form that IRCC can actually accept. Clients who come to us after a refusal or a request for more documents most often made one of these errors: using an expired version of the form, requesting an end date past their passport expiry, leaving the intended-work section vague, or applying after their current permit had already expired and losing maintained status. If you are unsure of the broader process, our guide on how to extend a work permit in Canada walks through it step by step.

Maintained status is the protection that lets you keep working under your current conditions while IRCC processes your extension, but only if you apply before your permit expires. For an online application, IRCC must receive it before midnight UTC on your expiry date, so know the difference between your local time and UTC.

A confident young man standing in a modern office with large windows, looking smilingly at his smartphone which displays a notification message: "WORK PERMIT EXTENDED. STATUS: MAINTAINED." A graphic on the glass partition reads "PERMANENT RESIDENCE PATHWAY OPEN" next to a red maple leaf.

Why getting the IMM 5710 right matters

Your work permit is what keeps you authorized to work and, in many cases, what keeps your path to permanent residence open through programs like the Canadian Experience Class under Express Entry. A returned or refused extension can interrupt your employment and your status at the same time. Treat the IMM 5710 as the foundation of your in-Canada work permit application, not as a quick form to rush through the night before your permit expires.

Frequently asked questions about the IMM 5710

What is the IMM 5710 form?

It is the IRCC Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Worker. You use it to extend a work permit, change the conditions of your stay, or apply for an initial work permit from within Canada.

How do I fill out the IMM 5710?

Download the current PDF from IRCC, complete each section in order using the details from your passport and job offer, answer all background questions, and follow the form's own validation instructions before uploading it.

How do I submit the IMM 5710 online?

Sign in to your IRCC secure account, answer the eligibility questions to get your document checklist, upload your completed IMM 5710 and supporting documents, then pay your fees and submit.

How do I download the IMM 5710 form?

Download it directly from the official IRCC IMM 5710 page. Save it to your computer, open it in Adobe Reader, and complete it there rather than in a browser preview.

Can I edit the IMM 5710 after I save it?

Yes, you can reopen and edit the saved PDF before you submit it. Once you upload and submit the application through your IRCC account, you cannot simply edit it, so review every field carefully first.

Do I need an LMIA to extend my work permit?

Only for jobs that require one. If your position is LMIA-based, your employer must give you a positive LMIA decision letter before you apply. Open and LMIA-exempt work permit holders do not need one.

Every work permit situation is different, and the IMM 5710 is easy to get wrong under deadline pressure. For a review of your specific work permit extension before you submit, book a consultation with Amir Ansari, RCIC, a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant who files these applications and teaches immigration law in Vancouver.

How to Extend a Work Permit in Canada: the full step-by-step process for renewing your work permit, beyond just the form.
Work Permit Document Number: Where to Find It and What It Looks Like: how to find the document number the IMM 5710 asks you to enter.
What Is Implied Status in Canada?: how maintained status lets you keep working while IRCC processes your extension.

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.