工签到期后一定要申请 Restoration 吗？
Read in EnglishPermit 到期、Maintained Status、Lost Status 和 Restoration 是几个不同的概念。尤其是在等待省提名或其他移民申请时， 判断错误还可能影响正在审理的申请。
Permit 到期，不一定代表 Lost Status
如果申请人在现有 permit 到期之前， 已经递交了符合条件的延期或改变身份申请， 那么即使原 permit 后来到期， 在 IRCC 作出决定之前， 申请人通常可以继续合法留在加拿大， 这就是 Maintained Status。
例如：
- Work Permit：4 月 30 日到期
- 4 月 20 日递交新的 Work Permit 申请
- 5 月以后仍在等待审批
虽然原工签已经过期， 但申请人并不因此自动失去身份。
所以：Permit expired ≠ Lost status
什么情况下才需要 Restoration？
Restoration 针对的是已经失去临时居民身份的人。 例如工签 4 月 30 日到期， 申请人到期前没有递交延期申请， 5 月份才发现身份已经失效， 这时才需要判断是否符合 Restoration 条件。
一般情况下， 符合条件的申请人可以在失去身份后的 90 天内申请恢复身份。
但要注意： 递交 Restoration ≠ 身份已经恢复。
在 Restoration 获得批准之前， 申请人仍然处于等待恢复身份的阶段， 通常也不能工作或学习。
Maintained Status 可以申请 Restoration 吗？
通常不可以。 因为 Restoration 的前提是已经 lost status。
如果申请人在 permit 到期前已经及时申请延期， 目前处于 maintained status， 他并没有失去身份， 因此不能仅仅因为手里的 permit 已经过期， 就另外申请 Restoration。
这在一些省提名项目中尤其容易产生误解。
一个真实案例：合法留在加拿大， 省提名却因为身份问题被拒
我们最近遇到一个省提名案例。 申请人的 Study Permit 显示 2026 年 9 月到期， 但她实际上在 3 月份已经完成课程。
根据 IRCC 规定， 如果学生提前完成学业， Study Permit 通常会在完成学业后 90 天失效， 即使 permit 上打印的到期日更晚。
申请人在这 90 天结束之前及时申请了 Visitor Record， 因此在 Study Permit 失效后、 Visitor Record 获批之前， 她进入了 Maintained Status。
从加拿大临时居民身份的角度， 她并不是简单的非法滞留。
问题在于： 她申请的省提名项目明确要求申请人在审理期间 持续保持其认可的 valid temporary resident status， 并明确不接受 Maintained Status。
因此， 虽然她可以合法留在加拿大， 这段 Maintained Status 却不符合 该省提名项目的要求， 最终影响了她的申请。
这个案例说明了一个非常重要的区别： 合法留在加拿大， 不一定等于满足某个移民项目 对 Valid Status 的要求。
而这种情况也不能通过 Restoration 解决， 因为申请人本身并没有 Lost Status。
等待省提名时，不能只考虑“是否合法”
如果正在申请 PNP 或其他要求持续保持身份的项目， 在 permit 即将失效前， 最好同时确认三个问题：
-
我的实际身份什么时候失效？
国际学生尤其不能只看 Study Permit 上打印的日期， 还要考虑完成学业后的 90 天规则。 -
我是否会进入 Maintained Status？
在 permit 到期前及时申请延期或改变身份， 可以避免真正 Lost Status。 -
正在申请的移民项目是否接受 Maintained Status？
这是最容易被忽略的一点。 不同项目的规定可能不同。
Restoration 解决的是已经失去身份以后 如何恢复身份的问题。
它不能解决另一个完全不同的问题： 申请人虽然合法留在加拿大， 但当前身份不符合某个移民项目的资格要求。
对于正在等待省提名、永久居民 或其他移民申请的人来说， 身份规划因此不能只看当前 permit 是否有效， 还要同时考虑正在进行的移民项目 对 status 的具体要求。
本文为一般性信息分享， 不构成针对具体个案的移民或法律意见。 具体要求应以申请时有效的 IRCC 法规 及相关移民项目规定为准。
Does an Expired Permit Always Mean You Need Restoration?
Understanding Maintained Status, Restoration and Valid Status
Many temporary residents assume that once their work permit or study permit expires, they must apply for restoration of status.
That is not always the case.
An expired permit, maintained status, loss of status and restoration are different concepts. Understanding the difference is particularly important when you have a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) or another immigration application in process.
An Expired Permit Does Not Always Mean Lost Status
If you apply to extend or change your temporary resident status before your current authorized stay expires, you may remain legally in Canada while IRCC processes the application. This is generally known as maintained status.
For example:
- Work permit expires: April 30
- New work permit application submitted: April 20
- Application remains in process after April 30
The original work permit has expired, but the applicant has not necessarily lost temporary resident status.
In other words: Permit expired ≠ Status lost
When Is Restoration Required?
Restoration is intended for someone who has already lost temporary resident status.
For example, if a work permit expires on April 30 and no application to extend or change status was submitted before the authorized stay ended, the person may need to consider restoration.
Generally, an eligible applicant may apply to restore temporary resident status within 90 days after losing it.
However:
Submitting a restoration application does not mean that status has already been restored.
Status is restored only when the restoration application is approved. In most cases, the applicant cannot work or study while waiting for restoration.
Can Someone on Maintained Status Apply for Restoration?
Generally, no.
Restoration is for someone who has lost status. A person who properly entered maintained status has not lost temporary resident status simply because the expiry date printed on the permit has passed.
This distinction can become particularly important in PNP applications.
A Real Case: Legally in Canada, but the PNP Application Was Still Affected
We recently encountered a case involving a provincial nominee application.
The applicant’s Study Permit showed an expiry date in September 2026. However, she completed her studies in March.
Under IRCC rules, when a student completes their program early, the Study Permit generally expires 90 days after completion of studies, even if a later expiry date is printed on the permit.
Before the 90-day period ended, the applicant applied for a Visitor Record. Her Visitor Record, however, was not approved until after her Study Permit had ceased to be valid.
During the period between the end of her Study Permit and the approval of the Visitor Record, she was on maintained status.
The problem was that the PNP stream required applicants to maintain valid temporary resident status during processing and specifically did not accept maintained status for this purpose.
As a result, although the applicant was legally remaining in Canada, the period of maintained status did not satisfy the PNP’s specific status requirement and affected her application.
The case illustrates an important distinction: Being legally allowed to remain in Canada does not necessarily mean that you meet the status requirements of a particular immigration program.
Restoration would not have solved this problem either, because the applicant had not lost her temporary resident status.
If You Have a PNP Application in Process
When your work permit or study permit is approaching expiry, do not look only at whether you can legally remain in Canada.
Consider three separate questions:
-
When does my status actually expire?
International students should pay particular attention to the 90-day rule after completing their studies rather than relying only on the expiry date printed on their Study Permit. -
Will I enter maintained status?
Applying to extend or change status before the end of your authorized stay may prevent you from losing temporary resident status. -
Does my immigration program accept maintained status?
Different programs may have different eligibility requirements.
Restoration addresses a situation where temporary resident status has already been lost.
It does not solve a different problem: being legally in Canada while failing to meet the specific status requirements of another immigration program.
For applicants with a PNP, permanent residence or other immigration application in progress, temporary resident status should therefore be planned together with the requirements of the underlying immigration program.
This article provides general information only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Requirements may vary depending on the applicant’s circumstances and the immigration program involved.