Published
Sundeep S. Grewal is a lawyer at Lawgical Law Corporation, called to the BC bar in 2018, and a member of the Law Society of British Columbia.
Updated November 13, 2026: IRPR s. 243.2 and IRCC’s briefing on unenforceable removal orders checked that day.
Why: since March 2024, a work or study permit is cancelled automatically the day a removal order becomes enforceable (IRPR s. 243.2).
What it means: you must stop working. Working on a cancelled permit is unauthorized work.
The way back: a stay of removal makes the order unenforceable again, and you can apply for a new permit. Why a lawyer
Our immigration lawyers
Sundeep S. GrewalBarrister and Solicitor
Prabhpreet Kaur SanghaBarrister and Solicitor
Pardeep S. GrewalBarrister and SolicitorAbout our lawyers
Sundeep S. Grewal founded Lawgical Law Corporation and argues immigration cases at the Immigration and Refugee Board and the Federal Court of Canada.
Prabhpreet Kaur Sangha focuses on refugee claims, immigration appeals, inadmissibility, detention reviews and Federal Court cases, and has presented at Continuing Legal Education seminars and the National Immigration Conference.
Pardeep S. Grewal is an immigration and estates lawyer known for clear communication and practical strategy.
At a removal interview, CBSA may tell you your work permit is no longer valid and ask you to hand it in. This is usually not a decision about you. It follows from a rule added in March 2024: when a removal order becomes enforceable, any work or study permit is cancelled by law (IRPR s. 243.2). Since August 2024, CBSA updates IRCC’s records when it prepares a removal and asks for the permit at the interview.
Lawgical Law Corporation, an immigration law firm in Surrey, Abbotsford and Vancouver, BC, prepares open work permit applications for people whose removal is stayed or cannot be carried out, and handles the refugee appeals, PRRAs, stays of removal and Federal Court reviews those permits depend on; this guide is by Sundeep S. Grewal.
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Why it happened now
Your permit was valid only while your removal order was on hold. Common triggers: the Refugee Appeal Division dismissed your appeal, the Federal Court refused leave, a stay ended, or your PRRA was refused. Once the order became enforceable, the permit was cancelled, even if the expiry date printed on it is still in the future.
What to tell your employer
Stop working and tell your employer the permit has been cancelled. Many employers don’t know this can happen, and there is no system that tells them. Keep a copy of anything CBSA gave you.
Your options
| Option | When it fits |
|---|---|
| Ask CBSA to defer removal | A specific reason not to remove you on that date |
| Federal Court stay motion | With a review of a PRRA, deferral or other refusal; see a stay after a PRRA or deferral refusal |
| PRRA | If CBSA has notified you that you can apply; applying on time stays removal |
| H&C application | Doesn’t stop removal by itself, but approval in principle does |
Once removal is stayed again, you can apply for a new open work permit. See getting back to work after a Federal Court stay.
If your claim was found ineligible under Bill C-12
An IRCC public policy from March 27, 2026 lets officers exempt people whose claim was found ineligible from this cancellation rule, so they can keep working until they are notified about a PRRA. If your permit was cancelled in that situation, ask a lawyer whether the policy applies.
If CBSA detains you
Removal interviews sometimes end in detention. See detention after a removal interview.
Why this needs a lawyer
One lawyer, one file, every step:
- finding out exactly why the order became enforceable;
- asking CBSA for a deferral, or bringing a Federal Court stay motion;
- filing a PRRA or H&C application where it fits;
- applying for a new work permit as soon as removal is stayed.
A cancelled permit means removal is being arranged. The deadlines for a stay are short.
Immigration lawyers are members of a provincial law society (in our case, the Law Society of British Columbia), and only a lawyer can represent you in the Federal Court if a work permit refusal or a removal has to be challenged there. An immigration consultant cannot appear in that court for you.
Mistakes I have seen
- Continuing to work because the expiry date hasn’t passed.
- Waiting for a removal date before calling a lawyer.
- Applying for a new permit with no stay in place. It will be refused.
- Missing the 15-day PRRA deadline after notice.
Frequently asked questions
Can CBSA cancel my permit?
The cancellation happens by law when the removal order becomes enforceable. CBSA records it and asks for the permit back.
Can I get the permit back?
Not the same one, but a new permit if your removal is stayed again.
Will working after cancellation hurt my case?
Yes. It is unauthorized work, which can hurt a later H&C or other application.
What should I do right now?
Stop working, keep the papers CBSA gave you, and speak to a lawyer this week about a deferral or stay.
Book a consultation with our immigration lawyers in Surrey, Abbotsford or Vancouver, or online from anywhere.
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Sources (official)
- Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, s. 243.2
- IRCC briefing on unenforceable removal orders (released under the Access to Information Act)
- IRCC public policy: work permits for ineligible refugee claims (March 27, 2026)
- Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, s. 50
This article is general information, not legal advice. Every case depends on its own facts.