Published
Pardeep S. Grewal is a lawyer at Lawgical Law Corporation, called to the BC bar in 2024, and a member of the Law Society of British Columbia.
Updated November 11, 2026: section 182 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations and the IRCC fee list (modified November 10, 2026) checked that day.
The rule: if you lost your status as a visitor, worker or student, you can apply to restore it within 90 days (IRPR s. 182(1)).
The fees: $246.25 to restore visitor status, $401.25 as a worker (with a new work permit) and $396.25 as a student (with a new study permit).
The catch: you have no status while you wait. Don’t work or study until you are restored and hold a valid permit.
The lawyers who handle these files
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.
Restoration is the way back for a visitor, worker or student who lost status in Canada, usually because a permit expired before an extension was filed, or a condition was broken. The deadline is 90 days after you lost status. If you apply in time and meet the conditions, the regulation says the officer “shall restore” your status. That is stronger than most immigration rules, but the conditions are strict, and you are out of status until the decision.
Lawgical Law Corporation, an immigration law firm in Surrey, Abbotsford and Vancouver, BC, handles restoration applications and refusals; this guide is by Pardeep S. Grewal.
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Who can apply for restoration?
A visitor, worker or student who lost temporary resident status by failing to meet a condition of their stay, such as staying past the expiry date. Under s. 182(1), the officer must restore status if:
- you apply within 90 days after losing status;
- you meet the initial requirements for your stay (for example, a valid job offer or acceptance at a school where needed);
- you have not failed to comply with any other conditions; and
- you are not subject to a declaration under s. 22.1 of the Act.
How do I apply, and what does it cost?
Apply online, choosing restoration, and include the application for the status you want back: a visitor record, a work permit or a study permit. Explain why you lost status and show you now meet the requirements.
| Restoring status as | Fee | Made up of |
|---|---|---|
| Visitor | $246.25 | Restoration fee |
| Worker | $401.25 | $246.25 restoration + $155 work permit |
| Student | $396.25 | $246.25 restoration + $150 study permit |
Can I work or study while I wait?
No. Losing status means losing the right to work or study, and applying for restoration doesn’t bring it back. You can remain in Canada while the application is processed, but you must not work or study until your status is restored and you have a valid permit. Working while out of status can lead to a refusal and a removal order.
What if I am past 90 days, or restoration is refused?
After 90 days, restoration is not available. A refusal of restoration usually leaves you without status in Canada, so act quickly. The options may include leaving and applying from outside Canada, a temporary resident permit, or judicial review in the Federal Court if the officer made an error. The court deadline is 15 days for a decision made in Canada. See our guide on restoration refused and out of status.
Why this needs a lawyer
One lawyer, one file, every step:
- confirming the date you lost status and the 90-day deadline;
- a complete restoration and permit application that answers why status was lost;
- advice on what you can and can’t do while you wait;
- judicial review or other options if restoration is refused.
Immigration lawyers are members of a provincial law society (in our case, the Law Society of British Columbia), and only lawyers can appear for you in the Federal Court.
Mistakes I have seen
- I have seen people keep working after their permit expired, believing a restoration application let them.
- I have seen people count the 90 days from the wrong date and apply too late.
- I have seen students apply for restoration without a current acceptance from their school.
- I have seen people pay only the restoration fee and not the permit fee, delaying the file.
Frequently asked questions
Is restoration the same as maintained status?
No. Maintained status applies when you apply to extend before your status expires. Restoration is for people who have already lost status. See our guide on maintained status.
Can I leave Canada while restoration is pending?
You can, but leaving usually ends the restoration application, and you would need a valid visa or eTA to return. Get advice before travelling.
Can I apply for restoration more than once?
The rule has no fixed limit, but each application must meet every condition, and a history of lost status will be weighed.
Does restoration cover my family?
Each family member who lost status needs their own restoration application and fee.
What if I lost status because I broke a condition other than staying too long?
Restoration is still possible, but you must not have failed to comply with any other conditions. Unauthorized work or study can make restoration hard to get.
Related guides
See our guides on restoration refused and out of status, maintained status and a trip to the US and a refused visitor record.
What should I do right now?
Find the exact date your status ended and count 90 days. Stop working or studying, gather proof that you meet the requirements for the status you want back, and apply before the deadline.
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. 182
- IRCC fee list (modified November 10, 2026)
This article is general information, not legal advice. Every case depends on its own facts.