{"id":2558,"date":"2026-11-13T15:23:09","date_gmt":"2026-11-13T15:23:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lawgicalcorp.com\/blog\/refugee-work-permit-renewal\/"},"modified":"2026-11-13T15:23:09","modified_gmt":"2026-11-13T15:23:09","slug":"refugee-work-permit-renewal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lawgicalcorp.com\/blog\/refugee-work-permit-renewal\/","title":{"rendered":"Refugee work permit renewal: how to extend your work permit"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Pardeep S. Grewal<\/a>, lawyer at Lawgical Law Corporation \u00b7 Reviewed November 13, 2026<\/em><\/p>\n

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<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Updated November 13, 2026: IRCC’s R206 instructions and its work permit page for people appealing or facing removal checked that day.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Apply before it expires.<\/strong> If you hold one of these permits and apply to renew before it expires, you can keep working while IRCC decides. If it has already expired, you must stop working until the new one arrives.<\/p>\n

Renewals are 12 months.<\/strong> Each renewal needs current proof that you still qualify.<\/p>\n

The fees differ:<\/strong> refugee claimants pay nothing; people with a stayed removal order pay $155 but not the $100 open permit fee. Why a lawyer<\/a><\/p>\n

Book a consultation<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Our immigration lawyers<\/p>\n

\"SundeepSundeep S. Grewal<\/span>Barrister and Solicitor<\/span><\/a>\"PrabhpreetPrabhpreet Kaur Sangha<\/span>Barrister and Solicitor<\/span><\/a>\"PardeepPardeep S. Grewal<\/span>Barrister and Solicitor<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n
\nAbout our lawyers<\/summary>\n
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Sundeep S. Grewal<\/a><\/strong> founded Lawgical Law Corporation and argues immigration cases at the Immigration and Refugee Board and the Federal Court of Canada.<\/p>\n

Prabhpreet Kaur Sangha<\/a><\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n

Pardeep S. Grewal<\/a><\/strong> is an immigration and estates lawyer known for clear communication and practical strategy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n

Work permits for refugee claimants and for people whose removal is on hold are issued for a limited time, usually 12 months on renewal. Renewing is not automatic. You file a new application, show you still qualify and still can’t support yourself without working, and pay the right fee. The most important thing is timing.<\/p>\n

Lawgical Law Corporation<\/a>, 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<\/a>, PRRAs<\/a>, stays of removal<\/a> and Federal Court reviews<\/a> those permits depend on; this guide is by Pardeep S. Grewal.<\/p>\n

Which permit do you have?<\/h2>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
The two kinds of permit<\/caption>\n
<\/th>\nRefugee claimant (S61)<\/th>\nRemoval order on hold (S62)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Who<\/td>\nYour refugee claim is pending at the Refugee Protection Division<\/td>\nRefused claim under appeal or review, PRRA, stay, or cannot be removed<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
First permit<\/td>\nUsually 24 months<\/td>\nUsually 12 months<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Renewal<\/td>\n12 months<\/td>\n12 months (24 possible under a suspension or deferral of removals)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Processing fee<\/td>\nNone<\/td>\n$155<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Open work permit fee ($100)<\/td>\nNone<\/td>\nNone<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

If your claim was refused since your last permit, you are no longer renewing an S61 permit. You are applying under S62, which has different evidence and a fee. See work permits with an unenforceable removal order<\/a>.<\/p>\n

When to apply<\/h2>\n

Apply well before the expiry date. In our experience, if you already hold one of these work permits and apply to renew it before it expires, you can keep working on the same conditions until IRCC decides. If it has already expired, you have to stop working until the new permit is issued. Unlike other work permits, there is no 90-day restoration deadline here: as long as you are still in a qualifying situation, you can apply for a fresh permit. See out of status in Canada for years<\/a>.<\/p>\n

What to send<\/h2>\n