{"id":2559,"date":"2026-11-13T15:23:20","date_gmt":"2026-11-13T15:23:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lawgicalcorp.com\/blog\/out-of-status-canada-work-permit\/"},"modified":"2026-11-13T15:23:20","modified_gmt":"2026-11-13T15:23:20","slug":"out-of-status-canada-work-permit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lawgicalcorp.com\/blog\/out-of-status-canada-work-permit\/","title":{"rendered":"Out of status in Canada for years: you may still be able to get a work permit"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Prabhpreet Kaur Sangha<\/a>, lawyer at Lawgical Law Corporation \u00b7 Reviewed November 13, 2026<\/em><\/p>\n

Prabhpreet Kaur Sangha is a lawyer at Lawgical Law Corporation, called to the BC bar in 2019, and a member of the Law Society of British Columbia<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Updated November 13, 2026: IRPR s. 206, IRCC’s R206 instructions and its page for people who cannot be removed checked that day.<\/em><\/p>\n

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No time limit:<\/strong> restoration of status must be applied for within 90 days, but this permit has no deadline. If your situation qualifies today, you can apply today.<\/p>\n

Who it helps:<\/strong> people with a removal order that is stayed or cannot be carried out, including people CBSA has not been able to remove for years.<\/p>\n

Who it doesn’t help:<\/strong> people with no removal order or stay at all, and people whose order CBSA can enforce. 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

Many people we meet have been out of status in Canada for years: a refugee claim refused long ago, a removal order CBSA never carried out, a passport their country won’t issue. Most assume nothing can be done until they leave. Often that’s wrong. If your removal order is on hold, or CBSA cannot remove you for reasons beyond your control, you can apply for an open work permit no matter how long you have been without status.<\/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 Prabhpreet Kaur Sangha.<\/p>\n

Why the time out of status doesn’t matter<\/h2>\n

Restoration of status has to be applied for within 90 days of losing status. The work permit under IRPR s. 206(1)(b) works differently. It depends only on your situation today: is your removal order unenforceable, and can you support yourself without working? If both answers fit, you can apply for a fresh permit, even after years without status.<\/p>\n

The permit authorizes work and nothing more. It does not make you a temporary resident and does not change your immigration status.<\/p>\n

Who this can help<\/h2>\n