Maple News reports that foreign workers in Canada who have applied for a new work permit before their current work authorization expires will now receive WP-EXT letters valid for 365 days, up from 180 days.
The extension was outlined in updated instructions to immigration officers and published on the immigration department’s site on April 27, 2026.
WP-EXT letters serve as proof of maintained status under section 186 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPA). Maintained status allows workers who have submitted a work permit application from within Canada to continue working under the terms of their existing permit while a decision is made.
WP-EXT letters do not themselves grant new work authorization, nor do they change the underlying maintained status granted under IRPA.
Workers on maintained status may present WP-EXT letters to employers, other government agencies, or in any context where they need to show they are authorized to continue working while their application is processed.
Letters issued to Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) applicants are a different category of WP-EXT letters and are not affected by the updated instructions; PGWP letters continue to have a validity period of 180 days.
The April 27, 2026 update also includes clarifications related to prior May 2025 changes. It adds three specific scenarios to help determine whether a work permit applicant on maintained status who submits a second work permit application can continue to benefit from maintained status.