New data obtained from IRCC reveal that more than four million study, work and visitor permits will lapse over the 24-month period covering 2025 and 2026, with 1.8 million due to expire before 31 December 2026 alone. The figures, published by CityNews on 21 January, highlight the scale of Canada’s temporary-resident inventory after three years of record inflows.
Immigration lawyers warn that thousands of permit-holders may overlook renewal deadlines, jeopardising their legal status and, in the case of students and workers, their path to permanent residence. Employers that rely on closed work permits or postgraduate work permits (PGWPs) should audit expiration dates now, as processing times for extensions remain volatile.
For individuals and corporate mobility teams needing extra support, VisaHQ offers an online platform that simplifies Canadian visa and permit renewals by providing tailored checklists, deadline alerts and end-to-end submission assistance. Their Canada-specific portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) aggregates the latest IRCC requirements in one place, helping applicants avoid costly lapses while giving employers clearer visibility over workforce status.
![4 million temporary resident permits set to expire in 2025-26, raising renewal pressures]()
The looming cliff edge also creates operational headaches for IRCC, which is already managing a backlog of more than two million applications across all lines of business. Officials say reducing the temporary-resident population to below five per cent of Canada’s total population by 2027 is a key objective of the immigration strategy unveiled last autumn.
Mobility teams should implement automated reminders at the six- and three-month marks before permit expiry and budget extra time for biometrics or medicals where required. Students planning to transition to work permits must factor in any gaps between the end of studies and PGWP issuance, during which on-campus employment rights may be restricted.
Failure to maintain valid status can trigger bars on re-entry and may reset eligibility periods for permanent-residence programs such as the Canadian Experience Class, so proactive compliance is essential.
Immigration lawyers warn that thousands of permit-holders may overlook renewal deadlines, jeopardising their legal status and, in the case of students and workers, their path to permanent residence. Employers that rely on closed work permits or postgraduate work permits (PGWPs) should audit expiration dates now, as processing times for extensions remain volatile.
For individuals and corporate mobility teams needing extra support, VisaHQ offers an online platform that simplifies Canadian visa and permit renewals by providing tailored checklists, deadline alerts and end-to-end submission assistance. Their Canada-specific portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) aggregates the latest IRCC requirements in one place, helping applicants avoid costly lapses while giving employers clearer visibility over workforce status.
The looming cliff edge also creates operational headaches for IRCC, which is already managing a backlog of more than two million applications across all lines of business. Officials say reducing the temporary-resident population to below five per cent of Canada’s total population by 2027 is a key objective of the immigration strategy unveiled last autumn.
Mobility teams should implement automated reminders at the six- and three-month marks before permit expiry and budget extra time for biometrics or medicals where required. Students planning to transition to work permits must factor in any gaps between the end of studies and PGWP issuance, during which on-campus employment rights may be restricted.
Failure to maintain valid status can trigger bars on re-entry and may reset eligibility periods for permanent-residence programs such as the Canadian Experience Class, so proactive compliance is essential.
