IRCC quietly published a program-delivery update on 27 April 2026 that doubles the validity of WP-EXT (interim work-authorization) letters from 180 to 365 days for foreign workers on ‘maintained status.’ Under section 186(u) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, a worker who files to renew a work permit before expiry may continue in the same job until a decision is made. The WP-EXT letter serves as proof for employers, Service Canada and provincial authorities.
![Interim work-authorization letters now valid for 365 days under IRCC’s R186(u) update]()
VisaHQ’s Canadian team can also streamline this process for both workers and HR departments, providing up-to-date advice on maintained-status rules, compiling the correct documentation, and tracking renewal deadlines through its online dashboard; more details are available at https://www.visahq.com/canada/
The longer validity addresses a long-standing pain-point for employers who routinely requested replacement letters when processing times exceeded six months. According to IRCC, maintained-status cases represented almost one-quarter of all temporary-resident enquiries to its Client Support Centre in 2025. The guidance also clarifies what happens when a second work-permit application is submitted while the first is still pending—a scenario common when workers change employers under the International Mobility Program or Global Talent Stream. Only applications filed before the original permit expires preserve maintained status. For HR and mobility teams, the change reduces administrative churn: payroll departments can keep a single copy of the 365-day letter on file, and compliance units face fewer reminders to chase updated documents. Employers should, however, verify that job duties remain identical; a material change still triggers the need for a new employer-specific permit or an LMIA-exempt offer of employment in the IRCC portal. Workers should print and carry the new letter when re-entering Canada, as some airline check-in staff and CBSA officers still ask for proof of status beyond the physical permit date. IRCC says it will work with the Canada Border Services Agency to update frontline instructions, but hiccups may occur during the transition period.
VisaHQ’s Canadian team can also streamline this process for both workers and HR departments, providing up-to-date advice on maintained-status rules, compiling the correct documentation, and tracking renewal deadlines through its online dashboard; more details are available at https://www.visahq.com/canada/
The longer validity addresses a long-standing pain-point for employers who routinely requested replacement letters when processing times exceeded six months. According to IRCC, maintained-status cases represented almost one-quarter of all temporary-resident enquiries to its Client Support Centre in 2025. The guidance also clarifies what happens when a second work-permit application is submitted while the first is still pending—a scenario common when workers change employers under the International Mobility Program or Global Talent Stream. Only applications filed before the original permit expires preserve maintained status. For HR and mobility teams, the change reduces administrative churn: payroll departments can keep a single copy of the 365-day letter on file, and compliance units face fewer reminders to chase updated documents. Employers should, however, verify that job duties remain identical; a material change still triggers the need for a new employer-specific permit or an LMIA-exempt offer of employment in the IRCC portal. Workers should print and carry the new letter when re-entering Canada, as some airline check-in staff and CBSA officers still ask for proof of status beyond the physical permit date. IRCC says it will work with the Canada Border Services Agency to update frontline instructions, but hiccups may occur during the transition period.
