What Happens to Your Work Permit If You Get Fired in Canada?

Losing your job is hard. When you are fired on a work permit in Canada, the fear of what comes next can feel just as overwhelming as the job loss itself.

Will your permit be cancelled? Can you keep working? Do you have to leave the country?

Your work permit does not automatically disappear the moment your employer lets you go. Your next steps depend entirely on the type of permit you hold, and acting quickly makes a real difference.

This guide breaks down exactly what happens to your status, what your options are, and what you should do right now.

Does Getting Fired Cancel Your Work Permit in Canada?

No. Getting fired on a work permit in Canada does not cancel your permit on its own.

Section 209 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR), the federal regulations that govern Canada’s immigration system, is clear on this: a work permit becomes invalid only when it expires or when a removal order against you becomes enforceable.

That means you can remain in Canada in valid temporary resident status for the rest of your permit’s duration, even without a job. You are not required to leave the country the day you are let go.

What About Your Employer Notifying IRCC?

Many workers worry their former employer will contact Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the federal department that manages immigration, and have their permit revoked.

According to the IRCC Help Centre, employers are generally not required to notify IRCC when they let a foreign worker go. In most cases, they have no legal obligation to report the termination.

That said, if your employer does notify IRCC or formally withdraws their support, IRCC may review your permit status. Do not assume silence from your former employer means you are in the clear. Get professional advice as soon as possible.

It Depends on Your Work Permit Type

Your permit type shapes everything that follows. There are two categories: open work permits and closed (employer-specific) work permits. The rules are very different for each.

Open Work Permit

An open work permit lets you work for almost any employer in Canada. It is not tied to one specific company or job.

Common open work permits include:

• Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), issued to international students who graduate from a designated Canadian institution
• Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP), issued to spouses of certain workers or international students
• Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP), issued to permanent residence applicants whose current permit is expiring within four months

If you hold an open work permit, you can start looking for a new employer right away. No new permit application is needed, as long as your permit remains valid.

Closed (Employer-Specific) Work Permit

A closed work permit names a specific employer, job title, and work location. You are legally authorized to work only for that employer, in that role.

Take this scenario: Maria holds a closed work permit tied to a Whistler resort. Her employer lets her go in March. Her permit remains valid and she can stay in Canada, but she cannot legally work anywhere else until IRCC approves a new permit for a new employer.

If your employer lets you go, you cannot legally work for anyone else until IRCC approves a new work permit. Working for a new employer without authorization is a violation of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and can affect your future applications and your ability to remain in Canada.

Your Options If You Hold a Closed Work Permit

If you hold an open work permit, you are already free to find a new employer. Your permit covers that. The rest of this section is for closed work permit holders, who face a more complex path.

Find a New Employer and Apply for a New Work Permit

Your first move is to secure a new job offer. Without one, no new permit application can proceed.

Depending on your situation, your new employer may need to obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) before your application can move forward. An LMIA, issued by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), is a government assessment confirming that no Canadian worker was available to fill the role. Not all employers need one. Some positions qualify for LMIA-exempt categories under international agreements or IRCC programs.

Once a job offer is in place, you apply for a new work permit and wait for IRCC to process it before you can start working.

Know How Long That Wait Could Be

Processing times matter here. As of early 2026, IRCC is taking approximately 227 days to process work permit applications inside Canada. That is over seven months.

Start your job search immediately. Do not wait until your permit is close to expiry. By then, you may already be running out of time.

The Changing Employer Public Policy

There is a lesser-known option that can help once you have already secured a new job: IRCC’s Changing Employer Public Policy.

This policy removes the waiting period between submitting your new work permit application and receiving IRCC’s decision. Once you have found a new employer, submitted a new work permit application with that job offer attached, and hold valid temporary resident status, you can request to start working for that new employer immediately rather than waiting months for approval.

The policy was originally introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic and has since been renewed. IRCC extended it again on May 27, 2025, and the official IRCC policy page confirms it applies to workers who hold a valid closed work permit but need to transition to a different employer, including workers who have been laid off or fired.

To request consideration, submit a request through the IRCC web form and include the following code:

PPCHANGEWORK2020

The conditions to qualify are:

• You are in Canada with valid temporary resident status
• You have submitted a new work permit application with a confirmed job offer
• You have requested the exemption through the IRCC web form

This is a genuinely useful tool, but only once you have a new job offer in hand. We recommend speaking with a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC), a licensed professional authorized to provide immigration advice in Canada, before submitting this request to confirm you meet the eligibility conditions.

💡 Did You Know? In Q1 2026 alone, over 314,000 work permits expired in Canada. More than 1.3 million more are set to expire throughout the year. Thousands of workers in Canada are managing situations like this right now. The process is established and well-documented. Knowing your options puts you ahead of most.

Source: Immigration News Canada, April 2026

Steps to Take Right Now

If you have just been fired and you hold a work permit in Canada, take these steps in order:

1. 1. 1. Check your permit type and expiry date. Log into your IRCC account or review your physical permit. Knowing whether you hold an open or closed permit is the first thing you need to confirm.
      2. Stop working immediately if you hold a closed permit. Working for a new employer without authorization violates the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and can seriously affect your future in Canada.
      3. Do not leave Canada without getting advice first. Departing can affect your maintained status and may affect your ability to return.
      4. Start your job search right away. With processing times sitting at approximately 200 days in 2026, every week you delay is a week added to your wait.
      5. Keep all employment records from your previous job. Pay stubs, offer letters, T4s, and your termination letter may all be required for your next application.
      6. Book a consultation with an RCIC. Your situation has specific details that matter. The right advice now can prevent costly mistakes later.