Applicants extending work permits in Canada or applying for a post-graduation work permit can now check a more personalized estimate of how long they may need to wait for a decision.
The updated estimates became available after the immigration department changed its online application estimate tool in late September 2026.
Applicants can now receive an estimate based on the date they submitted their application, rather than seeing only a general estimate based on the date they check the website.
New Estimates For Work Permit Extensions
People visiting the government’s online application estimate page can select temporary residence as their application type. They can then choose work permit extension in Canada from the available options.
The tool provides an estimated remaining wait in weeks based on when the application was submitted.
Applicants can also see how many work permit applications are ahead of theirs and the total number of applications waiting for a decision.
As of September 26, 2026, the system showed 202,900 work permit applicants waiting for decisions. This was the most recent data available when the update was reported.
People who have not yet submitted an application can also use the tool. In that situation, the system provides an estimated wait based on an application submitted on the day of the search.
Who Can Use The Personalized Estimates?
The estimate based on the application date is available to people applying from inside Canada in specific situations.
It applies to people extending an existing work permit in Canada and international student graduates submitting their first application for a post-graduation work permit.
The estimate also includes work permit holders in Canada who are applying to change the conditions of their current permit.
Before this update, the online tool had one option called work permit in Canada. That option provided only a general estimate based on the date the applicant checked the website.
The work permit in Canada option remains available. However, it now applies only to people inside Canada who are applying for their first work permit and are not applying for a post-graduation work permit.
Maintained Status For Work Permit Holders
Work permit holders who apply to extend their permits before the current permit expires may benefit from maintained status.
Maintained status allows eligible applicants to continue working in Canada under the conditions of their existing permit while they wait for a decision on their extension.
The status applies when the applicant remains in Canada and submits the extension application before the existing permit expires.
Maintained status was previously known as implied status.
Temporary Support For Provincial Nominees
The federal government introduced another temporary measure in June 2026 to help many provincial nominees whose work permits are approaching expiry.
The measure allows certain applicants for permanent residence through the base Provincial Nominee Program to apply for a bridging open work permit earlier than normally allowed.
Under the temporary rules, eligible applicants do not have to wait for an acknowledgement of receipt of their permanent residence application before applying for the bridging open work permit.
The measure is scheduled to remain available until December 31, 2026.
Personalized Estimates Expanded
The immigration department first introduced personalized application estimates for citizenship and permanent residence applicants in October 2025.
The latest update expands this approach to certain work permit extension and post-graduation work permit applicants.
By using the application date and showing the number of applicants ahead in the queue, the updated tool gives eligible applicants more information about the expected wait for a decision.
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