How do I apply for restoration of status online?
Short answer: File entirely through the IRCC online account using GCKey or sign-in partner credentials. Complete the appropriate restoration form (varies by permit type), upload supporting documents (passport, expired permit, financial proof), pay the restoration fee plus the underlying permit fee, and submit biometrics if required.
Restoration is filed entirely through the IRCC online account. Sign in with your GCKey or sign-in partner, select "Apply to come to Canada," then choose the application that matches the status you want to restore (visitor record, study permit, or work permit). On the application form, in section 3, select "Restore my status."
The minimum document package:
- A valid passport (must remain valid for the period of the requested stay).
- Proof of financial support for the period of restoration.
- A letter of explanation describing why your status lapsed and why you meet restoration requirements.
- Original permit and any IRCC correspondence about the expiry.
- For students: confirmation of continued enrollment from a designated learning institution.
- For workers: a valid job offer plus a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or LMIA-exempt offer of employment, unless restoring as a visitor.
- Proof you still meet the original permit conditions (study transcripts, employer letters, National Occupational Classification (NOC) code documentation).
- Receipts for the restoration fee and the underlying permit fee.
If you are unsure whether your circumstances meet the eligibility test, book a consultation with a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) at Go Far Global before you file. Filing a restoration application that is refused often closes your path to a future legal stay.
How much does restoration of status cost in 2026?
Short answer: Restoration fee is $239.75 CAD PLUS the underlying permit fee. Study permit restoration totals $389.75 ($150 study permit + $239.75 restoration). Work permit restoration totals $394.75 ($155 work permit + $239.75 restoration). Visitor record restoration totals $339.75 ($100 + $239.75). Biometrics add $85 individual / $170 family if required.
Restoration costs you the fee for the permit you are restoring, plus a separate $239.75 CAD restoration fee. The 2026 fee schedule:
| Permit category | Permit fee (CAD) | Restoration fee (CAD) | Total (CAD) |
|---|
| Visitor record | $100 | $239.75 | $339.75 |
|
Fees are payable online during the IRCC online account submission. The restoration fee is non-refundable, even if your application is refused. For exact current fees, see the official IRCC fee list.
Can I stay in Canada while waiting for the decision?
Short answer: Yes. You may remain in Canada during processing as long as you filed within the 90-day window — called 'implied status' under IRPR section 183. Implied status means you can stay but cannot work, study, or change conditions until the restoration decision.
Yes. You may remain in Canada throughout the time your restoration application is being processed by IRCC, as long as you filed within the 90-day window. This is called "implied status," and it covers the period between submission and decision. However, implied status during restoration is restrictive: you cannot work and you cannot study while the application is pending, even if you were previously authorized to do so. This is the single most important difference between an extension application (where you keep working) and a restoration application (where you stop).
If IRCC approves, your authorized stay resumes from the date of the decision. If IRCC refuses, you must leave Canada immediately. There is no formal appeal of a restoration refusal, although a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) may become available if removal is initiated.
How long does IRCC take to process restoration applications?
Short answer: Current 2026 processing times: study permit restoration ~91 days, work permit restoration 99-180 days, visitor record restoration ~105 days. Files with admissibility flags or missing documents run longer. Apply as early as possible within the 90-day window to maximize buffer before processing completes.
IRCC publishes current processing times for every application type. As of May 2026, restoration of status as a visitor inside Canada averages roughly 105 days. Restoration of a study permit averages 91 days. Restoration of a work permit ranges from 99 to 180 days depending on whether an LMIA is attached. These averages exceed the 90-day filing window, which is why staying in Canada while the application is pending requires careful planning of finances and accommodation.
Officers can request additional documents during processing, which extends the timeline. Responding to a request inside the deadline IRCC sets is critical. If you fail to respond, the application is refused.
What is the success rate of restoration of status?
Short answer: IRCC does not publish a public success rate, but Go Far Global case data and Canadian immigration bar reports suggest restoration succeeds in roughly 70-80% of complete files. The two biggest failure causes are unauthorized work or study after expiry and applying outside the 90-day window.
IRCC does not publish a public success rate for restoration applications, but Go Far Global's case data and broader Canadian immigration bar reports suggest restoration succeeds in roughly 70 to 80 percent of cases when filed correctly within the 90-day window and supported by a complete document package. Refusal rates climb when the applicant has worked or studied without authorization, missed the 90-day deadline, or filed without proof that the original permit conditions are still met.
The strongest predictor of approval is filing fast (ideally within the first 30 days of losing status), filing complete (every supporting document present), and filing in the right category (using the new visitor option when it fits the case).
