A family emergency, a wedding abroad, a quick trip across the U.S. border — and your permit extension is still in processing. Whether you can go, and what you can do when you come back, depends on which application you are waiting on. For most people the answer is: you can travel, but you lose the right to work or study until the new permit is issued. For one group — first-time PGWP applicants — the rule is more generous.
Quick Answer
Maintained status only exists while you stay in Canada. If your permit has expired and you leave while waiting for an extension, maintained status ends. You may be allowed back in as a visitor (with a valid visa or eTA), but you cannot work or study until IRCC issues your new permit. The exception: if you applied for a first PGWP while your study permit was still valid, IRCC says you can re-enter as a visitor and keep working until it decides.
This guide explains general rules. It is not legal advice. Border officers decide admission at the port of entry. If you must travel while an application is pending, get advice from a licensed RCIC or lawyer first.
What Happens If You Travel, by Application Type
| You are waiting on… | Travel before your current permit expires | Travel after it expires (maintained status) |
|---|---|---|
| Work permit extension | You can return and keep working if your permit is still valid when you re-enter | Maintained status ends; you may return as a visitor but cannot work until the new permit is issued |
| Study permit extension or new study permit | Return on your valid permit | You cannot study or work after returning until the new permit arrives |
| First PGWP (applied while study permit was valid) | — | You may enter as a visitor and can keep working until IRCC decides (per IRCC) |
| PGWP extension because of passport expiry | — | You may enter as a visitor but cannot work without the new permit |
| Visitor record | — | Maintained status ends; a new entry is assessed at the border |
Universities have also flagged that from August 1, 2026, students who apply for a new study permit and then leave Canada after their current permit becomes invalid lose maintained status and cannot study until the new permit is issued.
Why the Rule Works This Way
Official rule: IRCC’s maintained status lets you keep working or studying under your old conditions “as long as you stay in Canada.” It is an extension of your existing status, not a travel document.
What it means: the moment you leave, there is no longer an existing status to extend. When you come back, the border officer admits you based on what you hold at that moment — usually visitor status, because your old permit has expired and the new one does not exist yet.
Before You Book: Checklist
- Is your current permit still valid on the day you would return? If yes, the trip is far lower-risk.
- Do you have a valid visa or eTA? A permit is not a travel document. If your visitor visa has expired, you need a new one before you can fly back.
- Can you afford not to work (or study) until your permit is issued? Check current IRCC processing times — in-Canada extensions were about 107 days in September 2026.
- Carry proof of your pending application, your expired permit, and your employer or school letter.
- Tell your employer before you go if you will not be able to work on return.
If You Have Already Travelled
- You returned as a visitor and your extension is pending: stop working (or studying) until the new permit is issued, unless you are a first-time PGWP applicant covered by IRCC’s rule above.
- Your application is approved while you are abroad: you may be able to enter as a worker with the approval.
- Your application is refused while you are abroad or after you return as a visitor: you would need a new application and cannot work in the meantime.
Flagpoling Is (Mostly) No Longer an Option
Driving to the U.S. border and back to get a permit at the Canadian port of entry — “flagpoling” — ended for most work and study permits in December 2024. Only limited groups, such as U.S. citizens and certain free-trade professionals, can still get permits at the border.
PR Applicants
If your PR application is also in process, travelling does not by itself affect it — but losing your right to work can affect your job, and some programs depend on that job. See options while waiting for PR and, for travel after you apply for PR or citizenship, travelling while a PR or citizenship application is pending.
FAQ
Can I visit the U.S. for a day while on maintained status?
You can, but you lose maintained status when you leave, and on a work or study permit extension you cannot work or study after returning until the new permit is issued.
Can I travel while waiting for my PGWP?
Yes. IRCC says if your study permit was valid when you applied, you may re-enter as a visitor and work until it decides. You need a valid visa or eTA.
Will leaving hurt my extension application?
It does not cancel the application, but your status on return changes. Ask for advice before travelling if timing is tight.
