It’s not uncommon for Indian visitors, workers, or students in Canada to accidentally overstay or miss their permit renewal window. But in many cases, all is not lost—Restoration of Status offers a legal lifeline.

If an individual’s temporary resident status expires, they typically have 90 days to apply for restoration, provided they meet the conditions of their previous permit.

For instance, a visitor who wants to switch to a work permit can’t directly restore status and apply for the work permit together. They must first apply for restoration of their original visitor status, then separately apply for a work permit—usually through an outside Canada stream.

Key conditions for restoration:

• The overstay must be under 90 days
  
• The individual must not have violated any other immigration rules
  
• A valid reason must be provided for not renewing on time
  

The application is done online and must be accompanied by a restoration fee in addition to the regular permit fee. In 2025, IRCC continues to handle these on a case-by-case basis, often lenient if the mistake was unintentional and properly explained.