I fell out of status in Canada — how does restoration of status work?

If your status expired, you generally have 90 days from the day you lost it to apply for restoration. You must explain what happened, pay the restoration fee plus the fee for the new permit, and meet the requirements of the status you are asking for. Very important: you cannot work or study while you wait for restoration to be approved. If more than 90 days have passed, the situation is more serious, and honest professional guidance is worth getting quickly.