Temporary Policy Allows Certain Work Permit Holders to Study Without a Study Permit
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has introduced a temporary measure allowing eligible foreign nationals who hold valid Canadian work permits to study for up to six months without obtaining a study permit. Announced on September 9, 2026, the measure is intended to help temporary workers already in Canada develop in-demand skills, pursue short-term licensing, education, or training opportunities, and continue working at the same time, while supporting Canada’s economic and workforce needs.
Key Points
- Study Without a Study Permit: Eligible foreign nationals with valid work permits may study for up to six months without applying for a study permit. Their studies may continue only until six months have passed, or their work permit expires, whichever occurs first.
- Eligible Workers: The measure is intended to benefit temporary workers already in Canada, including workers such as tradespeople, nurses, and laboratory technicians. It is designed to help these workers develop skills needed in sectors experiencing labor shortages.
- Short-Term Education and Training: The policy removes an administrative step for workers seeking short-term licensing, education, or training opportunities. However, full-time studies continue to require a study permit.
- Temporary Measure: IRCC will begin notifying eligible work permit holders of the new flexibility during the week of September 9, 2026. The measure will remain in effect through December 31, 2027.
- Not a New Immigration Pathway: The measure does not create a new pathway for foreign workers to enter Canada. The Canadian government continues to pursue its goal of reducing the temporary population to less than 5% of Canada’s total population by the end of 2027.
What Employers Need to Know
- Greater Training Flexibility: Employers with eligible foreign workers may benefit from the ability of those employees to pursue short-term education and training without first obtaining a study permit. This may make it easier for workers to obtain additional skills or licensing while remaining employed.
- Work Authorization Remains Separate: The policy allows eligible work permit holders to study without a study permit, but it does not replace or extend their work authorization. Employers should continue to monitor the validity and conditions of each employee’s work permit.
- Six-Month Limit: Employees may study only for up to six months or until their work permit expires, whichever comes first, under this temporary measure. Employers and employees should therefore consider the timing of training programs carefully to ensure that the studies fall within the permitted period.
- Full-Time Studies: The temporary measure does not eliminate the study permit requirement for full-time studies. Workers seeking to undertake full-time studies should determine whether they must obtain a separate study permit before beginning the program.
Looking Ahead
- Workforce Development: The measure may allow employers to support short-term training and licensing more easily for foreign workers in sectors facing labor shortages. This could strengthen the ability of temporary workers to contribute to public services, home building, and other nation-building projects.
- Temporary Population Policy: The measure reflects Canada’s broader effort to balance workforce needs with its objective of reducing the temporary population to below 5% of the total population by the end of 2027. The government has characterized the policy as a targeted flexibility rather than an expansion of Canada’s temporary immigration pathways.
- Program Duration: Because the measure expires on December 31, 2027, employers and workers should not assume that the ability to study without a study permit will continue indefinitely. Future government decisions may determine whether the measure is extended, modified, or allowed to expire.
- Economic and Immigration Balance: The policy illustrates Canada’s continuing effort to use temporary immigration measures to address labor shortages while aligning immigration levels with community capacity. Its implementation may provide additional flexibility for employers while maintaining the government’s broader approach to controlling temporary population growth.
IRCC’s new temporary public policy gives eligible foreign nationals already holding Canadian work permits greater flexibility to pursue short-term education, training, and licensing opportunities without obtaining a study permit. Workers can study for up to six months or until their work permit expires, whichever comes first, while continuing to work, but full-time studies still require a study permit. The measure, which remains in effect through December 31, 2027, supports Canada’s workforce and economic objectives while remaining consistent with the government’s goal of reducing the temporary population to less than 5% by the end of 2027.