Canada Expands Study Without Permit Rules for Foreign Workers

The Canadian federal government has expanded the rules that allow some foreign workers to study in Canada without needing a study permit.

On September 9, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) published a new temporary public policy for eligible work permit holders.

Under this policy, certain foreign workers can study in programs lasting six months or less without applying for a separate study permit.

What Has Changed?

Normally, foreign nationals can study in Canada without a study permit if their program is six months or less and can be completed within the period of stay originally authorized when they entered Canada.

The new temporary policy gives eligible work permit holders more flexibility.

A valid work permit holder may now study without a study permit even if the short-term study program continues beyond the period of stay that was originally authorized when they first entered Canada.

However, the person must still have a valid work permit, and the study program must be six months or shorter.

Who Can Study Without a Study Permit?

To qualify under the new temporary policy, a foreign national must:

• Hold a valid Canadian work permit; and
• Enrol in a study program that is six months or less in duration.
  
  

The exemption does not continue indefinitely.

The ability to study without a study permit lasts only until the earliest of:

• The expiry date of the person's work permit;
• The expiry of the temporary public policy; or
• The revocation of the policy.
  
  

When Did the New Policy Take Effect?

The temporary public policy came into effect on September 4, 2026.

It is scheduled to remain in effect until December 31, 2027.

However, like other temporary public policies, the government may revoke it at any time without prior notice.

IRCC also announced that it would begin notifying eligible work permit holders about the policy during the week of September 4, 2026.

How Were the Previous Rules Different?

Under the usual rules in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, a foreign national may study without a study permit in a program lasting six months or less only if the program can be completed within the period of stay originally authorized upon entry into Canada.

This created challenges for some work permit holders.

A person may have entered Canada with authorization to stay until a particular date but later extended their work permit and their temporary resident status.

In such cases, their current work permit may remain valid much longer than the period originally authorized when they first entered Canada.

The new policy addresses this issue by allowing eligible work permit holders to study based on the validity of their current work permit rather than only the period originally granted at entry.

New Policy Replaces an Earlier Temporary Measure

The September 2026 temporary public policy replaces an earlier policy with the same name.

The previous policy came into effect on June 27, 2023, and expired on June 27, 2026.

That earlier measure applied to certain foreign nationals who had submitted work permit applications before June 7, 2023.

It also covered some workers who did not yet have a valid work permit but were benefiting from maintained status.

The new policy has different eligibility rules and focuses on foreign nationals who hold valid work permits.

Why This Change Matters for Foreign Workers

The new measure can make it easier for temporary foreign workers to improve their skills while continuing to work in Canada.

For example, eligible work permit holders may be able to take:

• Short professional courses
• Skills-upgrading programs
• Career development training
• Short certificate programs
• Other programs lasting six months or less
  
  

This could help workers strengthen their qualifications without having to apply for a separate study permit.

However, workers should still confirm that their program meets the six-month limit and that their work permit remains valid throughout the period they plan to study.

Work Permit Extensions and Temporary Resident Status

Foreign nationals in Canada can often apply to extend their work permits and their authorization to remain in Canada.

As a result, a person's current legal status in Canada may continue well beyond the period that was originally authorized when they entered the country.

The new temporary policy recognizes this situation.

Eligible workers can now rely on their valid work permit when determining whether they can study without a study permit under the new exemption.

How Many Work Permit Holders Are in Canada?

According to federal government data available as of June 30, 2026, approximately 1.5 million foreign nationals in Canada held only work permits.

Canada also had about 630,000 study permit holders at that time.

Some study permit holders may also hold work permits.

These figures show the large number of temporary residents who may be affected by changes to Canada's study and work authorization rules.

What Foreign Workers Should Keep in Mind

Although the new policy expands study options for work permit holders, it does not mean that all studies can be completed without a study permit.

Workers should remember that:

• The program must be six months or less;
• They must hold a valid work permit;
• Their authorization ends when their work permit expires, unless another rule applies;
• The temporary policy is currently scheduled to end on December 31, 2027; and
• The government can revoke the policy earlier.
  
  

Foreign workers planning longer programs will generally still need to determine whether a study permit is required.