Work Permit Holders Gain New Study Flexibility in Canada

The federal government has expanded the circumstances in which foreign workers can study in Canada without obtaining a separate study permit.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada published a new temporary public policy on September 9, 2026. The measure allows eligible work permit holders to study without a study permit even when their course extends beyond the period of stay originally authorized when they first entered Canada.

To qualify, a foreign national must hold a valid work permit and enrol in a program lasting six months or less.

Under the usual rules in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, foreign nationals may study without a permit for programs of six months or less only when the program can be completed before the end of their initially authorized stay.

The new policy removes that timing restriction for eligible work permit holders.

In practical terms, an eligible worker taking a short certificate or training program can continue studying even if the original entry authorization date passes during the course.

Policy runs through 2027

The temporary measure took effect on September 4, 2026, and is scheduled to remain in place until December 31, 2027. However, the federal government can revoke temporary public policies at any time without advance notice.

The exemption applies only while the worker’s permit remains valid. It ends when the work permit expires, or when the temporary policy expires or is revoked, whichever happens first.

The policy is formally titled “Temporary public policy to allow foreign nationals with valid work permits to study without a study permit.” It was signed on August 5, 2026, and succeeds an earlier policy with the same name that expired on June 27, 2026.

Earlier policy had narrower eligibility

The previous measure began on June 27, 2023. It applied to foreign nationals who had submitted work permit applications before June 7, 2023. It also covered some people who did not yet hold valid work permits but were allowed to remain in Canada under maintained status while awaiting a decision.

The new policy focuses on people who currently hold valid work permits.

The change is significant because temporary residents can often renew their permits and extend their legal stay in Canada. As a result, a worker may have authorization to remain in the country well beyond the date originally granted at the border.

Large population could be affected

Federal data show that 1.5 million foreign nationals in Canada held only work permits as of June 30, 2026, according to the government’s latest available figures. Canada also had 630,000 study permit holders at that time, including some people who also held work permits.

The policy gives eligible workers more flexibility to pursue short-term education while continuing to hold legal work status in Canada. It does not remove the study permit requirement for programs longer than six months.