Canada temporary public policy: work permit holders in Canada can study for up to 6 months without a study permit
Canada · Study abroad · In effect 2026-09-04 to 2027-12-31
| Country / region | Canada |
|---|---|
| Category | Study abroad |
| Date | In effect 2026-09-04 to 2027-12-31 |
| What happened | An IRCC temporary public policy in force from 2026-09-04 to 2027-12-31 lets foreign nationals with a valid work permit take programmes of 6 months or less (full-time or part-time) without applying for a study permit, and without meeting any study-related conditions on their work permit. Quebec grants a matching CAQ exemption. Eligibility runs for 6 months or until the work permit expires, whichever comes first; an expired permit ends eligibility, and pending extension, new work permit or study permit applications do not create an exception. If a co-op placement forms part of the programme and the co-op employer or occupation differs from the current one, a new employer-specific work permit must be obtained first. Canadian work experience gained while studying full-time does not count towards Canadian Experience Class work experience for Express Entry. |
| Impact on applicants | Most useful for people already in Canada - tradespeople, nurses, laboratory technicians - who need a short licensing or skills course without a second permit. But this is not an immigration pathway and does not extend a work permit; using it to buy more time in Canada will not work. |
| Source | Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) temporary public policy (in force 2026-09-04) ↗ Note on scope: Temporary public policy, in effect until 2027-12-31 |
Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) temporary public policy (in force 2026-09-04) ↗ · Last verified: 2026-10-14 · For reference only; not application or legal advice. Always check the official source for current rules.
FAQ
Canada temporary public policy: work permit holders in Canada can study for up to 6 months without a study permit — what happened?
An IRCC temporary public policy in force from 2026-09-04 to 2027-12-31 lets foreign nationals with a valid work permit take programmes of 6 months or less (full-time or part-time) without applying for a study permit, and without meeting any study-related conditions on their work permit. Quebec grants a matching CAQ exemption. Eligibility runs for 6 months or until the work permit expires, whichever comes first; an expired permit ends eligibility, and pending extension, new work permit or study permit applications do not create an exception. If a co-op placement forms part of the programme and the co-op employer or occupation differs from the current one, a new employer-specific work permit must be obtained first. Canadian work experience gained while studying full-time does not count towards Canadian Experience Class work experience for Express Entry.
What does this mean for applicants?
Most useful for people already in Canada - tradespeople, nurses, laboratory technicians - who need a short licensing or skills course without a second permit. But this is not an immigration pathway and does not extend a work permit; using it to buy more time in Canada will not work.
Where does this information come from?
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) temporary public policy (in force 2026-09-04) (Note on scope: Temporary public policy, in effect until 2027-12-31), verified by us on 2026-10-14.
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