Canada’s latest policy allows access to study programmes of up to six months for work permit holders to undertake study programmes without obtaining a separate study permit.
The temporary policy, which took effect on September 4, 2026, provides a new pathway for foreign workers in Canada to acquire additional skills and qualifications while retaining their work authorisation.
The move could affect a significant pool of temporary residents, with 1.5 million foreign nationals holding only work permits as of June 30, 2026, according to the latest federal government data.
Under the new policy, a foreign worker with a valid work permit can study without a study permit even where the programme extends beyond the period of stay initially authorised when the worker first entered Canada.
Previously, foreign nationals could generally study without a permit for programmes lasting six months or less only where the programme would be completed before the end of their initially authorised stay.
The new provision removes that restriction for eligible work permit holders, potentially giving foreign workers greater flexibility to pursue short-term education and skills development while working in Canada.
However, the exemption is limited. The worker must hold a valid work permit and the programme must not exceed six months. The authorisation also ends when the worker’s permit expires or when the temporary public policy expires or is revoked, whichever occurs first.
The policy is scheduled to remain in effect until December 31, 2027, although the Canadian government can revoke temporary public policies at any time without prior notice.
The development comes against the backdrop of Canada’s large temporary resident population and continuing efforts to manage the number of foreign workers and international students in the country.
As of June 30, Canada had about 630,000 study permit holders, some of whom also held work permits, alongside the 1.5 million foreign nationals holding only work permits.
The policy also illustrates the Canadian government’s continued use of temporary measures to adjust immigration rules in response to changing conditions in the country’s labour and temporary-resident systems.