The Canadian federal government has expanded the circumstances under which foreign workers can study in Canada without obtaining a study permit.
On September 9, 2026, the immigration department announced a temporary public policy allowing eligible work permit holders to study without a study permit, even when their course extends beyond the period of stay originally granted when they first entered Canada.
Under the new policy, foreign workers can study without a study permit if they hold a valid work permit and their study program lasts six months or less.
Previously, foreign nationals could study without a permit for programs lasting six months or less only when the program was expected to finish before the end of their initial authorized stay in Canada.
The new policy came into effect on September 4, 2026, and will remain in place until December 31, 2027. However, like other temporary public policies, it can be cancelled at any time without advance notice.
The exemption will apply only until the worker’s existing work permit expires or until the policy expires or is revoked, whichever happens first.
The policy, signed on August 5, 2026, replaces an earlier temporary policy that expired on June 27, 2026.
The previous policy had been introduced in June 2023 and extended study authorization to certain foreign nationals who had applied for work permits before June 7, 2023. It also covered some workers who did not have valid work permits but were benefiting from maintained status.
Why Does The New Policy Matter?
Foreign workers in Canada may receive extensions to their work permits and authorization to remain in the country after their initial period of stay has ended.
This means that a worker’s current valid work permit can often remain valid much longer than the period of stay originally granted when the person first entered Canada.
The new policy gives eligible workers more flexibility to take short study programs during their authorized stay without having to obtain a separate study permit.
However, the study program must still meet the six-month limit, and the worker must continue to hold a valid work permit.
Number Of Foreign Workers In Canada
Government data shows that Canada had about 1.5 million foreign nationals holding only work permits as of June 30, 2026.
The same data shows that Canada had about 630,000 study permit holders. Some of these individuals also hold work permits.
The new temporary measure therefore applies to a large group of foreign workers who may want to complete short courses or pursue additional education while working in Canada.
The policy provides greater flexibility for eligible workers while keeping the study period limited to six months or less.
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