IRCC announced a new temporary measure on September 9, 2026, to make it easier for temporary foreign workers in Canada to pursue short-term education, occupational training and professional licensing.

The main change is that an eligible foreign national holding a valid Canadian work permit may take a course or program lasting six months or less without applying for a separate study permit.

Who can use this exemption?

The public policy’s central eligibility requirement is that the foreign national must hold a valid work permit.

IRCC identified tradespeople, nurses and laboratory technicians as examples of workers who may benefit from the measure. However, the legal text does not restrict eligibility to these occupations.

A person who has only submitted a work permit application, or who is in Canada as a visitor without a valid work permit, should not assume that the exemption applies. The individual must hold a qualifying work permit while relying on the policy.

IRCC has indicated that it will begin notifying eligible work permit holders. Receiving an email may be helpful, but eligibility should ultimately be assessed by reviewing the person’s actual permit and the structure of the proposed course.

Does every six-month program qualify?

The official duration of the course or program must be six months or less.

Attempting to divide one long program into several short courses may not necessarily qualify. If the courses are effectively components of one longer program, a study permit may still be required.

The public policy provides an exemption from the requirement in paragraph 188(1)(c) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations that the short-term course be completed within the period of stay originally authorized upon entry.

However, the exemption ends on the earliest of the following dates:

• The expiry date of the qualifying work permit
• December 31, 2027
• The date on which the public policy is revoked

For example, a person registering for a five-month course whose work permit expires in two months should not assume that the existing permit authorizes study for the entire five-month period.

Are full-time programs included?

IRCC’s September 9 notice expressly states that a study permit is still required for full-time studies.

A worker should therefore confirm how the educational institution officially classifies the program before registering. A course lasting less than six months should not automatically be treated as exempt if it is recorded as a full-time academic program.

Anyone planning long-term or full-time studies should consider applying for a regular study permit. Depending on the program and applicant, a Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter may also be required.

Is this simply an extension of the previous policy?

No. The new measure is not identical to the temporary policy introduced in 2023.

The previous policy applied to certain workers who had submitted their initial work permit or work permit extension application on or before June 7, 2023. Eligible workers could study in longer programs under that measure, which expired on June 27, 2026.

The new policy does not use the same historical application-date requirement. Instead, it focuses on two factors:

• The person holds a valid work permit
• The course or program lasts six months or less

Someone who qualified under the former policy should not assume that they can continue a long-term program under the new measure.

Does the exemption create PGWP eligibility?

No. Permission to study without a study permit and eligibility for a Post-Graduation Work Permit are separate issues.

Completing a short course under this exemption does not automatically make the graduate eligible for a PGWP. It also does not provide additional employment rights normally associated with student status.

The individual’s right to work continues to be governed by the conditions of their existing work permit. A person holding an employer-specific work permit must continue complying with the authorized employer, occupation and work-location restrictions.

This measure may be useful for workers completing short licensing, bridging or skills-upgrading courses. Those pursuing a longer academic program, a PGWP or a study-to-immigration strategy should examine the regular study permit requirements before enrolling.

FAQ

Q1. Can I attend a full-time program lasting less than six months using only my work permit?

IRCC’s September 9 notice states that a study permit is still required for full-time studies. Confirm the institution’s official classification of the program before enrolling.

Q2. Is it enough for my work permit to be valid when the course begins?

Not necessarily. The exemption ends when the qualifying work permit expires. The permit should therefore remain valid for the relevant period of study.

Q3. Will completing the course make me eligible for a PGWP?

Not automatically. This policy provides a limited study permit exemption. The separate requirements concerning eligible institutions, programs and study authorization continue to apply to PGWP applications.

This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Eligibility should be reviewed based on the program’s official duration and study load, the conditions and expiry date of the work permit, and the most recent IRCC instructions.