TORONTO, September 10, 2026 – Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada announced a temporary measure on September 9 allowing eligible foreign nationals with valid work permits to take courses or training programs in Canada lasting no more than six months without applying for a separate study permit. The new measure will remain in effect until December 31, 2027.
IRCC said it will begin notifying eligible work permit holders this week. The new rule mainly applies to people who are already working in Canada and want to improve their skills or obtain professional qualifications through short-term courses, including vocational training, licensing courses and other short-term education programs.
Under the rules, applicants must hold a valid work permit, and the course or program must be no longer than six months. Study without a study permit can continue until the course ends or the work permit expires, whichever comes first.
This means some work permit holders may no longer need to apply separately for a study permit when taking short-term skills training. For example, people working in trades, health care, laboratory-related fields or similar sectors may be able to use the policy if they need to complete a short course to upgrade professional skills or meet part of a qualification requirement.
However, the new measure does not apply to long-term or full-time studies. IRCC clearly states that full-time study still requires a study permit, and courses longer than six months cannot be completed under this temporary measure.
The policy also does not extend the validity of an existing work permit. If a work permit expires before the course ends, the person’s eligibility to study without a study permit will also end.
IRCC also emphasized that the change is not a new immigration program and does not automatically lead to permanent residence after completing a short-term course. The policy is mainly intended to reduce administrative steps for temporary residents already working in Canada who want to take short-term training.
People who currently hold a valid work permit and are considering vocational training or a short-term course should first confirm whether the program is six months or shorter and check the expiry date of their work permit before deciding whether they need to apply for a separate study permit.（LJI by Yuanyuan）
