Foreign Workers in Canada Can Now Upskill Without Applying for a Study Permit
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada introduced a temporary policy allowing foreign workers to enrol in short programmes without a separate study permit
- The exemption covers training programmes lasting six months or less and applies to work permit holders across all provinces, including Quebec
- Foreign workers studying full-time under the policy face restrictions on how that period counts toward permanent residency applications
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Canada has opened a new door for foreign workers hoping to upskill while living and working in the country. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduced a temporary public policy on 4 September 2026, removing the requirement for eligible foreign nationals to obtain a study permit before enrolling in short-term courses or training programmes.
The policy is set to remain in place until 31 December 2027.
Who qualifies for the exemption
To benefit from the waiver, a foreign national must hold a valid, active Canadian work permit. The course or training programme must also be completed within the work permit's validity period and cannot exceed six months in duration. Anyone pursuing longer programmes will still need to apply for a standard study permit through the regular process.
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Workers in Quebec are covered under the same terms and do not need to obtain a Quebec Acceptance Certificate for qualifying short-term programmes.
One critical limitation worth noting: workers on implied status, meaning those who have applied to extend or change their work permit and are awaiting a decision, do not qualify. The exemption ends the moment a work permit lapses.
What workers need to know before enrolling
The policy does not suspend existing employment obligations. Workers who need to adjust their schedules to attend classes must negotiate those changes directly with their employers.
For programmes that include a co-op or work placement component with a different employer or in a different occupation, holders of employer-specific work permits will need to secure an additional work permit before that placement begins. Open work permit holders are not subject to this restriction.
There is also an important immigration consideration for those with an eye on permanent residency. Any work experience gained during a period of full-time study under this policy cannot be counted towards Canadian Experience Class eligibility or used to claim Canadian work experience points in the Comprehensive Ranking System. The IRCC has been clear that the measure is an administrative waiver only and does not create a new pathway to permanent residence or extend a worker's temporary status in Canada.
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More on working abroad
- Briefly News recently reported on Kenya FA president Hussein Mohammed breaking his silence on the work permit delay affecting Benni McCarthy.
- South Africans over 30 must earn at least €5,942 a month to qualify under the Netherlands skilled migrant scheme in 2026.
- Dubai has started granting residence permits to the foreign-passport families of citizens from six Gulf countries.
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Source: Briefly News
